New CJ, a fresh hope for judiciary?

Fresh hopes to regain past glory

I refer to "CJ vows to do what’s right" (Star,December 12)

The pledge by newly-appointed Chief Justice(CJ), Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohamad to improve the public’s perception of the judiciary is very encouraging. He has already passed the first test by admitting that the public perceptions of the judiciary were disturbing and need to be changed.

Light moment: Abdul Hamid (right) sharing a light moment
with Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Zaki Tun Azmi (left)
and former chief justice Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah
after the appointment ceremony of the two top judges yesterday
(Star.Dec.12,2007)

The next step would be to put into practice what he honestly believes to be right to correct that perception. We are confident he will do just that, but it is equally important that he motivate his fellow judges to do likewise. He should impress them that the rights and welfare of the rakyat must be the only consideration when discharging their highly noble duties entrusted upon them.

Of late the reputation, intergrity and impartiality of the judiciary have been seriously tainted by alleged malpractices. Whether they are true or otherwise is not the issue here. What is important in that these events have given a negative public perception of the judiciary and that must be corrected at all costs? It should be the top priority of the new CJ and it is encouraging that rightly he has made it so.

We fully agree with Abdul Hamid that the judiciary is the last frontier of the nation and if people have no confidence in the courts, there will be chaos. The rakyat’s hope for ultimate justice depends on a judiciary that is seen as clean, fair and independent and not subservient to any parties. Unless it can convince its impartiality beyond doubts, it will never gain the confidence of the people.

Abdul Hamid may not have much time to succeed in his endeavor but at least he can initiate the changes for the judiciary to regain its past glory. The ordinary man on the street has nowhere to turn to justice except the judiciary and if the institution, that is established to grant him justice fails or even seen to have failed, it would be a great tragedy not only to the person who seeks fair play but also the institution itself.

Dr.Chris Anthony

Hindraf rally : don't divert from the real issue

No justification for crushing a helpless minority

Over 30,000 Indians took to the streets on November 25 to plead for their rights that have been systematically reduced over the last 50 years. It was a cry for help from a community that is being marginalized either intentionally or unintentionally. The majority of those who took part in the demonstration were ordinary peaceful citizens who are ignorant of the political power - play at the helms of the government.

Some of the protesters were arrested and charged for attempted murder and denied bail. This is probably the first time, civil protesters are being charged under such a law. There is no doubt it was intended to intimidate other potential demonstrators. The Attorney General (AG) made a rare and unprecedented appearance to personally prosecute these protesters. Many more are waiting to be similarly charged.

It is absurd that the leaders of Hindraf are being labeled as terrorists and the ground is being prepared for their arrest under the ISA which allows detention without trial. A terrorist is defined as one who threatens violent action for political purposes. I fail to see how pleading for one’s legitimate rights constitute terrorism? Any way the issue here is not whether they are terrorists but the plight of the Indians. It would be unfair for the government to divert the attention from the real issue.

Instead of trying to understand their plight, it is unfortunate that the government has chosen to confront them head on, mobilizing all the resources at its disposal, to crush the protesters and the powerless Indian community. Imagine at one end we have the mighty UMNO-led BN government and the other is a helpless and poverty-stricken tiny Indian community. A rally that was to be a peaceful one, was brutally crushed by the police. It is disturbing to see the devious methods the government resorted to crush a small minority Indian community, which comprises about just 8% of the population.

What chance does the poor Indian community have against the wrath of the UMNO-led BN government? When the Opposition in 1987, the judiciary in 1988 and even the popular Anwar Ibrahim in 1998 stood no chance against UMNO and the BN, where does the Indian community stand against this bullying tactics of the government? Why should the government treat the Indians like this when they pose no threat to them? They were asking for the rights due to them and not questioning the position or privileges of the Malays. At no time did the Indians let down the Alliance or the BN. In fact they have been working hand in hand with them all these years to bring the nation to where it is today.

The protest is a signal that all is not well with the Indian community. It should act as a wake up call for the government and particularly the MIC.Instead of engaging the Hindraf leaders in dialogue, Datuk Seri Samy Velu, the leader of MIC, had found it more appropriate to suppress and punish them for highlighting the plight of the Indians. It may be understandable that UMNO leaders are calling the Prime Minister to invoke the Internal Security Act(ISA) against the Hindraf leaders but difficult to digest how Samy Velu, who is the sole representative of the Indian community in the cabinet and the BN government, can also call for their arrest under the same draconian law. Isn’t this an act of treason and traitorous to his own people? Instead he has a moral obligation towards his community to make the government realize that there is no justification to crush a helpless minority who has been a steadfast ally all these years.

