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BAGAIMANA ISU SUQUI MENJADI KONTROVERSI

Suqui bolehlah dianggap sebagai satu kumpulan hak asasi yang muncul hasil titk pertemuan 11 organisari Cina menjelang pemilu 1999. Ia menjadi kontroversi kerana Umno menganggap ia cuba menggugat ketuanan melayu. Salah Umno kah atau salah Suqui? Jawapannya tidak sukar dicari jika jika kita pandai membaca beberapa reaksi dan siapa yang melontar kata-kata keji serta siapa yang banyak berlembut atau berdiskusi dengan penuh harmoni. Kerajaan kini seolah-olah mahu mengajar rakyat agar membenci Suqui dan menuduhnya sebagai punca segala kemelut yang melanda kejatuhan imej BN masakini, khususnya sejak tewas di Lunas. Ajaran itu lebih menonjol dari seolah-olah tidak ada cara lain untuk menangani kemelut itu. BN mengajar rakyat berperasangka.

Seorang politikus umno, Datuk Azim Zabidi menyifatkan

"Rayuan Suqui itu tidak sebaik yang tertulis".

KECACATAN POLITIK SUQUI

1. Masa dan ketika Suqui menyatakan rayuan secara terbuka menjelang pemilu itu dianggap tidak wajar oleh BN kerana ia seperti mahu jaminan dari tebusan dari kerajaan untuk undi mereka.
   

2. Umno menafsirkan hak persaman dalam rayuan itu sebagai cubaan untuk mengikis hak ketuanan Melayu seperti yang terulis pada Artikel 153 Perlembagaan.
   

3. Setiap satu dari 11 ahli Suqui adalah organisasi cina yang dianggap sebagai pengkritik keras dasar kerajaan. Suqui dianggap cuba mengambil kesempatan akan kelemahan umno untuk tawar menawar.
   

UCAPKATA KOTOR TERHADAP ORANG CINA

Ramai rakyat Malaysia merasakan kata-kata Mahathir yang membandingkan Suqui sebagai komunis dan Almaunah sebagai ekstrim sebagai teramat biadap dan sudah melampau. Delegasi Suqui adalah mereka yang dihormati oleh masyarakat Cina. Dengan itu tuduhan celupar dengan label komunis itu amatlah tidak wajar sama sekali, apatah lagi ia diucap pada hari merdeka dan dipancar ke seantero negeri.

"Yang ironisnya Mahathir sendiri menjemput P.M. kominis CIna, Zhu Rongji, untuk melawat Malaysia sebelum pemilu itu lagi", menurut satu paparan di laman web Suqui.

Mahathir nampaknya tidak kendur kata, dan Suqui pula tetap tidak menarik balik semua rayuan itu. Mahathir mahu meraih sokongan orang melayu dengan lagaknya yang begitu.

MAHATHIR SILAP PERHITUNGAN

Mahathir memang keras kepala dan menganggap dia betul belaka. Malah dia sanggup berbuat apa saja termasuk mengaibkan orang yang tidak berdosa asal kekal berkuasa. Ahli umno tidak berani mengkritik beliau seberani Shahrir Samad, walaupun mereka cukup arif Dr Mahathir sengaja mahu bermusuh dengan orang Cina.

Memang benar, Mahathir sengaja menyerang Suqui dalam ucapannya di hari ulangtahun kemerdekaan yang dipancar keseluruh negara melalui kaca tv. Orang melayu sendiri terperanjat bagaimana seorang perdana menteri memberi ucapan yang memecah-belahkan keharmonian rakyat pada hari yang sepatutnya menekankan perpaduan. Lagipun dua minggu sebelumnya Suqui menghantar 21 wakil mereka untuk menemui Mahathir.

Perjumpaan itu berakhir tanpa apa-apa kenyataan dikeluarkan. Tetapi saham jatuh 21 mata pada keesokkan harinya. Kita menjangkakan Mahathir sengaja keras kepala untuk menunjukkan Umno kuat dan tidak akan melutut kepada sebarang tekanan. Ia juga diharap dapat mengambil hati orang melayu untuk bersama umno dengan 'ketegasan'nya itu. Tetapi banyak pihak beranggapan Mahathir tersilap membuat perhitungan.

