The magnificent seven
John R Malott<br>Laguna NiguelPublished: Apr 17, 2001 6:48 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
No, this is not the name of a Hollywood movie. Rather, it's about seven - make that nine - magnificent and courageous women who have dared to demand the answers to a few simple questions.
Where is my husband? Why can't I see him? What is he charged with? Why is he being denied all the legal rights that he should have under Malaysian and International laws?
Where is the evidence for all the wild and outlandish accusations that are being made against him by people whose only goal is to ensure their own political survival?
Seven magnificent women are bonding together today in Kuala Lumpur, asking their government to tell them where their loved ones are: Marina and her daughter (Raja Petra), Aliza Jaafar (Saari Sungib), Roslijah (Abd Ghani Harun), Devan (N Gobalakrishnan), Noriah (Hishamuddin Rais) and Mabel Au (Tian Chua). And the world is watching.
And there were two other brave women before them - Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Nadia, the wife of Dr Munawar Anees. Nadia is often forgotten - but no one better represents the cruelties of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and a government hell-bent to 'prove' its political accusations through insidious means than Nadia and her husband.
Meanwhile, today in Kuala Lumpur, other wives are going shopping at Lot 10 and Star Hill. Or they are on their way to parties at Carcosa and the Regent Hotel. They are riding in chauffeur-driven Mercedes Benzs that belong to the government or to their husbands' companies.
Should they feel secure? The answer should really be no. Do they ever stop to think, "there, but for the grace of my government, go I?"
As Anwar reminded us two years ago, if it can happen to him, it can happen to anyone. And that is so true - for wives and husbands. Can it happen to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi or Najib Abd Razak? Of course it can.
Or to Hishamuddin Hussein or anyone else who might dare to say or do something that offends the master? Of course it can.
The real courage in Malaysia today is with the women who ask the same questions they have throughout history, no matter where they live. What kind of country and society is this, in which I am raising my child?
Where is my husband? Why can't I see him? What is he charged with? Why is he being denied all the legal rights that he should have under Malaysian and International laws?
Where is the evidence for all the wild and outlandish accusations that are being made against him by people whose only goal is to ensure their own political survival?
Seven magnificent women are bonding together today in Kuala Lumpur, asking their government to tell them where their loved ones are: Marina and her daughter (Raja Petra), Aliza Jaafar (Saari Sungib), Roslijah (Abd Ghani Harun), Devan (N Gobalakrishnan), Noriah (Hishamuddin Rais) and Mabel Au (Tian Chua). And the world is watching.
And there were two other brave women before them - Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Nadia, the wife of Dr Munawar Anees. Nadia is often forgotten - but no one better represents the cruelties of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and a government hell-bent to 'prove' its political accusations through insidious means than Nadia and her husband.
Meanwhile, today in Kuala Lumpur, other wives are going shopping at Lot 10 and Star Hill. Or they are on their way to parties at Carcosa and the Regent Hotel. They are riding in chauffeur-driven Mercedes Benzs that belong to the government or to their husbands' companies.
Should they feel secure? The answer should really be no. Do they ever stop to think, "there, but for the grace of my government, go I?"
As Anwar reminded us two years ago, if it can happen to him, it can happen to anyone. And that is so true - for wives and husbands. Can it happen to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi or Najib Abd Razak? Of course it can.
Or to Hishamuddin Hussein or anyone else who might dare to say or do something that offends the master? Of course it can.
The real courage in Malaysia today is with the women who ask the same questions they have throughout history, no matter where they live. What kind of country and society is this, in which I am raising my child?
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