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Speech (1) by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong at the Dewan Rakyat (Malaysian Parliament) on 13.3.2002 during the debate on the Royal Address.

On 11 March, 2002, the Malaysian King presented the Royal Address in Parliament. There was a motion to debate the address.

Mr Speaker , he (the Honourble from Parit Sulong, Johor) has taken one hour (whereas the Speaker has already restricted each speak to 40 minutes). (I hope) I am (given) one hour.

The Deputy speaker: Yes, 10 minutes.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw: Just now, one hour.

The Deputy Speaker: Yes, Your Honour, it is my judgement. Don't argue. Your Honourable, continue.

Dr Tan: (The Honourable) Rompin, Rompin, give four minutes to me, don't interfere anymore.

The Deputy Speaker: Your Honourable, continue.

Dr Tan: Rompin, Rompin, don't disturb anymore.

The Deputy Speaker: Please, I have chosen Kepong.

Dr Tan: I rise with a feeling of anxiety because our country is at a crossroad. We are facing globalization and liberalization. Many things have happened. Although the Malaysian Government has said that all are under control and the future is bright, we have to see clear evidence. Can we achieve the objective of the Vision 2020 to be a developed nation?

Malaysia has human and natural resources to achieve the objective. But, she faces various problems such as money politics, corruption, nepotism, cronyism, wastage, abuse of power and mismanagement including seeking easy ways.

Recently, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted that the economic crisis in July, 1997, was due not only to currency speculators, but also internal weaknesses such as mismanagement. This is the first time after nearly four years that he admitted these weaknesses.

Dato' Dr Haji Jamaludin bin Dato' Mohd. Jarjis (the Honourable from Rompin) stood.

The Deputy Speaker (the Honourable Dato' Haji Myhamad bin Abdullah): Your Honourable, Rompin is standing. Like to give way?

Dato' Dr Haji Jamaludin bin Dato' Mohd Jarjis: I am indeed attracted to the principles mentioned by Your Honourable just now, that Your Honourable would like to see an efficient management, would not like to see mismanagment , would not like to see nepotism, must be democratic. This is one universal value that we all concur. But, I would like to ask: Isn't it proper for us to practise it within our party first? Nepotism within DAP, no democracy within DAP, no efficiency within DAP. We have to prove that we are able to implement this model, this universal principle, and we must prove that we can do it within the party before the people can consider it. I would like the view from Your Honourable.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw: Mr Speaker, whether nepotism, cronyism or similar things happen in UMNO or in other organizaions including DAP, cannot be allowed. Cannot allow. Actually, we have to investigate UMNO first. Have to investigate first.

Madam Teresa Kok Suh Sim (the Honourable from Seputeh): [interjected]

Deputy speaker: Yes, Seputeh. No need to do that.

Dr Tan: Because we can also read the headlines (on money politics, nepotism and cronyism in UMNO).

Mr Speaker, in the royal address, the King has touched on issues such as globalization, liberaization, the RM7.3 billion economic stimulation package, foreign investment, commodity export, the diversification of agriculture, tourism, ports, network of roads, information and communications technology, Women Education Development Programme, Nasional Biotechnolgy Programme, housing, eradication of poverty and Malaysia an Islamic country(negara Islam, Islamic State). These are important for us. We hope that all programmes will be successful.

Meanwhile, we must study the success and failure in all the sectors and find the solutions to overcome the weaknesses.

PAX AMERICANA
Mr Speaker: It is important (to know what is going on), as mentioned by the Honourable Parit Sulong just now, with the unipolar world, Pax Americana. As the only superpower, America can do whatever she likes. That is why Malaysia must find ways to overcome Pax Americana because we have a great deal of American investment and, (with) our (electronic) products, about 31% output are exported to America. Hence, what happens in America or (what is) done by America affects us in some way.
(Part of the following is a rehash of my statement on Islamic State on 11 March, 2002 and on the New Economic Policy.)
His Majesty mentions Malaysia as a Negara Islam in Bahasa Malaysia and an Islamic country in the English translation.
SEMANTIC

The Bahasa Malaysia text says: Beta ingin menegaskan penjelasan bahawa Malaysia adalah sebuah negara Islam sama sekali tidak menjejaskan kehidupan rakyat berbilang kaum dan kebebasan beragama di negara ini, sebagaimana yang diperuntukkan dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Sebaliknya, seluruh rakyat merasa selamat dan aman dari sebarang penindasan yang bertopengkan agama sama ada sesama Islam mahupun di kalangan rakyat berlainan agama.

