"Which bumiputra?"

"THE bumiputra ... the Malays."

"What was the question again?"

"Ahmad ... do you believe in the rights of the bumiputra?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"For about a hundred reasons, all too long to explain right now."

"Can you give me just one?"

"OK. The bumiputra aren't the bumiputra."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that the bumiputra are not what they are set out to be ... the native inhabitants of Malaysia."

"Are you sure about that, Ahmad?"

"Yes. The Malays are late comers, both in the peninsula and in Borneo. They are certainly not the original inhabitants."

"Why are they called bumiputras then?"

"Ali, I suppose you could call it a political term, made popular for the sake of votes."

"But the Malays have rights over other people in Malaysia, as guaranteed by the Constitution, isn't that what the argument is about?"

"No, Ali. That is not what the argument is about."

"Well, what is it about then?"

"The Umno party represents the Malays, right? It is the United MALAY National Organisation, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"But now most Malays don't support Umno any more. The younger the Malay, the more likely the vote will go to the opposition. So Umno is losing its constituency. That's have a serious problem for them."

"But why is Umno defending Malay rights if the Malays are not supporting Umno any more?"

"Ali, it is not about Malay rights. They are only pretending to defend Malay rights. It is all just another sandiwara."

"You think so, Ahmad? What is it all about, then?"

"Umno wants to spook the Chinese into a reaction, which hasn't happened yet, to create a stir that will give attract the Malay's attention. They must get the Malays back or they are finished."

"Ahmad, that doesn't add up. How can a list of recommendations for the restoration of democratic principles by the Chinese associations be such a threat to Umno?"

"Ali, who gets the rights, and who gives up the rights?"

"The Malays get the rights. Everyone else gives them over."

"Where is the second biggest block of voters in Malaysia?"

"The Chinese. What about it?"

"Ali, do you hear anyone picking an argument with the Indians or the Orang Asli over Malay rights?"

"No, I guess not."

"Many Malays now agree that the Malay rights are an injustice, but is there a any open debate between Malays on the issue.?"

"Yes, come to think of it, there is."

"Now, Ali, tell me what that is."

"Isn't PAS going to debate the Malay rights with the Umno youth?"

"Yes, that's being planned. I'll be surprised if it actually happens. Now, which side is PAS on?"

"PAS is for eliminating the Malay rights because they are both unfair and 'un-Islamic'."

"Correct, Ali. Now let me ask you, what is PAS?"

"PAS is ... PAS is the major political opponent of Umno-BN."

"Right. Are they mainly Chinese?"

"Be serious, Ahmad. They are Muslims ... Malays."

"Would you say that PAS and Umno are both attempting to win the Malay voters?"

"Yes, that is obvious."

"And there is a difference of opinion among the Malays about the Malay rights, isn't there? A split?"

"Yes. What about it?"

"Umno has alienated most of the Malay voters, and only won the general election last year with the support of the Chinese vote ... and the Election Commission, right?"

"It looks that way, yes."

"But now the Chinese have been alienated also, by the mishandling of the virus fund money, the education fund money, and now the Vision School project, right?"

"Not to mention the name-calling by the PM. Then BN lost in Lunas."

"Ali, the Umno-BN has been very careless in their public relations. The people have come to distrust them in matters of finance, and there is a total loss of credibility. When any government suffers such a credibility loss, it can no longer function effectively. Nothing is possible. The people don't trust anything the ministers say, and are suspicious of the motives behind every action."

"What does that have to do with Malay rights?"

"The Malay rights issue is an excuse for drastic action. If the public can be aroused over the Malay rights issue, it will become a pretext for the government to maintain authority by force."

"What do you mean, force?"

"Ali, if the Umno-BN cannot maintain itself in power through the ballot, they will use the emergency powers given to the Agong by the Constitution. But first they must create an appearance of an emergency."

"The Malay rights issue can hardly be called an emergency; it has been going on a long time."

"Yes, Ali, but recently it has been escalated, using the pretext of the Suqiu list, though the Chinese associations only ask for a more democratic government."

"What is that all about?"

"Ali, if the Umno-BN can generate public unrest, or the appearance of public unrest, that is all the pretext they need to resort to force, giving as a reason the necessity to restore peace and stability."

"But Ahmad, it is the Chinese who presented the list of desired changes, not PAS, and not the other BA parties. Why are the Chinese being baited?"

"Ali, you don't remember the incidents of May 13, 1969, do you?"

"No, but I have heard a lot about it."

"It was the Chinese who were massacred in cold blood, right?"

"By Malays."

"Uniformed Malays, and young Malays whipped into a murderous lather by ambitious politicians."

"Yes, and Umno constantly reminds the Chinese that it could happen again. Every election it is trotted out. It was mentioned again Lunas, but the Chinese aren't afraid this time."

"Ahmad, are you saying the Umno-BN is setting the stage for another incident?"

"What is the news today, Ali?"

"Something about a student group meeting in Bukit Jalil Stadium."

