The decision by Himpunan Hijau chairperson Wong Tack (below) to enter the political arena under the DAP banner should be respected. I did the same in 1990 with 25 other civil rights activists.
There is, however, one important difference. Our then leader Lim Fong Seng was the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) chairperson.
There is, however, one important difference. Our then leader Lim Fong Seng was the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) chairperson.
He was also the de facto leader of the civil rights movement.
When we decided to enter the political arena, he resigned his post in Dong Zong forthwith and so did the rest of us from our posts in the civil rights movement.
The point we were making was clear. We would be taking civil rights issues into the political arena but the civil rights movement must go on as before as a non-partisan movement, ready to defend civil rights whichever political coalition is in power.
This was our declaration at the ‘818 Democratic Uprising’ on Aug 18, 1990:
“…While we have taken this political road, we would like to reaffirm the important role that pressure groups and NGOs have to play in a democratic society for ultimately, the particular pressure group knows best and will be prepared to fight for the issue at hand.
Thus, the women’s movement is spearheading the struggle for women’s rights, the civil rights movement does the same for our civil rights, the unions champion workers’ rights, etc…
We hope the community will continue to press for the democratic demands and promote inter-cultural understanding based on mutual respect and common values.” (Kua Kia Soong, ‘The Malaysian Civil Rights Movement’, SIRD 2005: 98)
Himpunan Hijau committee must find voice
Political parties and politicians can twist and turn, come and go but movements such as the workers’ movement, women’s movement, civil rights movement and the green movement must go on forever.
Politicians like to spout the platitude that “politics is the art of the possible” but movements must bear pressure on them to make their demands possible.
Now, before Wong has even started his career as a politician, he is already faced with his first dilemma.
Pakatan Rakyat leader Anwar Ibrahim (right) has demonstrated the “art of the possible” by declaring that if Pakatan comes into power, Lynas will be given a chance to prove the plant’s safety.
This is a far cry from Pakatan’s previous declaration that they would close the plantdown if they come into power and Wong himself vowing to burn the plant down himself.
Wong has since backtracked but we have not heard the stand by the Himpunan Hijau committee.
Is it because they are so caught up with the political hoopla they have also stepped down a notch from their previous uncompromising stand?
It’s time they found their own voice now that their erstwhile chairperson has gone on to pursue his political career.
More turbulence ahead for green movement
The wave of activism and awareness about green issues in recent months has been unprecedented and that is a tribute to Himpunan Hijau’s efforts in opposing the noxious Lynas plant at Kuantan.
It has linked up to the struggles at Bukit Koman, Pengerang and even the uplands of Sarawak.
However, the need for a non-partisan movement is underscored by the political values of both BN and Pakatan to suck up to multi-national corporations and the big developers in their race to see which administration can attract more investors.
This is fatal to the green movement. Thus, we see the readiness to compromise with Lynas. Then there will the decision about the other toxic industries to be seduced to take up the excess energy from the mega dams in Sarawak.
Will the “art of the possible” also result in Pakatam accommodating these other mega dams?
Pakatan has so far not only failed to tell us their defence policy, they have also not elaborated on a sustainable energy policy apart from withdrawing subsidies to the independent power producers (IPPs). These have grave consequences for the green movement.
Then, instead of waiting for a Pakatan takeover of the federal government before implementing people-centred public transport system in Penang, the state government there has gone ahead and signed the contract for the tunnel project and more highways for the island.
They have tried to justify this by saying that they do not want to be a “do nothing” administration. If that is the case, their role model must surely be former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who they have ravaged all these years.
Furthermore, the green movement has to take up the issue of gross deforestation by the Kelantan and Kedah governments, besides the abuse of our forest lands by the BN government. The movement can only do its work if it is non-partisan.
And talking about land, the green movement has to bear in mind that the recognition and protection of Orang Asli customary land rights is part of their concern if they are truly committed to a green agenda.
When we decided to enter the political arena, he resigned his post in Dong Zong forthwith and so did the rest of us from our posts in the civil rights movement.The point we were making was clear. We would be taking civil rights issues into the political arena but the civil rights movement must go on as before as a non-partisan movement, ready to defend civil rights whichever political coalition is in power.
This was our declaration at the ‘818 Democratic Uprising’ on Aug 18, 1990:
“…While we have taken this political road, we would like to reaffirm the important role that pressure groups and NGOs have to play in a democratic society for ultimately, the particular pressure group knows best and will be prepared to fight for the issue at hand.
Thus, the women’s movement is spearheading the struggle for women’s rights, the civil rights movement does the same for our civil rights, the unions champion workers’ rights, etc…
We hope the community will continue to press for the democratic demands and promote inter-cultural understanding based on mutual respect and common values.” (Kua Kia Soong, ‘The Malaysian Civil Rights Movement’, SIRD 2005: 98)
Himpunan Hijau committee must find voice
Political parties and politicians can twist and turn, come and go but movements such as the workers’ movement, women’s movement, civil rights movement and the green movement must go on forever.