The English language version reads: We wish to stress that Malaysia as an Islamic country does not in any way hinder the lives of the multiracial society and religious freedom in this country, as provided for in the Federal Constitution. On the contrary, the people at large feel safe and free from any oppression in the name of religion be it among Muslims or those of differing faiths.

After meeting and discussing with many people, the Prime Minister and the writers of the royal address have written this paragraph and the way it has been translated in English is to overcome the current political situation. Some would like to have an Islamic State while others would not.

Diversity exists. There are different of opinions within the family, within a racial group, within followers of the same religion. What more within a plural society? After 11 September the attack of America and her allies on terrorism and militancy especially in Afghanistan, societal feeling has become more complicated. The Barisan Nasional Government uses this opportunity to fan emotion and sentiment among the people and then to obtain people's votes. Draconian laws such as the Internal Secrity Act, ISA, are used more frequently. We hope that with the establishment of the Human Rights Commission, the Government will not abuse human rights.

Mr Speaker, clearly, the words Negara Islam has been translated as Islamic Country that connotes a country with Muslims as the majority. Negara Islam is also read as Islamic State that is a state based on Islam. The ambiguity and ambivalence obfuscate the issue.

Even before the Portuguese conquest of Melaka, there was Islam in Malaya. Hence Article 3 (1) of the 1957 Federal Constitution provides that Islam is the official religion. Article 11 guarantees freedom of religion. The Constitution does not provide for an Islamic State.

An Islamic country that connotes a country with Muslims as the majority reflects the spirit of the Constitution. On the other hand, the term Negara Islam taken as Islamic State is against the constitutional spirit.

The ambiguity and ambivalence in the semantic can be abused. As the Government wants to counter those who aspire to an Islamic State like PAS, it can use Negara Islam to explain to Muslims. It can then offer Islamic Country to the Non-Muslims.

MULTIRELIGIOUS

The quintessence of the Federal Constitution des not permit an administration based on only one religion. It stresses freedom of religion.

The final solution of an Islamic State is a state based on the Koran and the Sunnah. If the Government uses the term Negara Islam among those conversant with the Koran, then they may have a definite perception of what it means. On the other hand, if the Government refers to an Islamic Country, Non-Muslims perceive the obfuscation.

We maintain that Malaysia is a multi-religious country and that the Federal Constitution does not allow a state based on a single religion.

ROYAL COMMISSION ON FOREIGN WORKERS

Mr Speaker, I am turning to foreign workers. Yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister (Y.A.B. Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) answered questions on foreign workers who had or had no permits {in the House} in details. That he comes to answer these questions himself is a good practice. Although he has reflected the situation of migrant workers to some extent, he has not dealt with matters such as social and education for the children of these workers. He said that illegal workers were reluctant to send their children to schools for fear of detection. But, Mr Speaker, some workers (with or without permits) have children. They send them to our schools. For Example, the SEA Park (primary) school, Petalaing Jaya, that is near my place, has children from these workers. I hope the Deputy Prime Minister will investigate this matter.

In short, the Deputy Prime Minister announced the new policy on the countries that are allowed to supply workers including Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan for manufacturing, plantation, construction and services. Indonesia will only supply workers for the plantation (and maids) and India for plantation and services (as cooks) and so forth.

It is obvious that the Government wants to reduce the number of Indonesian workers. Now, there are about 600,000 legal Indonesian workers. The disturbances caused by a small number of them have made Malaysia change her mind after over 20 years. Here, we have pressed the Government so many times to take firm actions to solve this problem. Then, only after over 20 years, the Government has taken serious actions. This does not mean that it has not taken action. It has as shown by some of the evidence enumerated by the Deputy Prime Minister. However, it is not enough.

As the time is short, I shall talk on this briefly. From the figures, in 2001 there were 769,566 legal workers, out of whom 566,983 were Indonesians. The reasons for a small number of them creating disturbance were: employers infringe working conditions or contracts, the period of detention was long and cheated by the agents or syndicates that brought them into the country. I hope the Government…

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bi Haji Omar (the Honourable from Pokok Sena, Kedah): stood.

The Deputy Speaker: Yes, someone is standing. Yes, please (the Honourable) Pokok Sena.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Haji Omar: Thank you Mr Speaker. Thank you my colleague from Kepong. Is Your Honourable aware that the question of immigrants (foreign workers) whether with or without permits is, before this, due not only to the Government not being serious in its action, but also, conversely, the Government exploited the arrivals and flooding of these immigrants especially, including those without permits. (This) is for political interest until the appearance of phantom voters as has been evidenced in court in the Likas case that involved immigrants without permits. This shows that the Government frequently take actions against immigrants with or without permits when they are seen as affecting the security of the country. But, if they can give political advantage to UMNO and Barisan Nasional finally those without permits will be given identity cards, citizenships and so forth when they, in fact, are illegal immigrants.

