A little bit of politics
There’s a general election taking place in Malaysia right now; and the votes have already started coming in (over here, it seems as if this process happens over a matter of days, if not weeks, as opposed to on one night).
The ruling party - or strictly speaking: coalition party - Barisan Nasional has so far won all of them, I think. And in some cases: unopposed.
Barisan Nasional has governed Malaysia for the past fifty years. Fifty years. Or to put it another way: every year that it’s been independent from us Brits.
Given that Malaysia is a Muslim country (Islam is the official religion - although others are practiced openly here, too), Barisan Nasional is, unsurprisingly, a right-wing coalition. Its dominance of Malaysian politics is such that when the date of the election was announced, the front page of the New Straits Times (which is linked to the BN) carried a graphic of the current make-up of parliament in which virtually every ‘little man’ was coloured blue. Underneath, it had the number of seats held by each party. Which is as follows:
Barisan Nasional - 198
DAP (the main opposition: a secular, multi-race, social democratic party) - 12
Barisan Alternatif (a coalition of opposition parties) - 8
Others - 1
198 out of 218 seats. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that there isn’t much of a political opposition in Malaysia.
And this lack of opposition, and lack of dissent, is part of the make-up of Malaysia, I’m finding. There’s an awful lot of talk in the papers and from politicians about ‘wanting peace’ and people not letting their ‘emotions’ affect their decision at the ballot box - undoubtedly a response to political rallies and demonstrations in recent months - and it strikes me that the government here is keen to keep its people quiet, and under-the-thumb.
On the one hand, you could argue that they don’t have much to dissent about. Malaysia is, by South East Asian standards, a very prosperous and safe country. But as an outsider stepping in, talking to people and reading the national papers every day, it seems that dissent and criticism of the status quo, of the government, is not encouraged - and you see this both in what Malaysians are willing to accept; and by the level of analysis by political writers. Which is, to put it kindly, limited - even though acres of press are devoted to national politics - although not unsurprising, seeing as the two main English language papers (which are the two available at the hotel, incidentally) are linked to the ruling coalition.
These papers read like newsletters you receive through your door from local parties during election time, telling you what good work the government has been doing, how much money they have given to this project and that group, reporting verbatim what ministers announce without much, if any, criticism, and so on. Every day is a good news day here in Malaysia.
But back to the lack of dissent, and the two conversations/news stories that have hit me most thus far (apart from learning that the BN was completely unopposed in some of its winning seats in this election).
One: S, the bass player, told me that they were “lucky” in Malaysia, because the internet isn’t censored here.
Two: This story in the New Straits Times, subtitled: “Undergraduates found to be actively involved in politics risk losing their government scholarships.” Read the report in full, but this is a choice quote from the Higher Education Minister:
“The number of university students involved in active politics is just a handful, but I believe the majority of them is with the government. These are rational students who appreciate and understand what the government has done for them and the people all these years.”
So: if the government gave you your scholarship, woe betide you if you criticise them. No, wait: woe betide you if you indulge in any sort of “active politics” whatsoever while you’re a student! (And the same goes for lecturers).
I showed this story to the guys that work at the bar here, my jaw on the floor in disbelief, and it provoked a fascinating discussion about politics and the law (both state and Muslim), and what is and isn’t allowed here. And yes, students are not allowed to be politically active, nor do they have the vote here until they’re 21 (I was also told that no students of any age - including mature ones - are allowed to vote, either **Update: see comment from Suraya below**).
I certainly don’t mean to criticise Malaysia or its wonderful people (only its ruling party ;-0), and I’m certainly no patriot. But sometimes - as I have also found travelling to America - I feel very lucky to live in liberal Britain, where we can vote at 18; where same-sex unions are recognised; where there is no death penalty; and where political debate and analysis is open and virulent and sometimes, yes, bloody.
That said, the New Straits Times‘ arts coverage is impeccable. 
February 27th, 2008 at 3.47pm
So sorry for you listening to only the negative sides of the story,
fyi students are allowed to vote not only in Malaysia but also those studying oversea.
February 27th, 2008 at 3.54pm
thanks for the info Suraya - yes, as I say, I was told that, but didn’t take it as fact.
to be fair, the people I’ve spoken to here aren’t really giving me a negative picture - it’s more that my analysis of it, limited as it is, is that it is a negative thing, to live in a country where this is the political climate. I’m keen to keep learning more, especially about Malaysia’s history (and the British role in it) to see how this climate arose.