Malaysian Indians in general agree that they are being marginalized and they are in a very deplorable state. Samy Velu alone says the Indians are being well taken care and are doing extremely well and there is nothing to protest about. He should for once, for the sake of his own people, put aside politics and search his conscience and come up with sincere answers to a few questions. Haven’t the Indians lost most of out they had over the last 50 years? Are they really better off now than before? If the prevailing conditions continue, do they really have a bright future in their own country? If he is in doubt, the best way is for him to conduct a referendum among the Indian community.

The government should realize that the era of confrontational and combatant attitude is over. If we want to join the ranks of other developed nations, we must adopt a policy of tolerance and dialogue with all, friends and even with our adversaries.

Dr.Chris Anthony

World Human Rights Day - where are our rights?

Human rights march: 5 lawyers arrested

Syed Jaymal Zahiid

Malaysiakini Dec 9, 07 8:16am

The police have arrested eight people, including five lawyers, for proceeding with a march to mark International Human Rights Day from the Sogo department store to Central Market in Kuala Lumpur early this morning.

The arrests came after a failed attempt by the organisers of the march to negotiate with the police to allow them to finish their march at their intended spot.

The 100-odd crowd was already halfway to their destination when the 300-strong police force gave the marchers a 10-minute warning to disperse.

The organisers, who believed that they could complete their march within the time limit, wanted to press on. According to an eyewitness, the police however cordoned off the area, moved in and made the arrests even before the stipulated deadline expired.

Those arrested included five lawyers - N Surendran (right), Latheefa Koya, R Sivarasa, Eric Paulsen and Amer Hamzah. Others were Anthony Andu, Norazah Othman and an unidentified bystander indentified only as Ashraf Ali Raja.

They were arrested near the Jalan Tun Perak LRT station and were immediately taken to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters.

The eight were arrested under the Police Act for illegal assembly, said Dang Wangi's acting superintendent Che Hamzah Che Ismail.

"Firstly, the demonstrators did not have a permit to be here," he said. "And because the lawyers and demonstrators failed to leave after repeated warnings to disperse, we had to take action."

The remainder of the marchers dispersed following the arrests and there was a heavy police presence in the area for a few hours.

"Authorities seem to be upset by any visible signs of protest and I think this is a problem with the country," said Sivarasa, who is also a leader of PKR.

"They don't seem to be able to deal with peaceful dissent," he told AFP before he was arrested.

Organiser Latheefa said that Malaysians needed to continue to exercise their constitutional right to public assembly.

Willing to cooperate

Earlier today, at about 8am, the small group of about 100 gathered at the Sogo departmental store under the watchful eyes of the police. There were however no signs of the dreaded Federal Reserve Unit and their water cannon trucks.

The marchers had carried banners that read "Lawyers for the freedom of assembly" and "Government that abuses human rights is terrorist."

Eyewitnesses said that one of the persons arrested was dragged into the waiting police truck and the arrests were done despite the marchers’ willingness to cooperate with the police.

This small group of marchers have undertaken this march after the Bar Council had dropped its annual march in conjunction with the International Human Rights Day celebration - which falls on Dec 10 - due to pressure to obtain a police permit.

Yesterday the police had warned the public not to participate in the march given that no permit had been issued for the gathering.

"As no permit has been issued for the gathering, those who take part in it can be charged under Section 27(5) of the Police Act 1967 for participating in an illegal assembly," warned Che Hamzah in a Bernama report.

Upon the decision of the Bar Council to call off the march, at least 15 lawyers decided to proceed with the walk to make a statement that citizens have a right to assemble peacefully and without prior requirement of a police permit.

Venue changed

Two days ago, Surendran had said that the march was purely initiated by a group of concerned lawyers, adding that the organisers will not be applying for a police permit.

“We think that applying for a permit is a negation of our fundamental right to freedom of assembly as enshrined in Article 10 of the Federal Constitution,” he had explained.

“We feel the (Bar Council) march was called of due to undue pressure from the authorities. We want to send a message that the people of Malaysia have the right to a peaceful assembly,” Surendran said.

Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan meanwhile had explained that the decision to call off the march was made after “anxious consideration to the present circumstances that surround the event, particularly the interests of the public and the Malaysian Bar."

