Asia Times: Critics struggle to make political space



	February 26, 1999	atimes.com

Southeast Asia

Critics struggle to make political space
By Anil Netto

PENANG, Malaysia - There might be a lot of politicalferment in Malaysia these days, but that does not mean that spacefor political parties has increased by much in a society that haslong frowned on open dissent.

This is a fact that organizers of the Socialist Party ofMalaysia are realizing, after their registration as a newpolitical party was rejected by the government's Registrar ofSocieties on Jan. 27.

Party organizers appealed the decision on Feb. 23, but do notexpect a quick resolution of the case.

The registrar, under Malaysia's home ministry, approves theformal listing of political and non-government groups in thecountry.

The refusal to register the Socialist Party reflects thegovernment's jitters over a resurgence of opposition circles inrecent months, and is a blow to activists who had hoped for morepolitical platforms.

The rejection is a grave attack on the fundamental right tofreedom of association enshrined in the Federal Constitution,parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said.

Newspaper reports suggested that the activists had notfulfilled the requirements for setting up a party, but activistssay the rejection letter did not explain why their application wasturned down.

Mohd Nasir Hashim, chair of the initial committee of theSocialist Party, said the application toregister the party was submitted as early as April 30, 1998.

Since then, activists say attempts to get more information fromthe registrar on the progress of their application wereunsuccessful.

The registrar should have actively assisted in the party'sregistration even if it is true that there had been incompleteinformation on the application, said Lim.

''The bottom line is, the Registrar of Societies must neverbecome an instrument to stifle the freedom of association ofMalaysians,'' he added.

A disappointed S. Arutchelvan, the Socialist Party'ssecretary pro-tem, said in an interview that many letters to the Registrarof Societies went unanswered.

He recounted a 1998 meeting with an official in the registrar'soffice in Selangor state, which appeared to indicate footdragging.''Three times, in front of us, she referred to three differentbooks but failed to locate the respective sections'' to supporther contentions, Arutchelvan said.

The proponents of the Socialist Party work with plantationworkers, squatters, factories workers and street hawkers. Theysupport marginal communities in the capital, Kuala Lumpur,Selangor, its northern neighbour Perak and southern Johor state.

''We have been planning to set up a party since 1991,'' saysArutchelvan. ''Our grassroots areas wanted us to field candidatesin elections."

He said the party aimed to field candidates in a handful ofseats and would work with other opposition parties in opposingPrime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's ruling coalition.

The Barisan Nasional coalition, where Mahathir's United MalaysNational Organisation (UMNO) party is the dominant force, hasgoverned the country since independence in 1957.

But opposition parties, emboldened by restlessness in the wakeof a recession and the ''reformasi'' campaign of ousted deputypremier Anwar Ibrahim, have been feverishly gearing up tochallenge the coalition's hold on power in a general election dueto be called by April 2000.

Just on Sunday, a coalition of opposition parties and humanrights groups asked Malaysians to oust the Mahathir government andsaid it would work for that in the coming polls.

''We strongly believe it's an ideological issue,'' Arutchelvansays of the difficulties of registration. ''We want to put forwardthe socialist agenda in the forefront of national politics as analternative to capitalism."

The move to set up the new party comes at a time when therecession's efforts are biting, with lay-offs, rising food prices andcutbacks on bonuses, overtime pay and salary increments.

Judging by other applications, the Socialist Party may wellhave a long wait.

Also waiting for the Registrar of Societies to approve itsapplication for registration is the new Social Justice Movement(ADIL), headed by Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anwar's wife.

''The Registrar of Societies should explain why the applicationfor the registration of ADIL has not yet been approved,'' saidLim.

Launched on Human Rights Day, Dec. 10, last year, ADILsubmitted its application to the Registrar on Dec 19. ''Theprocessing for the approval for the registration of any societyshould not take more than two weeks,'' Lim added.

Oppositionists say the government is clearly wary of giving theformal go-ahead to political groups at a time of unease in thewake of Anwar's arrest and trial, thinking this may encourage moredissent.

The bias against groups not allied with the government is alsoevident in the haste with which the bureaucracy in the past actedon the applications of those close to the ruling authorities, theyadd.

For instance, Lim pointed out: ''It is well-known history thatthe Registrar of Societies took minutes to approve the applicationfor the establishment of UMNO Baru (New UMNO)'' in 1988 afterMahathir's UMNO had been de-registered following a lawsuit.

(Inter Press Service)

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