A little background on Datuk Ambiga
Datuk Ambiga has been known for her push behind the Bersih movements. But very few know of her background and that of her family's, and what they all did for the nation they love called Malaysia. Yet , some racial bigots amongst us have taken the liberty to request the cancellation of her citizenship, threaten her life, waive their butts at her, and serve beef burgers in front of her house an offense to one who considers herself a vegetarian Hindu. What were these ones doing 40 years ago, when Ambiga's father was setting up the nation's first urology unit? Did they even pause to think what this family has done for the nation of Malaysia as loyal citizens, when they went on to denigrate them as pendatangs who didn't belong here? How many women among us Malaysian were recognized in the USA by the most powerful women there ... Mrs Clinton and Obama, for being a leading woman in today's society? View the link below: http://www.thenutgraph.com/watching-malaysia-change/
US
first lady Michelle Obama (right) and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
hand Ambiga the Secretary of State's Award for International Women of Courage,
on 11 March 2009 (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images North America, Source:
Zimbio)
DATUK
Ambiga Sreenevasan’s reference point for how aware Malaysians are about issues
is the taxi driver. The respected lawyer and former Malaysian Bar president is
no stranger to being scolded by taxi drivers while she is dressed up in her
courtroom garb.
“‘Aiya,
this judiciary, can buy,’ one told me,” Ambiga says. “They are very critical,
and are very clear on what is right and wrong.”
The
Malaysian taxi driver is one of her gauges of public awareness, and the senior
lawyer is convinced that nobody should underestimate the Malaysian public’s
understanding of issues.
Indeed,
Ambiga’s seen quite a lot in her own life. The
Nut Graph talked to her on 26 May 2009 at
her office in Kuala Lumpur about growing up through 13 May 1969, watching the
1988 judicial crisis unfold, and the changing attitudes of Malaysians.
We are
all pendatangs. Where are you from?
My father
was born and bred in Malaysia. My mother was from South India, and my father
married her and brought her to Malaysia.
My
paternal grandfather was also from South India. I think it was a question of looking
for opportunities, for him. He was an assistant commissioner for labour.
My
parents have three children. I was born in Seremban, on 13 November 1956; my
father, who was a doctor, was posted there.
My
father, Datuk Dr G Sreenevasan, was one of our pioneer urologists. He was the
main person behind the Institute of Urology and Nephrology in Hospital Kuala
Lumpur. I remember him spending longs days and nights planning this.
Ambiga's
father and the staff of the Institute of Urology Nephrology on his retirement
from government service at the age of 52 (Courtesy of Ambiga Sreenevasan)
Growing
up, I remember that my father was very inspired by Tunku Abdul Rahman, and his
call for all races to unite. My father had many opportunities abroad, but he
decided to stay here; he wanted to build something up in Malaysia. And he did.
All my
father’s friends and colleagues were like that. Those people who lived through
independence really had the spirit of nationalism in them. The drive that they
had — unfortunately we’ve lost that now. Comparing them with Malaysians today,
I understand when people of that generation tell me: you don’t know what it is
to want to build up our country.
What was
school like?
I went to
Convent Bukit Nenas from Form One to Upper Six. I remember that my friends and
I had a strong sense of “Malaysianism”.
This was
after 1969. It’s true that 13 May destroyed a lot of trust. But
then there was the Rukunegara, which we all had to learn — seemingly real
attempts to bring people together. We were happy to strengthen our command of
Bahasa (Malaysia), for example.
It felt
as if — in my school, at least, where the student body was mixed — there was a
coming together of the races. It was a healing period.
Let’s
backtrack. What was 13 May like?
I was 13
at the time. On the day it happened, we got a message from the school
authorities: Go home early. My mother came to pick me up.
Father
G Sreenevasan and mother Visalakshi (Courtesy of Ambiga Sreenevasan)
Well, we lived in Kampung Baru, at the time. On
Jalan Putra — now Jalan Raja Muda 1. This was not far from the then-Selangor
menteri besar’s home. We were there because it was close to the General
Hospital, so it was easy for my father to get to work. Ours was the last house
on the row. My father was overseas at the time, so it was just mother and us
children, my uncle and aunt, and the household cook.
At 6pm we
saw people running past, wearing headbands. Soon after, we heard screams.
Later, there were cars being burnt in the field. The house behind us was burnt.
We were always safe, though. I don’t know why. Maybe it was because we had
lived there so long, so everyone knew us. Or maybe it was because we were
Indian [Malaysian].
When my
father got back, about a week after 13 May, he helped out at the hospital,
treating people with injuries. He said: “I read about the riots, but I never
imagined it would be this bad.”
It was
bad. We had never before seen anything like that. For a long time after,
whenever I heard fireworks going off, I would feel nervous.
What was
university like?
When I
went to university in the UK, my horizons expanded and I learnt about freedom
of thought and speech — and what these concepts meant in real terms. When I
visited the Bar there, I saw how a functioning democracy operated. This time
was a very important part in moulding my views on human rights and fundamental freedoms.
I came
back and joined the Malaysian Bar in 1982. It was a wonderful organisation,
even then. Being a young lawyer, I remember being petrified to appear before
people like Tan Sri Eusoffe Abdoolcader — he would chew you up if you didn’t
know your brief. He was so respected because he knew your brief, and the law,
and was of the highest integrity and intellect.
Ambiga
and Tun Salleh Abbas
In
fact, I’d appeared before all the judges who were later suspended in the
judicial crisis.
It was a
real shock to the system. Our first three prime ministers never touched the
judiciary; probably this was because they were lawyers themselves. Our
judiciary was a very respected institution.
I
remember, as the tribunals were in progress, a group of us lawyers sitting at
the back of the courtroom and watching. To see these men, who had so much
self-respect, to be treated in that shabby way — we couldn’t believe it.
I
remember going home and bursting into tears. It was like someone demolishing
your house while you’re standing in it.
Things
are getting better since those dark times. But, ultimately, when it comes to
the judiciary, it is up to the judges themselves to act courageously, now.
When did
you become aware about race?
Race was
always there. We were always aware of it, but it wasn’t as divisive as it is
today. The New Economic Policy worked quite well, initially.
Then the
abuses started: the enrichment of a few at the expense of the many who actually
needed it. And these few became arrogant. Playing the race card suited them,
because it solidified their positions.
I think,
very frankly, that politicians are responsible for bringing so much racism into
our society. I think it suited the politicians to play on our differences
instead of what unites us.
But the
arrogance that grew with this has been rejected by the people. I’m talking
about the March 2008 elections. What we saw was a rejection of racist rhetoric.
People were fed up. Previously, the 13 May bogey used to work — but that’s not
working any more.
Where do
you think we are going, now?
I like to
think of Malaysian history as being divided into three phases.
R
Gopal Ayer, Ambiga's grandfather (Courtesy of Ambiga Sreenevasan)
The initial years, during my father’s time, when there was this nationalistic feeling, this drive to show the world that we could be an independent and united nation.
Then a
long period, during which things became more divisive. A time when we appeared
to have economic prosperity, but also had so much corruption and racism.
And now,
a third phase: the push for change.
Correct
me if I’m wrong, but a lot of young Malaysians now feel no connection with 13
May. They don’t come from that past. There is a disconnect between the youth,
and old politics.
My father’s generation adored Tunku. I don’t know
whether we will get that feeling again. But you need this generation saying:
the world has moved on, so let
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This site contains comments and articles on current issues affecting us,Malaysians. They views expressed are my own, gained through experience over the years,as an ordinary citizen who worked as a doctor and then a surgeon and retired as such.
Monday, June 11, 2012
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