Kepimpinan Mahathir sudah lama menjadi sasaran kritikan sejak Anwar dipecat. Ia telah berjaya menjejaskan imej dan populariti Mahathir. Tekanan dan ugutan kerajaan untuk menangkap atau menggertak rakyat sudah tidak berhasil untuk meredakan bantahan rakyat.

Mungkin MCA patut dipersalahkan juga. Bagi Umno, MCA gagal memainkan peranan untuk memberi penjelasan kepada masyarakat Cina. Bagi masyarakat Cina pula, MCA dianggap sudah tidak berguna kerana hilang punca dan gagal menyelesaikan isu dan masalah yang dihadapi oleh orang Cina. MCA hanya menjadi tunggul kayu yang bisu dan tidak boleh diharapkan lagi. MCA sebenarnya sudah terperangkap dalam dunia politik dirinya sendiri. Ia seperti sudah menjadi budak surohan Umno dan 'terpenjara oleh politik sederhana' dirinya sendiri.

"Setelah bertahun berlalu, kita semua masih terkapai-kapai di takuk lama." kata Rita Sim. timbalan ketua s/usaha Wanita MCA.

GPMS BERSEDIA BERUNDING DENGAN SUQUI

GPMS dilapurkan sanggup berunding dengan Suqui tetapi ia mahu Suqui menarik balik rayuan agar dimansuhkan 'keistimewaan orang melayu'. [Sebenarnya Suqui tidak merayu sedemikian atau mencabar Artikel 153 itu]

Datuk Suhaimi, presiden GPMS mahu tawar menawar dan gugur mengugur tuntutan GPMS dengan rayuan Suqui. Suqui dicabar menarik balik rayuannya sebelum 14/1/2001 atau GPMS akan melancarkan perarakkan. Sikap GPMS dikecam oleh Pak Lah dan beliau menyuruh kedua-dua pihak [sebenarnya GPMS yang melatah, Suqui tetap 'cool sahaja] berhenti meminta itu ini.

KDN MAHU GPMS BATALKAN PERARAKKAN

Timbalan menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Chor Chee Heung merayu GPMS agar membatalkan sahaja niatnya yang tidak rasional itu kerana kerajaan telah lama memahami Suqui. [Kena sebiji GPMS ni]. Biar pihak yang terbabit (kerajaan?) menanganinya. GPMS nampaknya tidak mahu berganjak. Nasihat tersebut tidak diperdulikan kerana ia tetap mahu Suqui menarik balik rayuan Suqui itu. Dr Siti Zaharah juga tidak setuju dengan sikap membenci dan tunjuk perasaan yang boleh memecah belahkan keharmonian melalui semangat perkauman. [kena sebiji lagi GPMS]. Namun begitu komen lain oleh Siti Zaharah boleh disumbat ke dalam tong sampah kerana masih tidak faham antara rayuan dan tuntutan, dan antara tunjuk kekuatan perasaan dan tunjuk kelembutan tulisan. Kita cadangkan pemimpin umno semua mengikuti kelas-kelas tambahan yang disiarkan percuma melalui laman web yang beroperasi 24 jam.....

From The Singapore Straits Times
19th December 2000

How Suqiu petition snowballed into national controversy

By Joceline Tan
IN KUALA LUMPUR

A NEAR full house greeted Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad the day he turned up in Parliament last week. He was there to address questions on the controversial 'Suqiu demands'.

The Member of Parliament who had submitted the questions, Mr Kerk Kim Hock of the opposition Democratic Action Party, had even been 'reminded' by a Parliament staff to be present to ask his question.

The Suqiu petition is, basically, a civil-rights-oriented set of demands initiated by 11 leading Chinese organisations on the eve of the country's General Election last year.

It has since become a national controversy, with the ruling Malay Umno party accusing the Suqiu group of trying to challenge the special rights and privileges of the Malays.

