Malaysia, environment and arms

» taray2k - Malaysia

Fascinating article. You touch on many topics regarding this country. You have given me much to inquire about. You allude to the political direction of the country, it's pursuit of weapons and such and yet it is very vague as to what direction they are going in.

-- posted by taray2k

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» Glenn34 - Re: Malaysia

In response to message posted by taray2k:

Best Taray, hello from Ottawa (yes,still some icy snow on the ground, but with today's rain, melting fast). Many thanks for your comments and the rating.
Of course it is always a good question to ask what the weapons will be used for. Governments will always say for defense and for allies; those who get to experience the weapons "live" will certainly beg to differ.

Glad you like the piece and if you are interested in deserts, you may like the related short suite article of mine too.

Regards,

Glenn

-- posted by Glenn34

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» SamAJPillay - Malaysia

Glenn,

Thank you for your piece on Malaysia. I was reminded as I read it of the need for some background. I attach here a piece I wrote recently and hope you and your readers find it of use.

Malaysia: Dissent and detraction
By SaPillayillay
http://www.angelfire.cosajkpillaypillay/
(595 words

AFTER a century* of British rule and a period of wartime Japanese occupation, Malaya became a sovereign nation on 31 August 1957. Five years later Peninsular MSabah and Sarawaknd Sarawak in Borneo were federated into West and East Malaysia. The actual watershed, however, is 13 May 1969. The post-election riots that erupted that day on the Malay Peninsula would test the new nation’s mettle and set in train an agenda that has brought manifest economic success, remarkable social progress and more than a modicum of international notoriety, thanks largely to the anti-Western rhetoric of PrimeDatuksSeriDatuMahathirrMohamadir Mohamad.
PrimTengkusAbduleRahmanbdul Rahman, a scion of the suKedahte of Kedah, the northern Malaysian State and foundinBapakher – Bapak – had led the new nation untilTengku’she Tengku’s appeal to Malaysians as a peace-loving nation acted as a balm to the rule of bureaucracy and constitutional system that seamlessly seamlessly from British colonial rule. Until May 1969 executive government worked according to an indeterminate process of patronage and privilege, just as it had done in the days of the British.
The bubble burst in the late hours of May 13 after results pointed to a decisive turn against the ruling Alliance. The Chinese and Tamil minority had swung to the newGerakkaneRakyatakkan Rakyat MalaysPenanged in Penang and the Democratic Action Party based in Kuala Lumpur, the capital. The results showed clearly that a motley coalition of opposition parties was close to forming an alternative government.
Party activists were euphoric. Never had the populace imagined that politics might better its lot. Celebrations in Kuala Lumpur quickly fanned north to the major cities on the west coast and degenerated into partisan communal violence.
The details of how the victory celebrations deteriorated into the now infamous May 13 Riots and how tmobilisedment mobilised Malaysia’s crack riot squads and the military remain sketchy to this day. Martial law was declared in a matter ofTengku as the Tengku from his residence watched fires rage in his once peace loving capital. The flames licked at his hold on power as chief eTengkuve. The Tengku was soon to be ousted in a party coup.
The crackdown was decisive as it was ruthless. A dusk to dawn curfew was in full force by the next day. Orders to the troops were to shoot to kill anyone violating the curfew. Countless reports circulated of how army sharpshooters fatally shot people peeping through shuttered windows.
The Alliance had ruled unchallenged on an average of 70 per cent of the national vote and the uprising was a massive slap in the face to the status quo. The response was a hardening of powers, an extension of constitutionally protected Malay privilege – from an agreed 10 years at Independence to 30 years – and the almost complete quashing of dissent.
The Alliance seized government back by fiat and evolved into a National Front comprising several political parties that had been in strenuous opposition to Alliance policies, ironically with the GRM opposition as one of its components. Now, 33Mahathirater, Dr Mahathir wields the same weaponry against resurgent dissent – this time from within the indigenous Malay population.
It is easy and indeed common among the international media to see these developments much to subjectively but that is another thread in thereanalysing needs reanalysing iAnwar Ibrahim the Anwar IMahathirffair.
Dr Mahathir, and the Malaysian political conditdemonisedoo easily demonised but not too readily understood.

*The Colonial Office officially took control of the Straits Settlements in 1867.

-- posted by SamAJPillay

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