The Bar Council also moved its “Festival of Rights” event today to its own building located near Central Market after police insisted that organisers apply for a permit to hold the event at Central Market.

In a related development, Ambiga today expressed disappointed over not being allowed to see the arrested people.

Ambiga said that the march was peaceful and slammed the arrests as "totally unnecessary and unfortunate."

"The Bar holds the view that requirement of police permit is unconstitutional," she told reporters.

Later when contacted, Ambiga said that it was likely that the eight marchers would be charged tomorrow at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court.

The police have also not decided if they want to release the eight or keep them detained overnight, she said.

“I don’t understand why they are being held. After all they have all given their statement,” she said after meeting the arrested marchers at the KL police headquarters.

She said that it was also a disgrace for the police to arrest these people, especially on the eve of the World Human Rights Day.

Meanwhile the police continued to exert pressure on the Bar Council over their ‘Festival of Rights’ by arresting the council’s human rights committee chairperson Edmund Bon, allegedly for preventing the authorities from performing their duty.

Eyewitnesses said that Edmund was arrested at about 12.45pm for blocking Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officials from removing human rights banners outside the Malaysian Bar building in Leboh Pasar Besar in Kuala Lumpur.

Immediate response

In an immediate response, PKR de facto leader and ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim lambasted the authorities for using the law "to subvert freedom and to suppress the people's fundamental democratic right to peaceful assembly".

"In the absence of any evidence that they planned to jeopardise the public's safety, their arrest represents nothing more than scare tactics we have seen used in the past by the Malaysian government as it prepares to unleash the draconian measures of the Internal Security Act," said Anwar in a statement this afternoon.

"The individuals who have been detained today are among the most patriotic Malaysian citizens and many have dedicated their life's work to upholding the rule of law."

Meanwhile, Penang-based social movement Aliran said it deplored the "thoughtless and mindless reaction" of the government in cracking down on the march.

"We are appalled that even a small gathering of marchers to a nearby destination in an orderly manner without obstructing the traffic or causing any chaos to the public cannot be allowed or tolerated by this oppressive regime," said Aliran president P Ramakrishnan.

"If this little act of a democratic principle cannot be exercised in a responsible manner, can we pretend to be a democratic country any longer? This state abuse of our fundamental rights shames the country and condemns the leaders as hypocrites."

Ramakrishnan called on the government to release those arrested, whom he described as "brave Malaysians who have been unjustifiably detained".

Another setback for the judiciary

Zaki's appointment: No saving grace for the judiciary

Tan Sri Zaki Azmi's appointment as Court of Appeal president was no surprise. It was predictable from the time he was catapulted into the Federal Court, making him the most junior Federal Court judge. Elevating the most junior Federal Court judge to the post of president of the Court of Appeal is unprecedented in our judicial history. But that did not seem to bother the Prime Minister. Neither was he perturbed by the negative comments following Zaki’s appointment to the Federal Court.

Aliran is indeed shocked that a person who is so junior in rank with nothing outstanding about him should now outrank all the senior, serving judges, some of whom are most most deserving of this exalted position. It is very disturbing that Zaki is set to become the next Chief Justice of Malaysia within a year.

Is the PM telling the entire nation that there are no other judges in terms of seniority, experience, diligence and integrity on the Bench for consideration for this top post? It would be laughable if some one were to answer “Yes” to this question.

The battered image of the judiciary will not be improved by this shocking appointment that goes against the grain of public opinion. It is a pity that good sense failed to prevail.When the judiciary is down in the depths of public opinion, it is a terrible mistake to parachute someone who was so closely associated with Umno to succeed to the top position.

This appointment apparently smacks of political intervention to safeguard the interests of the executive rather than to protect the integrity of the judiciary. It is no wonder that many eye-brows were raised when the announcement was made public.It has without a doubt embarrassed some of the most senior and capable judges who have been by-passed so unceremoniously.

These judges are known for their impeccable character and integrity with a track record that speaks volumes for their diligence and commitment to the judiciary. They must must surely be feeling shattered and who can blame them. This is something that will further cast doubles on the independence of the judiciary at a time when it is already in the doldrums following the scandalous expose of the Lingam tape.

The ordinary person in the street must inevitably conclude that there is no saving grace for the judiciary.

P Ramakrishnan
President,Aliran
7 November 2007

Exorbitant medical bills

Commercialization of medicine to blame

Punish the few not taint the majority

I refer to “Sick of docs who overcharge” (Star,Dec.4).

