Malaysia and the Iraq War

March 26, 2003

Malaysia is one of the least significant countries in Asia if you compare it to others in \terms of population, geographical area and economy together. It's economy pales in comparison to the giants of Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China and even neighbouring Singapore with a population one fifth of its size. Yet as a player in the Islam world, a world brought to the fore-front in this war where the conflict can be easily characterised as a War against Islam, Malaysia is far more significant.

As a country which inherited elements of democracy from its previous colonizers and its experience of gaining independence, Malaysia could be seen as one of the few Islam majority democracies, and one of the few highly successful "Islamic states" (though in the case of the latter, government leaders differ and sway in its definition with the tide of political objectives).

The gifted Malaysian Prime Minister Dato'' Seri Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad who led Malaysia to levels of economic success many felt impossible 20 years ago is set to retire in a few months from Malaysian politics and direct his energies to the world stage - positioning himself as both a spokesperson for the modern developing Islamic world as well as what the International Socialists once called the "South" - predominantly developing African, Asian and Latin American nations that still live in relative poverty compared (and many say because of) the rise of Western economies and latterly globalization and free trade.

Malaysia's political system can be variously described as a "benevolent autocracy", or a "developing democracy" - a mix of Islamic principles, Malay community, fondness for British style "titles" and aristocracy, and Confucian principles of a ruling class of "scholars" - and yes - even a touch of classic Greco-Roman democracy. But through it all runs a philosophy that those in power tell the voters what to do, rather than voters telling the rulers what to do. A garrulous "information ministry" controls the distribution of information, recognizing information as the power base of the information age, and acknowledging publicly that Malaysia is not yet ready for free speech, and that some issues are only appropriate for discussion in closed circles of "responsible" people. Once they have decided, and political debts and credits, the decision will be 'communicated' to the public as a fait accompli.

One of these issues is that of racial integration. Open discussion on aspects such as the positive discrimination policies in favour of the bumiputera (sons of the soil) have the strong possibility of being seen as "seditious" by the Malaysian legal system. It is an issue that the ruling class see as "too sensitive" for those who voted them in to handle responsibly, often causing casual visitors to Malaysia reading the local press and broadcast media to think they are back in kindergarten.

Malaysians are predominantly anti the Iraq war. And that's an under-statement. For the first time in living memory the Iraq war has unified the ruling Barisan Nasional government and their bitter rivals the fundamentalist PAS party on at least one point. So much so that members from both political groups staged a demonstration outside the US embassy yesterday. It was a small gathering of perhaps 100 or so, but in Malaysian terms it was significant.

While large swathes of citizens of the UK, US, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, Australia and many others took to the streets to mark their opposition, Malaysians were herded into the national sports stadium 3 weeks ago for their first opportunity for an outdoor demonstration.

The streets in Kuala Lumpur after all were not built for people.

They were built for Protons^[1].

In the typically modest Malaysian way, they sported signs - many distributed by a government aligned and patronaged "peace" group - that evoked the slogans of the peace marches in Western countries during the Vietnam era. But this time they canned the "Make" bit of the "Make love - not war" catch-cry.

The overwhelming opposition to the USA-led Iraq war in Malaysia is not surprising in the least. The only point in the war's favour is if it could reduce political terrorism, but sitting over here that is a big "if". The US propaganda machine has done a poor job at convincing others that this would be the case. Consider the factors lining up against the war in Malaysia -

Many Muslims in Malaysia, as well as the ruling government and main opposition parties, as those in many Islam majority countries, see the main problem facing the Arab, Muslim world and indeed maybe even the world as a whole is the Palestine-Israel conflict - not Iraq. They are right of course.

The ruling Barisan Nasional government's major threat is that they could continue to lose support to the more fundamentalist PAS party. Lining up on the US side against a Muslim country would be political suicide given the Malaysian political environment - with an election looming for the first time without the trump card of Mahathir on the ticket.