Therefore, does Your Honourable agree that in the effort to get rid of immigrants or to reduce the flooding of immigrants with or without permits, the Government must stop the exploitation…because in Langkawi (constituency) this thing still happens, Myanmese immigrants are used for political interest as voters. Similarly, apart from that, does Your Honourable (know) that among the methods used is the introduction of minimum wage to encourage local voters to take over from immigrants.

Dr Tan: Mr Speaker, thank you the Honourable from Pokok Sena whose statement has a basis. If we study what has happened in this country including Sabah, in Likas, and in Langkawi, we can come across immigrants being used for self-seeking or self-serving objectives. We have to eradicate this thing. That is why I have proposed setting up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate these.

Datuk Haji Mohamad bin Haji Aziz (the Honourable from Sri Gasing, Johor): stood.

The Deputy Speaker: Yes, Your Honourable, there is somebody standing up, Sri Gading.

Dr Tan: I don't have enough time. I still have 16 more pages.

The Deputy Speaker: Would Your Honourable like to give way?

Dr Tan: ..just a short one, don't be too long.

Datuk haji Nohamad bi Haji Aziz: A little bit, also a question. Now (the Honourable from) Kepong is from DAP praising PAS from Pokok Sena is because of the by-election in Ketari. DAP wants the help of PAS. A little information.

Dr Tan: this has nothing to do with Ketari where there are not many immigrants.

Tuan Haji Mahfuz bin Haji Omar: The aborigines there.

Dr Tan: Ha, the aborigines there.

The Deputy Speaker: Your Honourable, please continue.

Dr Tan: Now, there is no political interest. What is most important is the national interest. Therefore, we must have a Royal Commission to inquire into all these including from Rompin. How have they (the Government) allowed the situation that is not so good to continue for over two decades?

Dato'Dr HajiJamaludin bin Dato' Mohd Jarjis (the Honourable from Rompin): stood.

The Deputy Speaker: Yes. Your Honourable, Rompin has stood up. Like to give way? Yes, please.

Dr Tan: Don't (disturb). We don't have time. Fortunately, the Speaker is giving me one hour (laughter).

Dato' Dr Haji Jamaludin: Thank you. This is one speech by Your Honourable as a DAP leader under full pressure and spirit. I feel that this is possibly (said) in the atmosphere of the by-election (Ketari). But, whether DAP will give Your Honourable the leadership or the torch to carry, I don't know, because the one on your left (the Honourable from Melaka) may have a different agenda, your women also may have a different agenda. I would like to ask in Your Honourable 'datuk's' effort, yes 'datuk' won't be long, there is an accusation about the immigrant issue from the other side (PAS). As an opposition member, naturally Your Honourable has to thank him for his support. Especially in the by-election in Bentong. Can Your Honourable…

Datuk Haji Mohamad bin Haji Aziz (the Honourable from Sri Gading, Johor): Ketari, Ketari.

Dato' Dr Haji Jamaludin: ..the Ketari by-election. Want to ask a little bit about other issues like illegal immigrants may be raised in Ketari by-election. However, in this political issue, Your Honourable may need support from PAS because there are Malay votes. But, what happens to the support from KeADilan? Because, I believe from the press, it is said that if Your Honourable would like to get support, have to ask here. Here is the President (the Honourble Datuk Haji Fadzil Noor).

The Deputy Speaker: Yes, enough.

Dato' Dr Haji Jamaludin: And I feel that KeADilan can consider. But, afraid that DAP says DAP does not need support from the public including PAS or KeADilan. Your Honourabe can be on your own. Now, Your Honourable from DAP says that we don't need any…

The Deputy Speaker: Your Honourable, enough.

Dato' Dr Haji Jamaludin: DAP becomes the champion of Malaysians, we don't need PAS, we don't need KeADilan. Will this do, Your Honourable? (Interjection). Please don't disturb. What is Your Honourable's view on this political issue. Your Honourable watch out, the one at the back, sits at the back. The problem of sitting at the back is not only KeADilan, but also PAS, watch out for the Youth Leader (the Honurable from Pokok Sena, Kedah).