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s revelation that a patient who was checked on 15 times a day while he was staying at a private hospital was charged RM3,000 was shocking but more shocking was the way he publicly chastised the doctors in private practice.

The Health Ministry has the right to protect the rights of the patients at all times. It should ensure that private hospitals and doctors adhere to a fixed schedule of fees that is reasonable. Errant hospitals and medical practitioners should be taken to task if found to have breached this fees schedule.

However the Health Minister’s castigation of private doctors in the media gives the public a very wrong picture of these doctors and the medical profession. It implies that these doctors are just out to make quick profits and such unscrupulous practices are widespread.

As in all professions there will be some black sheep in the fraternity. Instead of identifying them and taking disciplinary action against them, it is unfortunate that the Health Minister chose to highlight it in the media. This does not augur well for the morale of these doctors; the majority of whom are dedicated and have great concern for the welfare of their patients. Most of them keep their charges well below the MMA recommended fees schedule.

Dr.Chua should stop blaming the private doctors and hospitals for the escalating cost of medical care. With the cost of drugs and equipment increasing by the day, there is no way but to pass down the cost to the patients. In most cases the doctors’ fees constitute just a fraction of the total bill incurred.

He should instead help the public to appreciate the numerous problems and risks a private specialist is subjected to in managing the patients. This will go a long way to a better doctor-patient relationship.

Today with so many private hospitals and specialists and sub-specialists, life for a new specialist can be highly competitive and tough. It is not as rosy as what has been painted out to be. They function as a houseman, medical officer and sometimes even as a nurse. When he is on leave or incapacitated by illness there total loss of income.

Furthermore nowadays expectations from patients can be very demanding and at times unrealistic. Litigation risks are on the rise and patients are quick to sue the doctors for even acceptable complications. To make matters worse the media is quick to sensationalize such cases which adversely affect the reputation of the doctors concerned.

To add to his burden, most private hospitals these days experience acute shortage of trained nurses which affects the quality of patient care for which the doctor is finally responsible to the patient and his relatives. Caring for an ill patient with insufficient trained and experienced staff can be extremely stressful for the doctor, who unlike his counterparts in the government hospitals is all alone to manage such cases.

Then there are the over-demanding patients and relatives who are highly suspicious and question every step in the management of the patient. Their attitude often irritates and shatters the confidence of even the most experienced doctor. As a precautionary measure doctors are forced to refer them to multiple specialists and unwarranted tests are ordered incurring additional costs which are later queried by the patient himself and the insurance companies.

The problems of our medical services are basically due to the fact it has become a business venture. As Dr. Chua himself admits “It is not just to look after the sick but also a business undertaking where the profit line is important to shareholders”.

It is very unfortunate that due to the commercialization of medicine, doctors instead of focusing their time, energy and skills in treating the sick, are forced to become business managers as well in order to survive in a highly competitive medical business. Who is to blame if in this business, medical ethics take a back seat to monetary profits?

Dr.Chris Anthony

Hindraf Rally : A wake-up call for all

Time to come out the denial syndrome

The mammoth rally initiated by the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf) on 25 November2007 may have noble aims, to highlight the plight of Malaysian Indians, nevertheless it backfired on the organizers, who were chastised as anti-national and trouble makers, out to incite racial riots. There were calls for drastic punitive actions against them, including arresting them under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and even withdrawing the citizenship.

Though some of us may not agree with the way the protest was carried out, but the vast majority of Malaysians would sympathize with the deplorable and desperate state of the Indians. It is a fact that on the whole the Indians have been marginalized from the mainstream of national development over the last 50 years.

I am not a legal expert to understand what actually transpired between the British and the newly formed Malayan government at the time of independence. In fact most Malaysians do not know the details of what was really agreed upon and promised to the various communities then. All we know is that with the departure of the British colonialist we became legitimate citizens of this newly independent and sovereign country, where the constitution guarantees certain rights to members of the various communities.

It does not need an expert to realize that the Indians have lost most of what they had then – the jobs in estates, government and private sectors. Today opportunities for education and jobs are hard to come by. The public sector is monopolized by the Malays and the private sector by Chinese, leaving the Indians in limbo. Poverty and social ills are the highest among them. The country had prospered tremendously over the last 50 years but sadly these developments by-passed the vast majority of Malaysian Indians.

