Watch out Putrajaya! The newly-launched Monsoons Book Club (MBC) may be the new kid on the activism block, but hopes to create a storm by instigating a desire for change amongst Malaysians overseas.

At its inaugural event in London, PKR vice-president Tian Chua was invited to address Malaysians. The MP for Batu, in Kuala Lumpur, had been in Brussels for meetings at the European Union parliament, but made a special detour to England to meet and greet Malaysians there.

Karis Wong, an organiser of the MBC said, “We want to invite as many Malaysian politicians, NGOs, academics, professionals, artists and other experts in their respective fields to address Malaysians in London. We wish to raise activism to greater heights.

“More importantly, the MBC extends its invitation to all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, or party affiliation to our talks. We respect everyone’s views and wish to create a platform with which people can have easy access to Malaysian politicians. We want them to meet, greet and grill their MPs.”

Over coffee and biscuits, someone in the audience said, “Malaysian MPs are lemak (too soft). It is time they started earning their keep. Despite being grilled, Tian Chua appeared to relish the challenge. He probably secretly enjoyed the experience. We are starved of information here. We want more Malaysian politicians like Tian Chua to enlighten us on events back home.”

His friend, a regular attendee at talks in London, compared Umno Baru and opposition politicians. He said, “First, the Umno Baru ministers come late, and make us wait. After rambling for the bulk of the time allotted, we are told that only written questions are allowed. These are screened by his aides and only ‘tame’ questions are selected. Then, they insult our intelligence by giving us free makan, to try to stop us from complaining.”

In his opening speech, one of the founders of the MBC, former student leader and Oxford graduate Tan Wah Piow (left), explained that the book, ‘Where Monsoons Meet’ had been the inspiration for the formation of the MBC. The MBC meets anywhere and everywhere. Its purpose is to show the importance of airing ideas and holding discussions.

“We will hold talks with the organisers of the ‘South-East Asian Arts Festival’ to promote the work of artists from SEA, especially Malaysia. The book ‘Money Logging: On the trail of the Asian Timber Mafia’ about corruption in logging activities in Sarawak, has stimulated our interest. We wish to share the Indonesian experience, whereby their society has become more progressive, without the fear of revolution.

“As individuals, we can effect important changes in society. We are nurturing many ideas and anyone is most welcome to contribute.”
 
In his effort to reassure the Malaysians who may have been disillusioned by the results of GE13, Tian Chua said, “There is nothing to be disheartened about. Every step we take, every experiment we make, will contribute to success at a later stage.”

He amused the audience by saying, “What we are seeing now is a regime that cannot go on. Even the people in Umno Baru are themselves not confident of staying in power.
 
“Daim Zainuddin and Mahathir Mohamad both stated that this government is corrupt,” he said, to more ripples of laughter.

Desperation felt by Umno Baru politicians

He pointed out the desperation felt by Umno Baru politicians and said, “Mahathir once believed that Umno Baru’s rule would be eternal. Today, Umno Baru politicians know their time is running out.

“Najib Abdul Razak is not talking about ruling for the next 10 years, not even the next three years. At most, he is looking at one year. Umno Baru senses the urgency and are grabbing whatever they can right now.”

The younger Malaysians learnt for the first time, that “Malaysia did not join the wagons of change unlike our neighbours, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Philippines and the rest. Our model of economy was to suppress labour costs to sell very cheaply to the west.”

“Malaya had elections in the fifties, whilst our neighbours were ruled by military dictators. Today, our neighbours like the Philippines have free and fair elections, whilst we have continued with the autocratic, racist regime.”

Tian Chua demolished the belief that Asians only wanted rice on the table, but cared little for civil liberties and human rights.

He expressed the gravity of the situation, with the government trying to induce fear in Malaysian society; “The latest weapon is to charge people with sedition. Society is changing and the ruling party is using the 3Rs - race, religion and royalty, to keep themselves afloat. Anything remotely controversial, said by anyone, will be used by the government and misinterpreted as lèse majesté.”

He said that the government was switching their focus from politicians to ordinary people who write on Facebook. The move is similar to Bukit Aman targeting the purchasers of books by Zunar (right), the cartoonist, by demanding their details from the online payment company MOLPay Sdn Bhd.

Mirroring the views of another MBC speaker who said that the rakyat must also make a stand, he said, “We have a subdued intellectual circle which does not dare to confront the ruling party.”

He ridiculed the authorities and said, “When they failed to charge me with sedition on a previous occasion, they claimed that I had attempted to commit suicide by sitting cross-legged in front of the police water-cannon trucks.”

Addressing the worries of many about the resurgence of conservative Islam in Malaysia, he said, “Catching people and putting them behind bars is not going to solve the problem. They will worsen the situation,” and urged the government to open up the media space.

Encouraging freedom of expression

He also encouraged religious debate between the clerics from the different strands of Islam in Malaysia, so they could confront one another and encourage freedom of expression and thought.

Expressing regret about having to rush back to Malaysia, to attend a parliamentary debate about the budget, he said, “In the years following independence, more money was allocated for development, than for administration.

“In Mahathir’s time, 50 percent was used for administration. In Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s (Pak Lah) time, this crept up to 60 percent for administration. Najib’s government has set aside 83 percent of the total budget for administration. This is an historical high.”

Tian Chua’s final contribution to the London crowd was empowering, “The time for change is very near. It is up to us to fight the battle, to debate and make a stand. Use the opportunity to access information, and show your solidarity for those who are fighting in Malaysia.”

After the event, MBC reached out to the PAS representatives to seek their help in exchanging ideas and including the Malay community and thus dispel the myth that the Malays care little for change.

An MBC founder said, “Kelab Umno Baru members and High Commission staff are also invited. We do not fear the Special Branch. They are most welcome. If we can turn them, they will help influence others, to see the alternative picture.”


MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO).