As part of the official programme to celebrate the 50th year of the lowering of the Union Jack in Peninsula Malaya, the personality and era of Tunku Abdul Rahman is now being idealised or romanticised. But, as ex-ISA detainee Koh Swe Yong's book Malaysia - 45 Years Under the Internal Security Act (Kuala Lumpur, SIRD, 2004) records with facts and figures, violation of human rights was equally, if not more, widespread in Tunku's era.Cheers for Dr. Rajakumar' s good health, spirit
posted by James Wong Wing-On at 12:01 AM
4 Comments:
I won't try to pretend there wasn't heavy use of the ISA and other suppressive measures in the 1960's. But there was a war going on, and nasty things get done in a war.
To me, the continued use and even strengthening of War-time oppressive laws long after the guerrillas have left the jungle is far more insidious.
Its sounding a lot like George Orwell's perpetual war.
What had Dr. Rajakumar to do with the war in the jungle?
The 'Emergency' was officially declared over in 1960 (ISA was enacted in 1960 also). So, how can you say that the war was still going on in the 1960s. You seem to be a bit muddle-headed in term of time-line.
Moreover, Dr. Rajakumar's Labour Party of Malaya and Mr. Koh's People's Party were legally registered political parties (just like the British or Australian Labour Parties) in the 1960s that contested in general elections (won 8 Parliamentary seats in 1964). They were not at war with the government.
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