At the start of the year, none could have predicted that events in Malaysia would make headlines around the world.
From the shock announcement of the prime minister's intended resignation to Western-led allegations of terrorism links to Malaysia, there was much to excite the imagination or feed the rumour mills.
Encouragingly, more Malaysians took vociferous part in debating issues that affected their civil and political rights, chalking up small but significant victories.
So, if we had to rate 2002, we'd say it was a year worth remembering and mostly for the right reasons.
- Mahathir resigns, Fadzil Noor dies
The issue
: Two of the longest-running political careers were wound up, causing after-shocks for the second-rung hierarchy in Umno and opposition party PAS.
On June 22, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad stunned the nation when he tearfully and unexpectedly announced his resignation from both Umno and government posts after 21 years in power. The next day, however, party leaders said his retirement would take effect only after the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Kuala Lumpur next October. Mahathir named his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as successor and later said he would not contest the general election due by November 2004.
The morning after Mahathir's announcement, PAS president and Opposition Leader Fadzil Mohd Noor died , two weeks after undergoing heart surgery. Deputy president and Terengganu Mentri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang was appointed acting leader until party elections next year. He was later appointed the Opposition Leader.
What's next : Speculation about the identity of Abdullah's deputy will be laid to rest. A robust contest is expected for the three vice-presidential posts in the next Umno election, postponed until the general election is held possibly in the middle of next year. The timing hinges on Mahathir's departure, as he will first take two months' leave.
In the PAS ranks, Abdul Hadi's Islamic firebrand image and hardline stance on religious issues are expected to take strategies forward to declare Malaysia an Islamic state. This will have an impact on campaigning during the next general election, at which the party is confident it can secure more parliamentary and state seats.
The issue
: Malaysia first landed in the international spotlight on terrorism activity when a January
Newsweek
report claimed that the country was a
launchpad
for the Sept 11 attacks in the United States.
Several subsequent reports hinted at a Malaysian link although its precise nature has not been fully explained. Notably, reports said that key leaders of the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) network Indonesians Abu Bakar Bashir and Riduan Isamuddin aka Hambali had spent a decade in Malaysia while in exile and had established several religious schools. Three students from these schools have since been arrested in Indonesia on suspicion of masterminding the Bali bombing in October.
Also in October, American terrorist suspect Ahmed Bilal Ibrahim was found to be studying at a Malaysian university. He was deported after the US revoked his passport. In November, Malaysian police arrested three men who claimed to be part of a suicide bombing team intending to target the US embassy in Singapore.
Police also detained more than 50 suspected militants over the year for alleged connections with JI and its local chapter, Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia, bringing the total number to 72 since last year.
In addition, the government agreed in November to host a regional anti-terrorism centre in partnership with the US. Details are being worked out, but will not involve US troops being based here.
What's next : Unless US expectations are met, Malaysia may face demands to make further concessions that prove its commitment to the war on terror. Refusal may not be an option, and could unleash domestic fury. More KMM members could be arrested in the continuing police sweep.
The issue
: As with previous attempts on educational reform, a huge uproar erupted when Dr Mahathir proposed the revival of
English-language
education in primary schools. When even Umno rejected his plan, it was modified to cover the teaching of Science and Mathematics.
Between May and October, vernacular education groups sent up a barrage of objections, in which parents, educators and political parties joined. As the issue became politicised, opponents were labelled 'extremists' and 'chauvinists', and government leaders threatened the use of draconian laws to silence dissent. A compromise will see the plan being implemented at the first stage of the lower, middle and higher schools from next month. Chinese primary schools are allowed to employ their own strategies to meet the same objective.
On a related front, meritocracy was accepted as the criteria for entry to public universities this year, moving the tertiary education system away from the dual examination system used to assess bumiputra and non-bumiputra candidates respectively.
What's next? Teachers and students will find it tough coming to grips with the sudden move to revive proficiency in English. In administrative terms, teething problems are anticipated in view of the relatively short lead-up time for implementation of the policy.
The issue
: Terengganu's PAS-led legislative assembly passed the Hudud and Qisas Enactment in July. Enforcement is pending. Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang said a delegation would be sent to the Middle East to study implementation.
In June, the DAP launched its nationwide 'No to 929' campaign to protest an announcement on Sept 29, 2001, when Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad described Malaysia as an Islamic state. DAP leaders were repeatedly arrested for distributing allegedly seditious material, but were not charged.
What's next : Umno and PAS have tried to outdo one another as to which is the more Islamic in outlook. This will have legal, constitutional and human rights consequences for Malaysia's pluralistic society.
The issue
: The infamous Internal Security Act (ISA) came under intense public scrutiny this year after the Federal Court
ruled
in favour of six reformasi activists in September, declaring that they had been unlawfully detained by police for interrogation over 60 days under the ISA. However, as the Home Affairs Minister had already signed the order to detain them for two years, they were not freed. Opposition parties and civil society groups
lambasted
the government and the courts. However, the ruling gave fresh impetus to the anti-ISA movement.
Its fury increased when ISA detainee Nasaruddin Nasir was re-arrested after the Shah Alam High Court ordered his release in November on the basis of his habeas corpus application.