Dr Mahathir did not disappoint the MPs. He explained at length why the Suqiu group's 17-point proposal was unpalatable to the government and apologised for hurting the feelings of the Chinese over the issue.

Then he stunned those present by repeating the very accusations that were said to have cost the Barisan Nasional coalition a recent by-election in Kedah. He again likened the Suqiu group to communists and the Al-Ma'unah arms-heist group.

This was Dr Mahathir at his most typical - knowing what he wants and being unafraid to say or do it, attributes that many ordinary Chinese Malaysians had admired in him but which, ironically, they now find so offensive.

The result was that most Chinese were left unplacated by either his explanation or his apology.

Said Mr Ser Choon Ing, a lawyer who acts as the secretary for Suqiu: 'What sort of explanation is that? We are not going to give in.'

The Suqiu demands are said to enjoy widespread goodwill, if not support, from the bulk of the Chinese community, but the current standoff with the government is making more and more Malaysians uneasy.

There has not been this level of political strain between the Mahathir-led government and the Chinese since the 1980s when protests over issues such as Chinese schools, the government privatisation policy and the judiciary had culminated in an Internal Security Act crackdown.

How did the petition snowball into a political controversy of such proportions?

It is, after all, a broad call for social, economic and political reform, touching on concerns ranging from race relations and human rights to education and the environment.

'It's about national issues which are of benefit to all Malaysians,' insisted Mr Ser.

But Umno politician Datuk Azim Zabidi claimed: 'The petition is not as innocent as it seems.'

SUQIU'S POLITICAL FLAW

FIRSTLY, there was the timing. The Suqiu group had gone public with the petition on the eve of the General Election last November.

The group claimed it was a deliberate strategy, and the ruling party's immediate reaction was that the group was trying to hold the government ransom in return for votes.

Secondly, Umno politicians took exception to parts of the petition that called for doing away with the distinction of bumiputra and non-bumiputra, and the quota system that governs much of Malaysian life.

They saw it as questioning the special rights of the Malays, as stipulated in Article 153 of the Constitution.

Thirdly, and perhaps the most serious political flaw of the group, was that every single one of its 11 members was a Chinese organisation. Moreover, some of these groups are staunch critics of the government.

Multi-ethnic politics in this country is such that words and actions tend to be seen in an ethnic way, and the petition inevitably came across as the Chinese applying pressure on the Malays.

'They are doing this because they know Umno is weak. It's not fair because when we were strong, there were things we could have demanded of the Chinese and Indians but we did not ask them to surrender this and that,' said Datuk Azim.

VERBAL ATTACK RILES CHINESE

NEVERTHELESS, many Malaysians said Dr Mahathir may have gone a bit too far when he compared the Suqiu group to the communists and the extremist Al-Ma'unah religious sect.

The people in the Suqiu group happen to be pretty upright personalities who enjoy respect from the Chinese community. Thus, the communist label really riled them.

Moreover, the communist bogey does not cut any ice these days.

A posting on the Suqiu website is a good indication: 'Ironically, Dr Mahathir invited the premier of communist China, Zhu Rongji, to visit Malaysia prior to last year's national election.'

But most of all, the Chinese, who had voted overwhelmingly for the ruling Barisan Nasional in the last General Election, saw Dr Mahathir's attack as a slap in their face.

The question now is: What next?

Dr Mahathir is not the sort to back down. And neither will the Suqiu group.

'We are doing this with our eyes open. If our actions result in a stronger opposition, so be it - especially if that is the only way to get the government to listen,' said Mr Ser.

But, while many Chinese Malaysians may side with the Suqiu group, they are wary of the potential ethnic tension that may erupt if the issue is not resolved.

Said a Kuala Lumpur-based Chinese lawyer: 'The Chinese value political stability. They see it as essential to making a living, raising a family and educating their children. It sounds simple, but it is quite a complex desire.'

MAHATHIR MISCALCULATION?

THUS, there is a limit to how far the Suqiu group can go in riding on the goodwill of the Chinese.