February 27th, 2008 at 6.16pm
Hi Andrea
As I was driving to work this morning, listening to Mid-Week on R4 *What time do you call this to arrive at work Dr Johnson?* Chris Wood was talking about his new album Trespassing and described the powers of English (specifically) folk music to mirror the particular root of Englishness: dissent. English because it died out so can now re-invent itself whereas Scottish or Irish is circumscribed by its traditional conventions, never having lost them. Apparently US folk music (which he described as anything from Cauntreee to Rap) has also always re-invented itself so that now that there aren’t so many cowboys songs can be written about shopping malls etc. Is Jazz dissent?
Also, when teaching Malaysian PhD students here - there are zillions at the University of Nottingham# I was always amazed at their initial a) willingness to do the ‘right’ thing, b) deference to supervisor and - at the root of it all - c) under-developed powers of critique. Which is not a good start for a British PhD which should contain elements of subversion, invention, originality, substantiated argument, telling superviser to sod off for being so ridiculously wrong/ill informed because the student is now more expert in the subject etc. HOWEVER, once the students had ‘got’ criticality, those students were marvellous because they had discipline, faithfulness and, now, and newly released powers of creativity inspired by freedoms.
ps US election coverage is not quite CNN John Snow like yet in the UK, but pretty evident. Just item one, two or three on the news depending on whether the desperate measures of Hilary Clinton outrank Northern Rock or atrocities against women and little people (the latter being repeated examples of the results of some British people not getting the link between liberty and responsibility).
Back to work …
# In fact if you walk down the road in Kuala Lumpur you’ll find a building that IS the University of Nottingham.
http://www.nottingham.edu.my/Pages/default.aspx
February 27th, 2008 at 6.25pm
Trespasser, sorry.
February 27th, 2008 at 7.33pm
“Is jazz dissent?” hmm.. well, in a way, here, I guess it is. I am told repeatedly that Malaysians/Penangites don’t really ‘get’ jazz; and that to have a jazz club in Penang is an uphill struggle. like jazz in many other countries, actually, it has a slightly underground following here, inhabited by a passionate few (jazz inspires geekiness bordering on autism - hence people collecting obscure Miles Davis outtakes etc). so given that, and the fact that people of all ages here seem to love their music prettily packaged, familiar and safe - ie what we would probably describe as cheesy pop - then, in a way, what we’re doing is slightly dissenting. although the jazz music that I make really is very safe, and familiar (can’t speak for prettily packaged). so I’m not exactly being the hero of ‘Footloose’.
what you say about US folk music reminds me of a quote of Clint Eastwood’s - who said that “there are only two American art forms: jazz and the Western”. what we need to remember is that these jazz songs which I’m doing were the popular music of their day. although jazz, of course, does have crossovers with American folk music; if you consider blues, say, to be folk music. which I think most people would.
and that’s fascinating, what you say about the Malaysian students. if the downside is a fear of dissent and of criticising authority, I can see in everyone here the upside of huge politeness and respect, and a very strong work ethic.
btw, it’s Peter Snow, not Jon Snow. although I have an even huger respect for (and crush on) the latter..
February 27th, 2008 at 7.42pm
Oh yes. Snow the Younger was also on Radio 4 lately. Maybe I had him in mind. His voice is spookily the same. I haven’t got a TV so couldn’t vouch for the crush factor. !!
February 27th, 2008 at 7.46pm
don’t worry, I haven’t got a TV either. I think I developed the crush several years ago, when I did :-).
February 27th, 2008 at 8.33pm
“jazz inspires geekiness bordering on autism” . That makes me feel a whole lot better :).
I recently came across a fellow Jazz fan who is also a plane spotter and a real ale fanatic. That’s quite a high level of geekiness in one person.
Mind you he did find us a really good bar in Toronto where the beer was brewed on the premises.
February 27th, 2008 at 9.02pm
Hey Andrea The University of Nottingham also has a campus in China! So you could do the student circuit: Kualar Lumpur, somewhere approaching nearness to Shanghai and, er the Bonnington Arts Theatre *remembers previous post*
Well actually the university has its own very nice arts centre http://www.lakesidearts.org.uk where some notable Jazz luminaries play. Shall I put you in touch with the VC?
February 28th, 2008 at 4.48pm
Rachel - does the University of Nottingham actually have a campus in Nottingham?
February 28th, 2008 at 5.14pm
Three campi
February 28th, 2008 at 5.17pm
Oh no sorry four. There’s one devoted to cows near East Midlands Airport, Main Campus (Boots money), Jubilee Campus (old Raleigh Factory) and Kings Meadow (old Carlton TV studios with lighting rigs still intact). You can do a tour in the Hopper Bus for free …
February 28th, 2008 at 5.17pm
btw update to my original post: BN has just won its eleventh seat. Again, unopposed.