Dr Tan: Mr Speaker, I am the person speaking, not the Honourable from Rompin. Our problem here is that the Honourable from Rompin does not follow the Standing Order. If the Honourable from Rompin wants to support us, we welcome (him)….(applause). The support not only from PAS, KeADilan, but also from all parties, we accept. If the Honourable from Rompin wants to speak (in Ketari) together with us, we welcome (him). This is the way. If the Honourable from Chenderoh (The Honourable Entrepreneur Development Minister) would like to go (to speak for us), we welcome (him) because (with Grik and Sauk in his constituency) he has the experience with Al-Mau'nah and so forth. We also hope that he can talk (in DAP gatherings) so that we can overcome the problem of militancy.

The Deputy speaker: Yes, Your Honourable, a lot more (to say)?

Dr Tan: I also have a problem for him (the Minister for Entrepreneur Development) for entrepreneurship and so forth. His ministry trains many (potential) entrepreneurs. I would like him to train (these people) into real entrepreneurs, not just brokers. This is right…

The Deputy Speaker: Yes, Your Honourable, that is a different matter.

Dr Tan: Yes, there is a reason, there is a disturbance from the Honourable from Rompin. I am going to shorten my (comment) on immigrants. We have to form a Royal Commission to overcome the problem. Although the Government has taken action (against immigrants), for me, this is not enough and two decades too late. Nevertheless, we hope that the Government use greater efforts to overcome this complicated problem.

Mr Speaker, on 6 March this year, the Most Honourable Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir) launched the Young Professional Chamber Mmalaysia (Promuda). He praises yang Malaysians for their concern about the future and advised them to temper their idealism and impatience with pragmatism.

The Prime Minister said in his fluent English:" The New Economic Policy (NEP), which was designed to redress the imbalances in economic development had achieved minimum success not from want of effort on the part of the government but from the tendency to seek the easy way on the part of the Bumiputeras. Remove these government contracts from bumiputeras and they will mostly collapse. Harassed by accusations of cronyism, the government is tempted to abandon the NEP but the future generation will have to make the decision."

Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister's statement is meaningful. There is a definite meaning. Because of this, I have just now mentioned it to the Honourable from Chenderoh. The Prime Minister says ' the easy way.' This means that Entrepreneur Development Ministry has to work very hard to get rid of this wrong concept, wrong thinking. The ministry has to revamp itself to deal with this.

The Honourable Minister complains about fewer questions for him. To discharge his duties and responsibilities. This is one important question that requires a complete answer. Why many seek the easy way to trade and other activities?

Mr Speaker, we do not agree with dividing the people into Bumiputeras and Non-Bumiputeras. Although some say that this is a way to implement positive discrimination, this practice is not good for the country. What often happens is that the spirit of factionalism becomes visible (tebal).

On 9 March, 2002, Dr Mahathir said that he was disappointed and felt alone at times because not many people from Kedah are working with the Central Government or joining various companies in Kuala Lumpur. Come to work in Kuala Lumpur.

The Deputy Speaker: Yes, someone has stood up, Your Honourabke from Rompin.

Dr Tan: He is from Pahang , not Kedah. How does he poke his nose? Come to work in Kuala Lumpur for Kedahans, not for Pahangites.

The Deputy Speaker: Yes, the person speaking is from Kepong not Kedah. The one who asks is from Pahang. Rompin has stood up, like to give way? [Laughter]

Dato' Dr Haji Jamaludin (Rompin): I would like to ask Kepong. I am afraid Your Honourable from Kepong has said the wrong thing about NEP that has been accepted as a national policy and provision for caring for Malays is clear in the Constitution. Has Your Honourable said that he does not agree with NEP? No need to take care of the Malays who need to be taken care? Because, for me, the image of Your Honourable is good,if I am not mistaken Your Honourable from Kepong as a politician…..I may not agree with Your Honourable in many matters, but there is one matter that Your Honurable as a politician I respect and similarly in DAP, they are afraid of Your Honourable, if they are not afraid, Your Honourable cannot become the Secretary-General (kalau dia orang tidak takut, Yang Berhormat sudah tidak boleh jadi Setiausaha Agung sudah). Because as a politician, the method of Your Honourable in many (matters), we feel proud. Hence, I ask Your Honourable to give some explanation in this matter.

Dr Tan: Yes, yes, good, good, good. The question is also good. II have the answer here, yes, naturally, there is an answer.

Parochialism occurs in Malaysia. I hope that the Prime Minister is not parochial. If there is a shortage of Kedahans and from other states in the MCS, he must include all, not only those from Kedah. Similarly, in various fields-there is shortage of Non-Malays in the civil service, police and armed forces, shortage of Bumiputeras in private institutes of higher learning, PIHL or IPTS and shortage of males in the teaching profession (and nursing). These are the shortages. We don't want parochialism-it encourages mafias like Perak mafia, Pahang mafia and, some say, Kelantan mafia also.

