by S Arutchelvan
Aliran Monthly Vol 25 (2005): Issue 8

	History is always told in the language of the victor. S Arutchelvan

Putrajaya,
30 August 2005

I was driving to Putrajaya to attend a demonstration called by two urban settler communities. They had called me the night before and the reason for holding the demonstration on the eve of Merdeka was that their houses were going to be demolished on 1 September 2005 and 31 August was the deadline. They did not have much choice as today was the only day left for them to send a memorandum to the Prime Minister with the hope that he would intervene and at least postpone the forced eviction.

As I was driving to Putrajaya, the radio stations were blaring on about the “Merdeka mood”. The deejays were spouting Merdeka propaganda; they went on and on about how we had achieved independence and how we had ousted the British from Malaya. Callers were told to shout “Merdeka!” as the required “password” for making dedications to loved ones.

In the background, the voice of the first Prime Minster proclaiming “Merdeka! Merdeka!” was continually repeated. Callers were asked how they were going to celebrate Merdeka Day and many described the various ways they planned to observe the day. Some callers were very soft when they shouted “Merdeka!” When cajoled by the DJs, they explained that they were in their workplaces and they could not shout because, if their bosses found out , they could get the sack. That reflects the sad reality of the people.

Hidden history

History is always told in the language of the victor. In this sense, our history is always narrated in textbooks influenced by UMNO and Alliance leaders. This distorted history is what the deejays as well as many callers were recalling.

The deejays did not describe how we actually achieved independence. They did not mention that UMNO was initially formed not to seek independence but just to protect the Malay Sultanate and its interests. They did not dare say that the multi-ethnic leftist coalition AMCJA - PUTERA: All Malaya Council of Joint Action - Pusat Tenaga Rakyat had called for independence earlier. In fact, the fierce resistance movement, which called for Merdeka was the result of efforts by left-wing Malay political parties namely Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM), led by people such as Mokhtarrudin Lasso, Burhanudin Helmy, Samsiah Fakeh and Boestaman. Their youth wings, the API, even had a slogan "Merdeka dengan darah” (Independence through bloodshed) - a slogan which meant that they were willing to shed blood to achieve independence. The deejays also did not mention that PKMM left UMNO in 1946 over their differences with UMNO on the independence issue.

The deejays also did not say that when we achieved independence in 1957, the country’s emergency, which was declared in 1948, was not lifted. This emergency was only lifted in 1960, the same year the Internal Security Act (ISA) was passed in Parliament. They did not mention that part of the deal for independence was that Malaya agreed to have foreign troops from Australia, New Zealand and Britain on our soil. There would continue to be British control of our economy. In fact, when we achieved independence, 75 per cent of our plantations were in the hands of mainly British capitalists while 61 per cent of tin and 75 per cent of services and commerce were controlled by foreign capital. So what independence are we talking about?

Must they demonstrate today?

I reached my destination at Putrajaya, at the roundabout where the beautiful, magnificent Putrajaya mosque and the giant green Prime Minister's office is situated, beside the artificial lake created with the sole intention of beautifying the place.

There was also another view, a view which Malaysians want to forget and ignore: 200 people - including children in school uniforms - chanting and pleading for the evictions to stop. Many of the security guards oveseeing the traffic were sympathetic.What else could these people do other than hitting the streets, the guards told me. The security guards went on talking about their own problems such as the high cost of living, not to forget the recent hike in oil prices and a proposed further hike in toll prices. A few government staff who passed by the picket line shook hands with me discreetly, saying, “Well done, this is the way” and moved on before anyone could spot them. It is so sad, in a Merdeka land, these ordinary workers are fearful of speaking their minds.

As the police personnel were trying to control the situation, one senior government official spoke to me. He asked me if this was the right day to carry out the demonstration because the next day being our Independence Day, this would portray a negative image of our country especially among the many tourists who were at Putrajaya watching the demonstration. He was very disturbed that people could carry out such a demonstration on the eve of Merdeka. He said, please, can they do it some other time, some other place.

I told him that I was equally sad that people were forced to demonstrate on this date - but what else could they do? I asked for him for suggestions but he just shook his head in resignation. I too shook my head - for what else could he say?

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S Arutchelvan is pro-tem secretary general of Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

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