In mid-December, the ISA Review Board recommended the release of five of the 'Reformasi 6' excluding Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, who is also serving a two-year jail sentence for breach of the Official Secrets Act. However, it is uncertain if the government will act on the recommendations.
What's next : The act may be amended if a statement by de facto Law Minister Dr Rais Yatim is backed by the Parliament, in order to prevent any further court cases. However, this may backfire because the public has begun to notice the misuse of the act, partly due to vigorous campaigning by activists on the anti-ISA bandwagon.
The issue
: In August, a new immigration law was enforced, allowing for the jailing and caning of illegal immigrants. This sparked an exodus of over 400,000 foreign workers who had no valid
documents
.
Allegations of ill-treatment and sexual abuse dogged Malaysia's handling of the situation. The governments of Indonesia and Philippines condemned the exercise.
A 13-year-old girl alleged rape by policemen while at a detention centre in Sabah, evoking strong response from the Philippines to which she was deported. She was later determined to be a Malaysian citizen and returned in December.
The vacuum created by the departing workforce brought the construction industry to a standstill. The government then issued over 400,000 work permits, drawing criticism of its flip-flop policy.
What's next : Poor enforcement of legal provisions against employers who contribute to making workers 'illegal' bodes ill for resolution of the problem. Malaysians may see a repeat of the exodus in a few years' time.
The issue
: Citizens in three localities mobilised to pit their willpower and political strength to reject three multi-million ringgit projects, and prevailed on two occasions.
The federal government relocated the RM1.5 billion thermal incinerator plant from Kampung Bohol, Puchong, to Broga, Semenyih, thanks to intense public pressure. Residents threatened not to vote for the ruling Barisan Nasional in the coming general election.
The Petaling Jaya municipal council was forced to amend almost three-quarters of the local plan draft after residents raised objections to it. Between their vocal participation in the consultative process and their connections to influential politicians, the residents forced the council to back down.
The Penang Outer Ring Road, a RM1.02 billion government highway project scheduled for completion in 2005, not only raised grassroots protests, but caused a rift between Barisan Nasional component parties. In December, two MCA state assembly representatives were indefinitely suspended by the party for abstaining from voting against a DAP-led motion to defer the project.
What's next : Citizens with a higher level of political consciousness will look at opportunities that arise before the next general election to see where they can gain similar concessions.
The issue
: English-language daily
The Sun
retrenched
some 300 journalists. Coming in the wake of publication of a story last December on a foiled plot to assassinate the prime minister and his deputy, the move implied that political pressure had been exerted because of the daily's critical coverage of issues. It is now a free sheet.
In May, Malay tabloid Perdana Sari had its permit suspended for three months. It had made allegations about Puteri Umno chief Azalina Othman Said's sexual orientation and claimed that she had misused party funds. The tabloid has not resumed publication since the suspension order expired in August.
In September, Chinese-language daily Oriental Daily News had its publishing permit suspended on the day it launched its first edition. By December, it had agreed to the Home Affairs Ministry's condition that several journalists be asked to leave, in return for re-issuance of the permit. The Chinese newspaper market is controlled by Sarawakian tycoon Tiong Hiew King's Pemandangan Sinar and MCA investment arm Huaren Holdings.
What's next : The media will remain on a tight leash despite journalists' efforts to step up advocacy of press freedom. Owners will toe the official line, in order to preserve the bottom line.
The issue
: If political parties suspect that an "invisible hand" determines their existence as legal entities, this appears to have been proven true in two cases.
In November, the Registrar of Societies (ROS) approved the registration of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party just three days after Sarawak National Party was deregistered. Approvals usually take much longer. Snap was deregistered after two factions scrapped over who had the right to be the office bearers.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), which took the Home Affairs Ministry to court for delaying its registration application, is awaiting a decision by the Kuala Lumpur High Court. Both sides completed their arguments in November. The ROS says approval has been delayed because the party has not complied with rules, while the ministry claims that the party is a 'threat' to national security.
What's next : A favourable High Court decision would provide PSM and civil society groups an avenue to press the ROS for speedier approval of pending applications.
The issue
: Election processes occupied the attention of voters as a record number of by-elections were held over the year, and a redelineation exercise was completed.
Four by-elections three for state seats were called due to the death of the elected representatives of Indera Kayangan (Perlis), Ketari (Pahang), and Anak Bukit and Pendang (Kedah). Barisan Nasional (BN) won all but the Anak Bukit state seat, which PAS retained.
In Sabah, the Gaya by-election was held in October following the Federal Court ruling which upheld the Election Court's decision that Gaya MP and former Sabah chief minister Yong Teck Lee had breached the Election Offences Act in the 1999 outing.
This year, too, the Election Commission completed its redelineation exercise, giving the largest number of new seats to Johor, Selangor and Sabah. However, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah were not allocated new seats.
What's next : The general election is due by November 2004, and may be held next year. If the opposition loses again, it may attribute this to a 'political ploy' in seat allocation that benefits BN.
Article prepared by the malaysiakini team.