However, Dr Mahathir also has much less string to twirl these days.

Umno people may not dare to criticise him as fearlessly as Johor politician Datuk Shahrir Samad, but it is no secret that many blame Dr Mahathir for antagonising the Chinese.

And, at a time when their support is crucial, given the deep split among the Malays following the sacking of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

Said a Malay businessman: 'It was asking for trouble - this communist thing.'

Many Umno politicians had expected the Suqiu petition to fade off after the General Election.

And, in a sense, it did, until Dr Mahathir launched his first communists/Al-Ma'unah attack against the group in his annual National Day speech, which is always telecast live over TV.

Malaysians, including Malays, were aghast that he should use such a divisive theme on a day that ought to have focused on national unity. About a fortnight after that, the Suqiu group sent a 21-person delegation to meet Dr Mahathir at his Putrajaya office.

'Basically, he told us off. But he was very cool, collected, and we noticed that although he was upset with us, he did not ask us to withdraw our petition,' said one of those present.

The meeting did not resolve anything, but the Suqiu people like to note how the stock market plunged 21 points the next day.

It is likely that Dr Mahathir acted the way he did because he had to show the group that Umno may be down but it was not about to cave in to pressure.

Some thought he was also trying to appease the Malay ground, to demonstrate that Umno can still defend Malay interests.

Whatever the real motive, some believe he may have miscalculated.

This sort of tough talk works only if one enjoys a politically-unassailable position.

The premiership, on the other hand, has been seriously jolted the past couple of years. The Anwar Ibrahim sacking, the wild allegations on the Internet, the incessant name-calling, demonstrations and attacks aired at opposition gatherings have all taken a certain toll on the public image of the five-term Prime Minister.

Said Datuk Dr Rais Yatim, Umno politician and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department: 'In the past, a wink would have put these people in their place. Now, even though we shout, it doesn't work.'

But the biggest loser to date seems to be the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), the Chinese partner in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Umno thinks MCA has not done enough to explain the government view to the Chinese, whereas the Chinese view the MCA as lacking direction and resolve on community issues.

Ms Rita Sim, deputy secretary-general of MCA's women's wing, said the party is 'trapped in its own moderate politics'.

Multi-racial politics is a complex juggling act and, if there is a lesson to be learnt so far, it is that race relations need 'constant maintenance', as Ms Sim put it.

'After all these years, all of us are still grappling with it,' she said.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/

From The Singapore Straits Times
19th December 2000

Malay students ready for talks with Chinese group

But first GPMS wants Suqiu to drop its demands for an end to special privileges, saying these are needed to prevent Malays from falling behind

By Wan Hamidi Hamid
IN KUALA LUMPUR

CALL it a concession of sorts.

The 400,000-strong Federation of Peninsula Malay Students (GPMS) said yesterday that it was willing to sit down with a rival Chinese pressure group and talk about democracy, protecting the environment and other universal issues.

But first, it wanted the Chinese Election Appeals Group (Suqiu) to drop demands for an end to special Malay privileges.

GPMS president Datuk Suhaimi Ibrahim said: 'We can agree on universal issues. In a multi-racial country we must respect each other. But we must not destroy the understanding and tolerance by making irresponsible demands.'

He said the federation was willing to discuss with Suqiu the possibility of both sides withdrawing some of their more contentious demands.

'It must be quid pro quo. If Suqiu withdraws one point, we will do the same. Don't expect us to drop 10 points for one of their points.

'There must be give-and-take. Only then can we share our life as true Malaysians,' he told The Straits Times.

Last week, GPMS issued a 100-point demand calling for greater Malay supremacy as a direct response to Suqiu's demands.

Among other things, the Chinese group had called for the abolition of the bumiputra and non-bumiputra distinction and asked that the Internal Security Act be abolished.

The Malay pressure group gave Suqiu until Jan 14 to withdraw its demands. If that deadline was not met, GPMS said it would submit its demands to the government and would hold nationwide rallies.

Datuk Suhaimi defended the demands made by GPMS, saying they were meant to protect Malays.