Who is to blame for this socio-economic deterioration of the Indian community? The British who brought them here, UMNO-led BN government, the Malaysian Indian Congress(MIC) or the Indians themselves?

All these groups have to a certain degree contributed to the pathetic state of Indians today. The British might have been responsible for bringing the Indians to Malaysia but I do not think we can take them to task now as their role in the plight of Indians has become history today.

The mammoth demonstration is an indication that all is not well as far as the Indian community is concerned. It should be a wake up call for all concerned, the UMNO-led BN government, the MIC and the Indians themselves, to make amends before it is too late.

The UMNO-led government

The UMNO-led Alliance and subsequently Barisan Nasional (BN) government contributed drastically to the deplorable state of Indians. In a hurry to uplift the socio-economic status of the Malays,UMNO had overlooked the needs of the other races. The New Economic Policy (NEP) aimed at restructuring society as a whole was over-enthusiastically implemented in favor of the Malays; in the process the Indians who dominated the civil service at that time were replaced and subsequently neglected.

UMNO as the ruling party must bear in mind that it also has the moral obligation to take care of the minority groups. It must protect and safeguard the interests and especially the security of the minorities. Otherwise in the long run, a neglected community will not only be a liability but a threat to their own security as well. There are already fears that a Sri Lanka-like state may be in the making if the Indians are neglected further. The more successful among them may migrate leaving behind the unskilled and lower category of Indians. Being pushed against the wall they have no alternative but to turn against the authorities.

The Hindraf rally must act as a lesson for the government that it should be responsible to the all the races. Poverty is just not only among the Malays but transcends race and religion. It has to be tackled without bias or prejudice. A neglected group, however small, would be a liability to all.

It is time for the government to look into the grouses of the Indian community, a community that had stood by loyally with UMNO through thick and thin. We have reached a state that only UMNO,not MIC, who can help overcome the predicament of the Indian community in Malaysia .

The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)

The MIC,despite of being a senior partner in the BN government has miserably failed to uplift and safeguard the interests of the Indians. Greed, nepotism and corruption have gained strong footholds in the party which is causing a serious split in the already small minority. The recent fiasco at the recent Maika Holdings AGM is a clear illustration of this spit that is deepening by the day. The MIC which was in the blood of the earlier generation of Indians is fast losing its appeal among the younger generation.

Samy Velu,after being at the helm of MIC and in the government for more than 25 years, is still not able to improve the wealth of the Indian community as planned. In fact Indian community’s share of the national wealth has decreased over the years. If the present trends continue they will even lose the present 1.5% equity. This would further aggravate the social ills prevalent in the community - poverty, unemployment, gangsterism, alcoholism and possibly terrorism.

The Hindraf rally should be a wake up call to Datuk Sri Samy and his MIC that they do not enjoy the support of their people as they used to before. In fact the younger Indians are slowly deserting the MIC out of frustration, anger and despair. It is time Samy Velu and his comrades who have been there for so long make way for the more capable, talented and zealous younger Indians.It is time for the younger generation of Malays, Chinese and Indians to re-negotiate and chart a new course in which the nation should steer.

The Indians themselves

The Indians, regardless of their religious believes, seem to spend too much time, energy and money to maintain and preserve their cultural and religious traditions. I do not deny these are good and necessary but they must also seriously indulge in activities to develop their socio-economic well being as well. There is a need to strike a balance between the two as the latter is equally important in today’s world.

In the past they depended too much on government handouts for their economic development. This could have worked well before but not anymore. The economic race is tough and very competitive. Nobody is going to help them achieve their economic targets if they themselves do nothing about it. Gone are the days when the expertise and skills of the Indians were sought after by other communities. Today we see a situation where businesses and trade are confined to one’s community.

The Indians are right to continue fighting for their constitutional rights and that struggle must continue. At the same time they have to revise their strategy in keeping with the realities of the times. This can only be done by acquiring latest knowledge and skills in the field of economy, science and technology and accept modern concepts to apply them in their endeavors to achieve prosperity. Depending solely on past laurels and divine help will not take them anywhere as God only helps those who help themselves.

What has the Hindraf rally achieved?

The Hindraf leaders I am sure are well aware that being of a minority group that forms only 8% of the population, they cannot fight the mighty BN government. They know that confrontation would only bring disaster to them. Violence is not their way as demonstrated by their display of the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, the symbol of non-violence. They had tried to take their plight to the highest level but they were ignored at every stage. When their sole representative in the government, the MIC, had no time for them, can they expect UMNO and the government it leads to do so?