Muslims generally see government, authority and religion as intertwined as a "way of life". To the Islam world being governed by imans is as natural as it is anathema for Westerners to see themselves governed by priests. The Islam world-view is very different from the political principle of separation of powers adopted by modern Western democracies, embodied in this particular case in the separation of church (religion) and state. Now while Malaysia, like Iraq, is for all accounts and purposes a secular state, (though philosophically and to very different extents, guided by principles of Islam), an attack against a Muslim country or government is perceived as an attack against Muslims, a point repeatedly stressed by the Malaysian Prime Minister. Malaysia has also refused an American request followed in many countries to close the Iraq embassy. That's the "Muslim brotherhood" at work

Non Muslims in Malaysia, which account for around 45% of the population and a much larger proportion of economic activity and business ownership, are concerned for the implications for the stability of Malaysia as a whole, not the least Malaysian business, if fundamentalist religion gains a stronger foothold in government and society as a whole and challenges a political system which for all its failings, is acknowledged as a successful one by many of all faiths.

Finally, the reaction of Malaysians must be seen in perspective of Mahathir's ambitions as outlined above, and the power of the media in delivering that message to the locals. As the editor of the "New Straits Times" put it with candid honesty to a gathering of foreign journalists in the wake of the NAM conference last month - ...the NST is an establishment paper and should be expected to reflect the views of that establishment...

Westerners may look on at Malaysia in dismay, not so much because of the opposition to the Iraq war (as indeed a significant number of Westerners in Malaysia and worldwide share the same opinion, if not always for the same reasons), but for the fact that their highly respected Prime Minister not only says the Iraq war can be perceived as a "War Against Islam" but also says he believes it personally. To some minds such a view seems completely unsupported by objective evidence and contrary to what one should expect of a man of intelligence and medical training. After all, only recently did the US engage in a war that "liberated" Muslims, the US has many Muslim citizens, guarantees them freedom of worship and counts many as members of their armed forces presently in Iraq. Finally many educated and international Muslims disagree strongly with Mahathir.

Visitors to Kuala Lumpur maybe leafed through the government-owned leading English language newspaper "The New Straits Times" a couple of weeks ago and saw a photograph of the latest American missile with the editorial caption underneath - "Weapon of Mass Destruction".

Yet, a deeper understanding of Malaysian culture and politics explains this quite rare situation in contemporary Malaysian history, throughout the hawker stalls, teh houses, mosques, churches, temples, community centres, pubs and Starbucks coffee bars from the South to the Islamic states in the North, Malaysians are in agreement as never before against a common threat.

Maybe it goes further too. This is a war that may make sense to many in the US military/economic/industrial complex. It may also make sense to Us citizens. The US has by far the most to gain from this war for many reasons that space precludes further elucidation. But to many in the world outside the US - and the ruling political élites and even the people themselves in the Arab, Muslim and South East Asian world in particular - the disadvantages still outweigh the advantages.

Notes 1: 'Proton' is the most popular Malaysian car, sporting an overwhelming market share due to import levies on foreign made cars.

Chao Phraya River Rat in Politics and Government on March 26, 2003 04:11 PM

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Comments

the truth have already prevailed.....Mahatihir is right all along

Posted by: Mohd xeli on April 18, 2003 09:17 AM

While Malaysia's Prime Minister Dr Mahathir is often critical of Western developed countries, many in the West are equally critical of his style of government. Stifled freedom of the press and the continued detention without trial of opposition politicians are just two often put criticisms. But amongst developing countries, Dr Mahathir is considered something of a visionary, and his achievements in Malaysia something to aspire to.

The Non-Aligned Movement's summit in Kuala Lumpur has provided Dr Mahathir with a perfect platform to espouse his criticisms of the Western developed world. With Nam searching for new guiding principles, there are many developing nations willing to listen to vintage Mahathir statements like this.

The domination of the world by a select few remains. This is evident in their control of the international media and its institutions which deal with issues of world security and economy. The domination now extends into the imposition of their values and standards in total disregard for the cultures and traditions of others.

While Doctor Mahathir is sometimes viewed in the West as a loose cannon, amongst developing countries like East Timor his brand of politics is widely respected including East Timor's Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta.

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