If the quota system was abolished, he believed the Malays would be left behind.

'It is not that the Malays are weak but the reality shows that the Chinese are still controlling the economy and they excel in education.

'We believe the stronger race should help the lesser ones until they are almost on an equal footing. Then we can talk about doing away with the quota system. Maybe it will take another 30 years. Who knows?

'But until then, let the system remain. We can work together to ensure speedier achievement for the Malays so that one day we can compete in a healthy environment in any sector.'

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called on all parties to stop making demands and confronting each other.

Suqiu officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.

But they are unlikely to budge, going by their previous public statements.

DEMANDS: What they want

SUQIU
Abolish all aspects of the bumiputra and non-bumiputra distinction. Abolish the quota system based on race. Revoke the plan for Vision Schools.
Introduce a system of student grants and loans for all, irrespective of race.

GPMS
Maintain the distinction between bumiputras and non-bumiputras. Increase the bumiputra stake in the economy from 30 per cent to 70 per cent.
Implement Vision Schools.
Give Malay students scholarships and do not make them apply for loans.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2000/12/18/nation/1804astr&sec=na tion

Monday, December 18, 2000

Chor: Cancel mass gathering

ALOR STAR: The Home Ministry has advised Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS) to reconsider its decision to hold a gathering of 100,000 Malays.

Its Deputy Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said he was appealing to the GPMS leadership to cancel its plan as it had already made known its stand on the Suqiu request to the Government.

"Let those in authority handle the matter from now,'' he told newsmen after handing over Koperasi Serbaguna Malaysia education aids to 50 needy students here yesterday.

Chor said this was the best thing to do as there had been too many statements made over the issue and the ministry was worried about the development.

"I have to say here that the ministry will take action should police believe the gathering may get out of hand and compromise the interests of the nation,'' he said.

However, he said that action would be taken only if GPMS goes ahead with the gathering against police advice.

GPMS is planning the gathering to rally support from Malays on its stand-off with Suqiu.

It said it had the support of many Malay organisations and institutions with the latest being the National Silat Federation of Malaysia which pledged three million silat exponents for the cause.

GPMS plans to go ahead with the gathering if Suqiu fails to withdraw its request.

It said it would in turn submit a 100-point memorandum to the Government.

Chor advised all political and community leaders to stop talking through the media and let the country's leadership solve the issue.

GPMS secretary-general Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad said yesterday the group had no intention of cancelling the gathering should Suqiu fail to withdraw its memorandum by Jan 14.

"Until today, we have no plans to cancel it,'' he said in Kuala Lumpur.

He said that GPMS would meet on Wednesday to discuss the gathering.

"The only way to cancel it is through Suqiu withdrawing its demand,'' he added.

In Sungai Buloh, National Unity and Social Development Minister Datuk Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman said that any group, irrespective of racial origin, must be stopped from inciting hatred and stirring racial sentiments.

She said that leaders at all levels should assume responsibility to enhance racial harmony and unity, reminding everyone of the saying Negara Kita, Tanggungjawab Kita (Our Nation, Our Responsibility).

Explaining the importance of understanding and tolerance among the people, she said the ministry would activate the nation's 40,000 Rukun Tetangga committee members to explain the importance of racial harmony to the people.

To a question, she said there were no problems as far as racial harmony was concerned but the ministry had to make sure of this.

She was speaking to reporters yesterday after attending a Kacau Dodol Perpaduan 2000 dan Berbuka Puasa programme in Kampung Matang Pagar here.

Dr Siti Zaharah said the media should play a constructive role in fostering unity and drop the Suqiu issue which had been politicised and would have a negative effect.

On GPMS' planned gathering, she said: "We will stop any group that threatens the country's stability and ensure racial harmony.

"Everything has to be done in a rational manner and we do not discriminate against any group,'' she said.

On Suqiu, she said its petition was not acceptable as it jeopardised the social contract agreed to by people of all races, adding that the Constitution should be respected and Suqiu's petition would sabotage unity and national integration.