The condition of the Indian community was going from bad to worse. The last straw was the demolition of their temples and desecration of deities which stripped them of whatever dignity that remained. They had to make their voices heard and the only choice they had was public show of dissatisfaction. That led to them taking to the streets in open defiance of the government and police.

The amazing thing about the whole affair was the generally peaceful manner the demonstrators conducted themselves at the demonstration. If only the police had not intervened they would have marched peacefully to the British Embassy, delivered the petition and dispersed. They had proven that the accusations leveled at them as gangsters, criminals, thugs, trouble-makers, traitors and stooges of the opposition are uncalled for.

Another encouraging outcome that came out of the Hindraf rally was the reaction by other races especially the Malays. There were fears that the action by the Indians could trigger a racial conflict. Despite attempts by certain irresponsible politicians to make it a racial problem, the Malays generally appeared to be sympathetic to the plight of their fellow Indian citizens. In fact many among them are also in a similar poverty-stricken situation as the all-powerful UMNO who champions their cause is plagued by corruption, nepotism and cronyism. The ordinary man on the street, be it Malay, Chinese or Indian, is finding it extremely difficult to make ends meet with the escalating cost of living.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s repeated assurances that the government would be fair to all races should be commended. His reluctance to use the ISA despite pressure from within his party should also be appreciated. His willingness to meet the leaders of Hindraf despite all the accusations against them is also praiseworthy. This is in deep contrast to the combative and confrontational attitude of his predecessor. Does the Prime Minister’s softer and more conciliatory stance an indication of the beginning of a new era of tolerance to public opinion?

The issue in question here is not whether the Hindraf leaders had uttered seditious words or whether they have committed an offence in organizing an illegal rally. The real issue is that over 30,000 Malaysian Indians from all walks of life and from all corners of the country had risked their jobs and lives to descend onto the streets of Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, 25 November 2007 to plead to the government to help them out of the doldrums. They are pleading to the government, they helped to elect, to restore their legitimate and constitutional rights. For every one who turned up there may be hundreds who could not do so for various reasons. All of them cannot be wrong or stupid.

Samy Velu and his MIC should not pretend that nothing is happening. They should not pretend that all is well with the Indians. The MIC and the UMNO-led BN government should come out of the state of denial, acknowledge the pleas and take measures to overcome those problems that plague not just the Indian community but all Malaysians.

Dr.Chris Anthony

Street protests our way of life?

Acting to stop street demos becoming our culture

Within just 2 months Malaysians witnessed 3 mammoth street demonstrations in Kula Lumpur. There is no doubt these rallies had caused tremendous hardships to the people. The extensive road blocks and influx of thousands of people caused massive traffic jams all over the city resulting in people getting stranded and businesses adversely affected. Above all they have caused a great deal of anxiety and even fear among peace loving citizens.

Now we are told that there may be more such public demonstrations in the coming months. Are street demonstrations going to become our culture? Our leaders say it is not our culture and rightly so it should not become one. The government must act to ensure such a culture does not evolve. It must get to the root cause of such demonstrations and act to discourage people from taking to the streets to seek attention.

Instead it is timely and wise to cultivate a culture of civilized dialogue and debate where everyone should be encouraged to openly and freely express their views without fear of reprisal. It can only be achieved by providing proper avenues for people to express their views including dissenting ones peacefully and not by forceful suppression.

Most Malaysians would agree that street demonstrations are not the way to vent their grouses. Apart from being waste of time, money and energy, they are definitely prone to risks of violence and riots. This in a multiracial and multi-religious country this is the last thing we would want.

Despite being declared illegal and subjected to so much risk why do people still resort to street demonstrations? The main reason is that people, especially the young, are not provided with adequate proper avenues to air their grouses. Even if they are allowed, their grouses are not heard by the relevant authorities.

Prime Minister,Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has responded positively by saying he hears the voice of all the people. His reassurances may go a long way to correct the general perception that the government is not receptive to the pleas of the rakyat. The voices of the people must not only be heard but also must be seen to be heard and acted upon.

In a global world ruled by sophisticated Information Technology, the people especially the younger generation are more aware of developments in the international arena. The demands for their voices to be heard and their rights protected will only continue to increase with time. The government is left with no choice but to make available proper avenues for the increasingly literate citizens to air their opinions and be more receptive to them, including dissenting ones.

Dr.Chris Anthony