Anwar Ibrahim came to LSE last week to give a talk. The topic was Islam and the West. Attendance was good.
He advocated for more dialogue between Islamic countries and the West, to reconcile differences, and for better understanding between these two worlds. The aim was creditable, but no proposals as to how this should be done was presented. He takes a very moderate stance on issues relating to Islamic governance, but offers no standard for us to adopt. He highlights the problems, but doesn’t provide the solutions (a lot like what we do here).
But he wasn’t really there to talk about solutions. He was there to be heard, and to be seen. Every chance he got, he criticised current (and former administration) of Malaysia. He mentioned he was jailed at least 10 times throughout the 1 hour session. When asked about the current state of our freedom of expression and what should be done about it, he answered, vote Keadilan.
Having said this, this is what I understand happened behind the scenes.
KPUM first approached his representatives to invite him to give a talk. KPUM was advised against it by ‘higher authorities’. A member of the committee then went ahead, under his personal capacity, with negotiations. The talk was almost confirmed, when another ‘higher authority’ advised against his involvement in the event. Apparently UMNO London was not too happy about the talk, but it is uncertain if they ‘advised’ the ‘higher authority’ to advice against it. This person then approached the LSE Malaysia Singaporean Society(MSS) to take over organisation of the event. Progress continued. However, on the day of the talk, MSS sent out an email stating that they were no longer organising the event, and that it is organised by LSE. MSS was apparently ‘advised’ against it by another higher authority.
The talk went ahead, and credit was given solely to LSE Events Department.
His talk was not a political one, but it became one. Personally, I feel student organisations should not organise political events, or co-organise events with political organisation… but if the committee has agreed to do it, should they be stopped by ‘authorities’ like the Malaysian Student Department?
Also, was KPUM and MSS advised against organising this talk because it was political in nature (which arguably, it was not), or because it was by a member of the opposition? The LSE Malaysia Club has been organising various events with UMNO London, including talks by members of UMNO. But these events have not been criticised by the authorities, but rather supported by them. Double standards?
Sometimes I don’t even know why I bother writing about issues like this. When I rant about this to some people, they reply… ‘so?’. Their lack of concern over these issues is not shocking… it is expected. We have been conditioned to accept the fact that our freedom of expression is a conditional right, limited to praise and support of the government. But it is one things to accept this in Malaysia. We have brought this culture with us to the UK, and it continues to haunt us even here.
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17 comments:
Totally understand where you're coming from. If indeed the higher authorities advised against having the talk on the basis that it was by a member of the opposition party, it is definitely cause for concern. Also, it's an insult to our intelligence; when are they going to realize that we have the capacity to think and are not easily swayed by opinionated speeches?
It is precisely because we have the capacity to think that they are afraid! LOL...
-Slashed
It doesnt matter whether the talk is by a member of the govenment or by an opposition leader. The point is that student organisations should not be involved.
Students organisations like KPUM and Malaysian societies from various universities need to maintain a level of independence from politics, so as to not impose the political sways of the committee onto the members.
I am all for free speech and stuff like that, but that should be done in your own personal capacity, and not through a society representing other completely neutral members.
In sure in this case it is double standards, but it is positive. KPUM should not have been allowed to organise it.
rosy cheeks
and i know the organisation of this talk was justified on grounds of free speech. I know it was said that it was merely to provide 'a platform for open discussion'. But realistically speaking, we all know that a talk like anwars is good publicity for him. No matter what he says, or what he is asked, he will come out from the hall a hero of democracy blah blah.
And to say that it was an academic talk is a joke. Surely, it is obvious that anwar is all politics.
I have no doubts KPUM is neutral. What i do doubt is whether they wanted to organise it 'to provide a platform', but rather to merely prove a point.
Again,
Rosy Cheeks
rosy cheeks sidesteps the point as much as it is possible to. his point is simple; no politics is fine. hence, why are political events with umno commendable?
god, how hard is that to understand?
Dear god knows who you are,
Please do not assume im male.
Anyway, i never said organising events with umno is commendable. Organising events with umno is equally bad. I was referring only to this case, and in this case, KPUM should not have organised this event. Similarly, they should not be alloed to organise events with umno.
Having said this, if KPUM did decide to organise such events, the decision, no matter how bad, should be theirs. No other 'authority' should be involved. Only the members should be able to tell them not to do it.
rosy cheeks
makes much more sense now. thanks for clarifying.
Honestly, name me one person who actually gained something from this Anwar talk.
Practically useless I say, since the majority of crowd presumably were students.
