©New
Sunday Times (Used by permission)
by Aniza Damis
OVER the past week, many illustrious people and journalists have condemned the
demonstrations against the Bar Council forum on Aug 9.
But I think it was a sterling example of how wonderfully democratic we have become.
Nearly a year ago, I wrote about the Bar Council's Walk for Justice, when the
Malaysian Bar walked from the Palace of Justice to the Prime Minister's Office.
Seeing the peaceful protest, I commented that the public and Royal Malaysia
Police seemed well on the way to learning how to be democratic.
Last week's demonstration, this time against the Bar Council, showed that
Malaysia has been on a sharp learning curve: we have advanced so far that even a
less–than–peaceful protest is acceptable.
Consider this. The Bar Council forum was not declared
illegal; the content of the forum was not declared illegal; the forum was held
at the Bar Council building, which is private premises.
About 500 people stood outside the building, blocking the street, shouting,
protesting, and condemning. They also threatened to storm the building. Not one
was arrested.
Even as little as a year ago, any demonstrating group without a police permit
hurling abuses at a legally–convened meeting, would have been ordered to
disperse, then water–cannoned, tear–gassed and, if they remained adamant,
arrested and escorted to police vehicles.
Instead, what happened was that the police functioned only as a buffer between
the demonstrators and the forum organisers and participants. In fact, as the
riot police shuffled in to control the swelling crowd, it seemed as if they were
reluctant to even be there.
This, to me, is proof that the authorities have come to accept demonstrations ––
peaceful or otherwise –– as a right in our democratic society.
Demonstrators have also become more sophisticated. While protesters of early
days used to spray–paint slogans on old bedsheets, this time, one group, the
Muslim Consumer Organisation, came with a dozen large, high–quality,
professionally manufactured banners that must have cost about RM500 each.
Even though inflation is driving some poor Malay families to consuming just
instant noodles and fried eggs several days a week, the Muslim Consumer
Organisation obviously understood that, if you want to protest, you can't do it
in half–measures.
Meanwhile, inside the Bar Council's auditorium, the forum to discuss the
problems faced by non–Muslim families when a family member converts to Islam was
under way.
A young Chinese woman spoke about how her father had converted to Islam to marry
an Iranian. A few years after this, he died.
And the Muslim faraid inheritance system did not recognise the non–Muslim wife
as his wife, nor the non–Muslim children as his children.
"Can you imagine, the house you've been living in for 30 years is declared not
your house," the young woman sobbed.
Listening to all this, I thought it was quite right for government leaders and
de facto opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to have called for the forum
to be closed–door.
Because then the discussion would only involve religious leaders, and we
wouldn't have to listen to the sad stories of these sad families, and feel sad.
About an hour into the forum, the police came in, followed by a handful of
protesters who wanted to enforce an early shutdown of the forum.
I don't know how it is with other cultures, but I was taught that when you want
to enter someone's home, you have to first give the salam (greeting of good
wishes) to the host, then wait to be invited in before stepping over the
threshold.
If you give the salam three times and no one answers, then you should go away
peacefully.
Naturally, the gate–crashing came as a shock.
But then, I remembered the virtue for which Malaysia is famous: tolerance of
other cultures. Obviously, the culture I had been brought up in is but one of
the many different cultures that co–exist harmoniously in Ma–laysia.
When Professor Mehrun Siraj, a law professor who has taught at least an entire
generation of lawyers in several Malaysian universities (and is probably now
teaching the children of her first students), stood in front of the hall and
started to speak, a couple of protesters, including Peninsular Malay Students
Federation vice–president Jais Abdul Kari, yelled at her at the top of their
lungs, trying to shout her down.
I was upset by this. I was as angry as I would have been if they had been
shouting at my own mother.
But then, I realised that this must be this culture's way of showing respect to
elders.
So, I calmed down.
After the forum was declared officially ended, Jais shouted, "Everyone get out!
Take only the stairs, so that we can see that all of you vacate this building.
"We will not leave until you all get out!" and stood by the auditorium's main
door, like a host who's trying to kick out rowdy party guests.
Some people might find this disturbing. But the beauty is it brought together
people of different ideologies.
For instance, two protesters, one from Pas, the other from Umno rather happily
and proudly said, "See! Who said Pas and Umno can't work together!"
Meanwhile, at the front of the auditorium, PKR member of parliament Zulkifli
Nordin was telling Bar Council officers off: "Don't touch (on) Islam. Don't
touch (on) Muslims."
The fact that members from the Islamist Pas, ultra–Malay Umno and secularist
multiracial PKR can come together, focused on a shared belief, instead of
bickering over political differences, shows how mature and fluid politics has
become in this country.
The greatest proof of democracy at work that day was this: Might is right.
Unlike in other countries where Muslims are the minority and have to patiently
engage with the non–Muslims and convince them Islam is a peaceful religion and
our God is merciful and just, over here, the Muslim majority can just tell
people to shut up.
Many people might be opposed to this, but I sincerely hope democracy will be
allowed to flourish.
Then I can quit my day job and go into the banner–making business.