We don't want this type of mafias. We are all Malaysians.

The Deputy Speaker: Yes, Your Honourable, a person has stood up.

Dr Tan: … if (the Honourable) Rompin becomes the chief, he picks Pahangites only. How can that be?

The Deputy Speaker: Yes, he is standing. Like to give way?

Dato' Dr Haji Jamaludin: I feel that groupings (factionalism) in an organization, the factional interest in one organization, whether corporate, politics, social, is natural (satu lumrah alam). The important thing is we control it so that it is moderate. See my friend to my right (Y.B. Mohamad Sabu, Kuala Kedah), previously he was a representative for Kelantan people. Kelantanese do not want him, he has been kicked back to Kedah. In PAS also, there is such type of attitude. Another friend previously in UMNO (?the Honourable from Tumpat). Who knows how long will he be in PAS. As time goes on, Kelantanese do not want him, he will be thrown back to Kuala Lumpur, who knows? This thing happens everywhere (laughter), the same in DAP. See Your Honourable, before this, the women Chairperson (Dr Oon Hong Geok), the wife of Your Honourable, this new Women's (Chief) (the Honourable Chong Eng) is afraid, she 'piokkannya', in DAP also (parochialism) exists. However, if…

Mdm Chong Eng: interjected.

Dato' Dr Haji Jamaludin: Eh, the Women's Chief is also repying…

The DeputySpeaker: Yes, Your Honourable, please continue.

Dato' Dr Haji Jamaludin: I would like to ask Your Honourable…

The Deputy Speaker: Yes.

Dr Tan: Mr Speaker, (He is) wasting my time.

The Deputy Speaker: It is up to Your Honourable whether you would like to answer him or not.

Dr Tan : Mr Speaker, what I meant just now was that the Prime Minister must not be parochial. He must encourage not only Kedahans to come to Kuala Lumpur, but also people from other states. He himself is the (highest) leader from Kedah.

Dato' Mahadzir bn Mhod. Khir (the Honurable from Sungai Petani, the Farmers' River: Stood.

Dr Tan: Yes, it is enough.

The Deputy speaker: Yes, Your Honourable, there is someone standing.

Dr Tan: Yes, the river without farmers.

The Deputy Speaker: Would like to give way. The Honourable from Sungai Petani, please.

Dato' Mahadzir: Thank you Your Honourable from Kepong. Actually, I believe Your Honourable wrongly quoted the Prime Minister and labeled him parochial. Actually, I believe we have to think seriously in what context he made the speech. It was an occasion in which he spoke to people from Kedah only (his alumni). He had a heart to heart talk and felt sad, but because the press then put up the story. DAP interprets it wrongly. So, I hope that Your Honourable can correct this matter. It is not a question of parochialism. Thank you.

Dr Tan: Mr Speaker, the most important is that it was the headline. He (the Prime Minister) would like to encourage Kedahans to enter MCS. That was what he said. It was not a wrong quotation. Quote correctly. [Laughter]

Mr speaker, I have many other matters to discuss, such as what are the reasons for the shortage of Malay students in the private IHLs? Why are there few Non-Malays in the civil service? In the armed forces, the police. We want to know and how do we solve it? Mr Speaker, it is important to narrow the gap, whether digital, income or other gaps. For instance, this is not just the Honourable from Chenderoh, but also the Honourable from Sungai Petani. We must always be on the look out : how do we narrow the digital divide?

(In ICT), the middle-range personnel, there are fewer Malays, students or technicians. Why? This means that the Ministries of Education and Entrepreneurs' Development must work hard to find out the reason for the shortage and the attitude of the Malays. For example, if a Malay is offered a place in a private IHL, he or she does not want it. (Instead) he or she wants to go to UiTM. Maybe, he or she does not have to pay one single cent at UiTM.

The Deputy Speaker: Your Honourble from Kepong, the time is already 5.30 PM.

Dr Tan: 5.30 and I still have another half an hour? No?

The Deputy Speaker: No, tomorrow I give another five minutes.

Dr Tan: why five minutes. I have another 15 pages. Mr Speaker, this is true.

The Deputy Speaker: It doesn' matter (Laughter), I cannot follow what Your Honourable say, I…

Dr Tan: the Honourable from Rompin don't disturb. Give me the time that you would have given to him.

The Deputy Speaker: Your Honourble please sit down, our time is 5.30. All the Honourables, the House is adjourned until 10.00 AM tomorrow.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw