Azizah: "Our vision is for a nation restored to good governance"

Aliran Monthly: What do you think are the chances of Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s (DSAI) release under the acting premiership of Dato Seri Abdullah Badawi?

Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail: I’d like to think that DSA1 should have a fair chance regardless of whoever is the prime minister or acting prime minister. His release should be the outcome of a legal process. However, there is a perception that decisions relating to DSAI are more shaped by political considerations than legal ones. Abdullah Badawi has never indicated that his perception of the injustice done to DSAI is different from that of Mahathir.

AM: Do you think that Anwar still has the rallying power among supporters of KeADILan-PRM in particular, and the Reformasi movement in general that he once enjoyed?

Azizah: The fact that the current government feels it necessary to keep DSAI as their guest at Sg Buloh shows that they still consider him to have a lot of influence over KeADILan and PRM supporters, as well as over Reformasi activists in general. My interaction with our supporters indicates that they still hold him in high regard and remember him with affection. He continues to be the personality that is at the centre of support from among our followers

AM: Some political pundits feel that the merger of KeADILan and PRM is really a marriage of convenience, with all its attendant problems. How do you see the future of this newly merged party?

Azizah: This newly merged party represents the future of Malaysian politics. It is the merger of an older principled, resilient and tested party with a young, vibrant party which draws much support from the younger generation, that holds promise of a new political culture in Malaysia.

AM: Do you think that the new party will attract more multi-ethnic members, thereby ushering in a new era in Malaysian (Bangsa Malaysia) politics?

Azizah: This is indeed the strength of both parties in the merger. We have been attracting Malaysians from all ethnic backgrounds and the merger will help us to continue to do this. While we would like to shape the new era in Malaysian politics, we recognize that entrenched ethnic-based loyalties continue to be strong. The BN continues to manipulate and capitalize on these primitive sentiments. Our challenge is to rise above this narrow ethnic-based approach.

AM: Will the newly merged party be opposed to the PAS notion of an Islamic state?

Azizah: A democratic society is one where there is a healthy contest of ideas. We see the differences in orientation among the BA parties as part of its strength. Such pluralism enables the synthesis of a genuinely Malaysian approach to develop.

Only weak leaders and weak governments feel threatened by new ideas. These leaders see every idea that differs from their own as subversive and a threat to their position. To this, they respond in the only way they know, that is by trying to suppress these ideas.

In the BA there is a greater climate of openness. We don’t see people resorting to violence to settle their differences. PAS members, for instance, did not condemn or declare a jihad on the DAP because of the DAP’s criticism of the proposal for an Islamic state. Compare this with UMNO’s reaction to anything that remotely touches on Malay rights.

We see the concept of the Islamic state as one that is still in its formative stage. While the basic idea of an Islamic state has been around for some time, the time-space manifestation of the concept still needs to be worked out. The actual substance of the concept can be shaped by a process of open dialogue.

KeADILan is not going to oppose a concept that is still in its infancy in the Malaysian context. Ustaz Abdul Hadi has made it quite clear that PAS will only go in for an Islamic state after a process of discussion with its allies in the BA. We see this statement as indicative of a willingness to discuss the substance of the concept of the Islamic state before any plan for its implementation.

AM: Certain political observers maintain that the Barisan Nasional will garner more votes in the coming general election, especially in view of the disarray among the opposition parties, particularly after the DAP pullout from the grouping.

Azizah: I think the single major factor that is going to contribute to the BN getting more votes and seats in the next election is the re-delineation of the constituencies, and the use of phantom voters.

AM: Over the years, Malaysians have witnessed the continuing erosion of civil liberties and the weakening of civil society, especially since 11 September 2001. What can the Opposition in general and KeADILan-PRM in particular do to arrest this dangerous trend?

Azizah: The erosion of civil liberties and the weakening of civil society are basic issues that provide KeADILan-PRM and the BA in general with its raison d’etre or reason for existence. The only real way to counter these unhealthy trends is by educating the people about their basic rights and responsibilities as citizens. This, of course, is not easy to do, given the repressive nature of such laws as the ISA, the OSA, the Printing Presses and Publications Act, etc., and the repressive atmosphere generated by the 11 September 2001 incident, which has itself been used as a justification for repression.

All that we can do in the present circumstances is to make our voice heard as loud as possible in as many ways as are still open to us as possible – through Parliament and the State assemblies, through the Internet, through the alternative Press, including your Aliran Monthly, and our own organ, Seruan KeAdilan. Unfortunately we face tremendous difficulties in getting our message across to the public at large, but something is better than nothing. And it is my observation that despite the daily brainwashing to which we are all subjected to by the state-controlled media, many people still stick to their first principles and believe in the values that we stand for.

AM: What is your vision as president of the newly merged party for a better future for all Malaysians? Concretely what would be the first of a number of things that your party would do if it came to power?

Azizah: My vision as president of this newly merged party is exactly the same as what it was before the merger, and is shared, I know, by Dr.Syed Husin Ali, an old friend and my new partner in politics. That is to say, our vision is for a nation restored to good governance, where democratic rights are truly protected, with an Executive that is accountable to Parliament and transparent in its dealings, with a Judiciary that is independent and impartial, and a society with an ethos which cares for social justice.

What our first steps will be on coming into power have already been laid down in great detail and with great clarity in the BA’s manifesto drafted for the general election which still has the support of all the Opposition parties. Specifically, our top priorities at home will be the abolition of all repressive legislation and the drawing up of plans to cope with the outstanding problems facing the nation today (with regard to issues concerning education, corruption, healthcare, poverty, drugs and crime).

In foreign affairs we will reinforce Malaysia’s traditional role as a leader of Third World countries in their quest for international justice. We will also give special attention to the changes that are taking place in the world around us, in particular to the implications for the future of our region in the fields of politics and economy of the awakening of China, and for our national security in a period of international crises and war.

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