February 28th, 2008 at 5.21pm
btw, part two - Peter, I take your point about the American media. but the two national, English language papers here aren’t just supporters of the ruling party: they’re part-owned/controlled by them.
see here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Straits_Times#Political_control_and_controversy
and here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star_%28Malaysia%29
February 28th, 2008 at 5.29pm
true, but is there a real difference? As with everything in advanced liberal capitalism, ownership appears to be something neutral, independent and purely economic. If the media is owned by rich and powerful men (it usually is men) and they are supporters or members of the ruing elite, then ownership is de facto tied up with power. The malaysian system is just more old-fashioned (and maybe honest) in saying “look we are in power, we should be in power, it is obviously god’s will, so therefore we also own the papers to make sure we stay in power”. Actually it is pretty much like the situation in the Soviet Union (without the God bit of course), in which power was exercised nakedly because only the Party is in a position to understand the truth.
February 28th, 2008 at 5.39pm
fair point. I agree that much of the British press do still, for example, carry news reports about government announcements as if they’re stories, when in fact, they’re simply acting as a mouthpiece for said government. but the lack of criticism and commentary - a mainstay of all British press, both right and left-wing, tabloid and broadsheet - has to be seen to be believed (or rather: not seen). it is, as I say, the difference between picking up a British newspaper and picking up a leaflet from your local Conservative MP.
February 28th, 2008 at 5.45pm
I’ll have to have alook at their websites sometime. It’ll be like reading Pravda
February 28th, 2008 at 5.45pm
oh, the good old days
February 28th, 2008 at 7.00pm
Pete, you really have to see that Tom Stoppard play. you sound like Max.
http://www.thevillager.com/villager_237/stoppardandthepower.html
and a final thought on the subject of student votes: people are denied a voice until they’re 21. so that does actually exclude any students under that age (I’d be interested to find out when people do their degrees here - do they generally go to college/university at 18?).
February 28th, 2008 at 7.17pm
ahh, here’s my answer, from studymalaysia.com:
“Higher education at Certificate and Diploma levels are for students from the age of 17 with SPM (which is equivalent to GCSE ‘O’ level) while the Bachelor’s degree level is usually for students from the age of 19/20 onwards with postsecondary qualifications such as the STPM (which is equivalent to GCE ‘A’ level) or Pre-University / University Foundation qualifications. “
February 28th, 2008 at 7.17pm
yes, it does look good. I must either see it or read it. Actually, I don’t know what I am any more. Years of Trotskyism (albeit a relatively liberal version) are as hard to slough off as is catholic guilt, but I don’t believe it any more, other than as a lovely dream about a better world. As soon as I get in a debate however, my brain (made of beer tins as it is) slips back into those patterns of thought as easily as an otter sliding into water. It may be principles or it may be intellectual laziness. Spot the difference.
February 28th, 2008 at 7.19pm
what about mature students, do they lose their right to vote while they are studying? And what is the logic of it anyway? If they do it because the realise that students are an uppity lot in general, then taking away their votes can only make it worse. Very odd.
February 28th, 2008 at 7.23pm
no, according to Suraya who commented here, students can vote (ie mature students too - even though someone told me here that as soon as you become a student, you lose your right to vote. that could be in government, as opposed to private, institutions, though. I don’t know). but my point is: under 21s definitely can’t vote. so that rules out an awful lot of the student population anyway.
February 28th, 2008 at 7.57pm
Oh I see, so no one under 21 can vote at all. well, at least there’s no discrimination then
February 28th, 2008 at 11.16pm
There’s no voting at all in the UAE. The selected family members of the two most important - and up to the creation of the UAE warring - tribes and the most powerful emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) are President and Vice-president of the UAE respectively. Other members of the families are head of military, health, business etc as well as having lots of businesses of their own. One example, the Minister of Higher Education is also Chancellor of a University and (get this) also owns it! No conflict of interest at all really.
There’s sort of law a.k.a. decrees, which can happen at any minute depending on mind of respective Sheik at the time.
But if you’re a decree breaker have enough wasta (not a made up word) you can go do the Diwan and argue with Sheik whatshisface to overturn the breach.
Apparently outright authoritarian decision making powers in the hands of one person was an accepted form of rule, because if everyone sat around chatting and voting on whether to turn left or to stop at the next watering hole they’d all die of thirst first.