Politicians, all like, are here to give a "talk" and usually slide in their propanganda and underlying reason of delivering the "talk".
I agree with rosy cheeks, that if these student bodies decide to organise events with political bodies, they should be allowed to without restriction from anyone. (Since were in UK, ECHR Art 10 and 11 comes to mind, Right to Expression, and Right to Assembly and Association :)
Forget legal rights, as dad sends nod correctly states, it is an insult to our intelligence as well. This assuming the restriction is for our own protection, which I have a feeling its not (as slashed correctly states)
As for whether KPUM should have organised it, ignoring factors like future relations, i think we should have. Political propaganda aside, Anwar's case is a good example of the state of the judiciary in Malaysia, and we as law students should be able to hear what he has to say. Whether we choose to accept it or not is up to us.
He talked about issues regarding Islam and the syariah courts, which is relevant to us. He talked about the political history and future of Malaysia, also relevant. This talk would have been a perfect opportunity for us as law students to hear for ourselves what the opposition has to say about the problems and reforms.
I do not want to justify this talk on the ground that it was not a political, but rather an academic talk. That argument, I feel, is completely artificial. It is obvious that he was there as an opposition leader, not a professor. But that’s not the point. Students have a right to hear from the opposition, and I feel it would be a disservice to all students if KPUM let this opportunity slip away.
And if it’s worth anything, we would have organized this as part of a series of talks, by (real) academics, and government members as well. Efforts were already on the way to do this, efforts stopped by unwarranted interference from narrow minded (biased) bodies.
It's interesting that the weather up north is warmer than you guys in London. Eh, laddies?
To begin with, I believe that student bodies should be apolitical. Fat chance, though. But that's not the point. We can discuss the ideals and practicality of that in another thread (why not, eh mod?).
The point here is the intervention of "higher authorities". Wow, clear warning, huh? I understand that you would prefer to keep the identity of the brave soul secret. May I just extend my kudos to him on his bravery. I would gladly have him in my legion!
I think it is disgraceful that both the MSD and the LSE Malaysia Club collaborated with Kelab UMNO. They're supposed to be non-partisan! Ah well, at least it just reinforces the double standards that exist. Not bad how the BN can extend their slimy fingers to here. At least, now we have a precedent (don't lawyers love that) that student organisations are free to collaborate with political parties. Or does anyone have the balls to challenge what they did?
And Rosy, I would have assumed that you were of the fairer sex. I can't imagine any straight guy signing off like that. Besides, there's no such thing as "positive" double standards. You either have standards or you don't (that's why they call them STANDARDS).
The neutrality issue aside, the point is that even here in the UK the light of freedom is eclipsed by the shadow of BN. It is amazing, that such disregard towards our rights and the constitution should manifest itself even beyond the 'tanah air';
While I appreciate Rosy's arguments for KPUM to maintain a certain standard/degree of independence and neutrality (to which I agree), the issue is the non-existence of a choice and freedom. Yes, it's true that by asking Anwar to come, KPUM risks breaking its neutral stance, but at least that is an ethical/constitutional issue for that student body. In the instant case, KPUM does not have such a choice to break its neutrality even if it so wished!
Yet BN political student bodies exist with government support - a definite misuse of its powers.
-slashed
I fully agree with KPUM - the merits (or lack thereof) of inviting a politician to give a talk should be a matter for the student society concerned, and if they do decide to invite, no 'higher authority' should intervene.
Personally, I don't think inviting political figures necessarily compromises your neutrality - not if you try to invite a diverse set of people, from different parties, just to see what each of them has to say. Being neutral doesn't have to mean having absolutely nothing to do with politicians - it just means you don't affiliate yourself with any side, and try to give everyone a fair hearing. I'm sure that KPUM would be equally willing to invite the PM, for example, or Dr M, to give his side of the story, had they been allowed to invite Anwar. Isn't it better this way - the students get to hear all sides, and make up their own minds?
It's rather sad, actually, that Anwar could give a talk to a group of IPTA students in Malaysia, a group which has a record of trying its best, despite a rather cool response from the BN, to invite speakers from both ends of the political spectrum to discuss various issues frankly, but thousands of miles away, the long arm of authority seems to grip stronger that it does in the heart of home sweet home.
Well, yet another thing to fight for - we live in interesting times, do we not?
Anwar is losing grip over political ground here (malaysia), reasons? No issue, he is talking about himself. The present anwar is totally a diffrent person.
No wonder he likes to talk about prison, all the way, all the times
Do you think people enjoyed freedom of expression during his time as DPM of Malysia?
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