Politicians like to spout the platitude that “politics is the art of the possible” but movements must bear pressure on them to make their demands possible.
Now, before Wong has even started his career as a politician, he is already faced with his first dilemma.
Pakatan Rakyat leader Anwar Ibrahim (right) has demonstrated the “art of the possible” by declaring that if Pakatan comes into power, Lynas will be given a chance to prove the plant’s safety.This is a far cry from Pakatan’s previous declaration that they would close the plantdown if they come into power and Wong himself vowing to burn the plant down himself.
Wong has since backtracked but we have not heard the stand by the Himpunan Hijau committee.
Is it because they are so caught up with the political hoopla they have also stepped down a notch from their previous uncompromising stand?
It’s time they found their own voice now that their erstwhile chairperson has gone on to pursue his political career.
More turbulence ahead for green movement
The wave of activism and awareness about green issues in recent months has been unprecedented and that is a tribute to Himpunan Hijau’s efforts in opposing the noxious Lynas plant at Kuantan.
It has linked up to the struggles at Bukit Koman, Pengerang and even the uplands of Sarawak.
However, the need for a non-partisan movement is underscored by the political values of both BN and Pakatan to suck up to multi-national corporations and the big developers in their race to see which administration can attract more investors.
This is fatal to the green movement. Thus, we see the readiness to compromise with Lynas. Then there will the decision about the other toxic industries to be seduced to take up the excess energy from the mega dams in Sarawak.Will the “art of the possible” also result in Pakatam accommodating these other mega dams?
Pakatan has so far not only failed to tell us their defence policy, they have also not elaborated on a sustainable energy policy apart from withdrawing subsidies to the independent power producers (IPPs). These have grave consequences for the green movement.
Then, instead of waiting for a Pakatan takeover of the federal government before implementing people-centred public transport system in Penang, the state government there has gone ahead and signed the contract for the tunnel project and more highways for the island.
They have tried to justify this by saying that they do not want to be a “do nothing” administration. If that is the case, their role model must surely be former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who they have ravaged all these years.
Furthermore, the green movement has to take up the issue of gross deforestation by the Kelantan and Kedah governments, besides the abuse of our forest lands by the BN government. The movement can only do its work if it is non-partisan.
And talking about land, the green movement has to bear in mind that the recognition and protection of Orang Asli customary land rights is part of their concern if they are truly committed to a green agenda.
While the BN government has been tardy in protecting Orang Asli land rights, Pakatan’s Buku Jingga and election manifesto are also somewhat silent on Orang Asli land rights. Meanwhile, the Orang Asli are fighting a court battle against the Kelantan state government over their land rights.
The rich backing ‘both horses’
The root of the problem is, the rich and super-rich are smarter than you think. Ever since the political tsunami of 2008, they have been backing both horses, the BN and Pakatan.
Thus, apart from getting their mega projects approved in BN-run states, they are also feted in the Pakatan-run states for both coalitions are committed to neo-liberal policies and bending over backwards to attract investments so that they can boast that they are more “investors-friendly”.
The rich are laughing all the way to the bank.
Thus, notice that both coalitions do not have any progressive fiscal policy to finance people-friendly public projects such as housing, health, transport and other social policies.
Just look at elections in the developed countries – there, contending political parties’ fiscal policies are the bone of contention.
Parties have to tell us where the revenue is coming from and not fling goodies and freebies at us without justifying where the revenue is coming from.Furthermore, can Pakatan tell us if they are going to buy those Eurofightet Typhoons from global defence and security company BAE Systems, costing more than RM5 billion, if they come into power?
Are we purchasing any more submarines? Can these be cut so that we have more money to spend on education, transport and other public expenditure? How much defence expenditure are they going to cut?
It’s amazing – in the most capitalist country in the world, like the United States, president Barack Obama is prepared to tax the rich.
Even business magnate Warren Buffet, one of the richest people in the US, feels the rich should be taxed at a higher marginal rate than the rest of us.
But in our country, the rich carry on as usual, whichever coalition is in power.
SOP for NGO activists
Wong is certainly not the first NGO activist to go into the political arena.
Ever since the political tsunami in 2008, many NGO activists have been seduced into the glamorous career in government while other lean and hungry YB wannabes are hopefully biding their time.
I say good luck to them.
The only standard operating procedure they should bear in mind is that, when they venture into the political arena, they should resign from their posts in the movement or NGO as a matter of course.
But in our country, the rich carry on as usual, whichever coalition is in power.
SOP for NGO activists
Wong is certainly not the first NGO activist to go into the political arena.
Ever since the political tsunami in 2008, many NGO activists have been seduced into the glamorous career in government while other lean and hungry YB wannabes are hopefully biding their time.
I say good luck to them.
The only standard operating procedure they should bear in mind is that, when they venture into the political arena, they should resign from their posts in the movement or NGO as a matter of course.
KUA KIA SOONG, a former MP, is adviser to human rights group Suaram.
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