The Home Affairs Minister has supervised the recall of all extant copies of the April 16 issue of Time magazine. He says this was done to protect Muslims from an insult to Islam. He said a 'caricature' of the Prophet which appears in the issue was the rationale behind the recall.

Click on Time magazine's website and one will find another article which immediately attracts attention. It is this article which is perhaps the true reason the home minister feels the recall necessary.

The article is entitled: 'Malaysia: The country's controversial police force faces criticism and possible censure for repeated brutalities'.

There is a subtitle, 'Policing the police'. The story details the testimonies given by witnesses to the Human Rights Commission and to the courts.

A very descriptive passage recites the events that surrounded the police killing of five Indians said to be involved in a kidnapping. The incident occurred on Oct 2, 1998. The dead included an eight-months pregnant woman who was shot in the head by police.

To remove a magazine from the newsstands is merely another method of censorship. Recently other instances of official harassment of international magazines have occurred, and it appears the government is both attempting to hide embarrassing secrets and punish those who attempt to make the truth known.

The government repeatedly says the foreign media prints 'lies and slander.' But when the subjects are brought forward for investigation the government does not counter with their explanation of events, they retreat into official silence, leaving the public to believe the worst.

Cruel burlesque

Malaysia is in the midst of an economic crisis that is certain to deteriorate. The present government has no credibility, and cannot tell the truth about any issue regardless of its significance.

The judiciary struggles for dignity. Malaysia is presently witnessing a hearing for the release of five reformasi activists held under the Internal Security Act (ISA). The hearing is before the same judge and the same prosecutor who handled Anwar Ibrahim's trials.

The writ of habeus corpus ('to bring forth the body') is challenged because the police feel it is unnecessary. The wives and children disagree.

The prosecutor objects to bringing the defendants into the light of day. The families cry out for reassurance their husbands and fathers are in good health. The police are obdurate, turning a deaf ear.

The people watch in wonderment, waiting for higher judges to intervene. Do they require a written request?

The world wonders whether Alice in Wonderland is a real story or something a mathematician made up to entertain his niece. Malaysia is the material for more merriment, more wonder, more amazement.

As theater it has everything. One must be present to appreciate burlesque. This burlesque is serious and cruel.

HARUN RASHID is a scientist avidly interested in the application of Islamic principles in international affairs. The promotion of goodwill through civilisational dialogue motivates his writing. His Worldview column is a personal analysis of Malaysian affairs from a global perspective.