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MP Free As Malaysian Tensions Grow

I’m an outsider here in Kuala Lumpur. It’s not only my skin color, my blonde hair, my well-developed American pudge but also my mindset and utter inability to understand that current political machinations going on in the nation’s government. One man, Anwar Ibrahim, found guilty and jailed on sodomy (which I think means being homosexual in Malaysia) charges in years previous, has been accused of the crime again as he tries to take over the government by luring other politicians to cross party lines and support his government. He is well-liked by the West but not so much by certain Malaysians who see him as having wanted to sell out Malaysia to the World Bank and IMF during the financial crisis of ‘98.

The political battles have also touched those reporting on it. Two bloggers were arrested without charge while one journalist arrested along with the above-mentioned MP has been released. Some people I’ve talked with have been dismissive of the censorship and arrests but I find it rather strange to see such things occurring in a country that prides itself on being “better” and more progressive than other nations in Southeast Asia. There is a pride here, in the soaring architecture of the city’s skyline, in the national identity that is still being forged, that seems to allow the overlooking of these little problems. Both the two major English language newspapers here, The New Straits Times and The Star, do not have a single word about the detained bloggers on their front pages.

Both bloggers have since been released, yet it is troubling to think that more could be detained for “sedition” under the Internal Security Act as the current government seeks to control its image and retain power in the face of internal forces trying to take it over. From what I understand of how things function here (which is admittedly very little and probably not accurate), if the opposition gets in power, it’s doubtful things would be much different for bloggers on the other side of the aisle if they happened to dig up something.

With the advent of blogs, free speech has become easier for many in difficult circumstances and controlling political regimes. Yet, that same freedom has begun to carry a heavy weight. The Chinese authorities are well-known for arresting and jailing bloggers for long periods of time or, if that’s not effective enough, beating them to death. The Russian government also has no compunctions about (very publicly) getting rid of dissidents, print or online. It’s sad that a country such as Malaysia that is striving to be looked upon as a model in a region with fragile political stability is resorting to such backwards tactics rather than freely allowing the discussion of what seems to be a serious crisis in the halls of parliament here.

If more arrests occur, I will try and report on them from the ground here. Let’s hope that I don’t have to.

kickdefella – blog of second arrested blogger
Malaysia Today – blog of first arrested blogger