"Do you remember any numbers mentioned?"

"A hundred thousand, I think."

"When did you hear that last?"

"At the last opposition meeting ... the Highway incident; when the police tear gassed the crowd and arrested over a hundred."

"And now there is to be another opposition meeting of a hundred thousand?"

"Yes, sometime in January. And the student threat of a meeting at Bukit Jalil stadium."

"Now, Ali, is there any connection between these meetings?"

"You mean the similarity in numbers?"

"That, and the Suqiu list."

"I don't know if there is any connection. What do you see?"

"Ali, do you remember a crowd of Umno Youth gathered outside a Chinese Meeting Hall, with threats of burning the building down?"

"Yes, what about it?"

"Wasn't that supposed to be about the Suqiu list? And now the leader of Umno Youth is to debate the issue of Malay rights with a spokesman from PAS?"

"But there are no Chinese involved; what is that all about?"

"Ali, Umno-BN knows the Chinese vote is lost. The idea is to keep them on the sidelines for the moment. The MCA leadership is responsible for keeping the Chinese out of the way, while the main tussle takes place between the Malays."

"What about the Bukit Jalil Stadium thing?"

"It is just a bluff, to pretend that there is a student following, willing to turn out voluntarily in size to protect Malay rights against both PAS and the Chinese."

"Ahmad, what if they do have the meeting at Bukit Jalil? What if a hundred thousand people actually turn up?"

"Ali, you have just said the magic word."

"Huh?"

"The issue is not Malay rights, Ali. It is not the Suqiu list. The issue is the right of peaceful assembly."

"What makes you think that, Ahmad?"

"The opposition is being denied their Constitutional right to assembly, and they know this is being done through unfair denial of a police permit."

"And?"

"The people are objecting to the arbitrary denial of a police permit. They are doing this in large numbers."

"Yes. What about it?"

"The appearance of these large crowds is embarrassing to the Umno-BN, because they are composed of ordinary people dressed as though for a kenduri, and there is no pretext for police brutality. The brutality is being filmed and broadcast around the world. This represents a serious problem for the image of Malaysia, and affects both tourism and foreign investment. To some extent it may even affect overseas sales of items marked Buatan Malaysia."

"Get back to Bukit Jalil Stadium."

"If the student group can get a police permit to hold a rally, there must be some reason for them to have the rally in the first place, right?"

"I suppose so. Go on."

"The Suqiu list and the mention of Malay Rights is a pretext for the rally, which is used as a threat to the Chinese that unless the 'demands are retracted' ... notice the rhetoric ... by such and such date, the demonstration will be held. The Suqiu list is a set of goals for good government. The Umno Youth and the student group are purposely misrepresenting it as a set of 'demands.' This draw-a-line-in-the-sand approach to settling differences is typical of immature and inexperienced leadership. But such ignorance can be frightening, which is the whole idea: "Be afraid of us, we're insane."

"But do they really want to discuss anything? I read that the Umno Youth was to debate the Malay rights with PAS, and had also invited Suqiu to hold a dialogue session with them. What is there to discuss? The Chinese associations have listed their concepts for a better government; that is nothing to go to battle stations over."

"That's right, Ali, they are not interested in negotiation. It is Umno-BN who are making the demands, and behind the demands are threats. It is a distraction intended to divert attention from the primary issue of the police permit. The irony is that the people who have planned this whole confrontation fail to see that instead, it does just the opposite. It actually focuses attention on the issue of the police permit, and the willingness of the people to be arrested to demonstrate determination to have this right restored. In addition, the alienation of the Chinese is made permanent. Politically this is nothing short of suicidal."

"Ahmad, how can the opposition hope to accomplish that goal, getting a police permit, I mean, if the Umno-BN leaders are determined to deny it to them?"

"Because Ali, it highlights the situation for everyone to see. The police cannot give a permit to their spurious student group, allowing a clearly inflammatory meeting, one that could result in hotheads waving parangs around in the air, then the very next day deny a permit to a group that has again and again demonstrated that their meetings are peaceful, requiring minimal police assistance, and that only for traffic control."

"Is that it then? Just a battle over the police permit?"

"Not exactly, Ali. It places a burden on the police to be fair in their arrests. They must act with professionalism and dignity in handling the people they arrest. They must not show any favoritism. If a hundred thousand people show up, and say they want to be arrested, then the police should be prepared. They should have adequate clerks to keep the records, with tables and chairs for the people to sit in while their ID's are checked."

"Do you mean that all of the people have a right to be arrested?"

"Certainly. Why should only ten people be arrested out of a hundred thousand? Everybody has a right to be arrested. If there is a problem, then perhaps the police need a bigger budget. Certainly people should be transported in buses, not in covered lorries."

"Ahmad, where would the police put all these people? There aren't enough jail cells?"

"Why not put them up in hotels? The hotels would love the business. It is only for one night anyway; they have to be released within 24 hours."

"Ahmad, you can't be serious. I think you are just teasing me, aren't you?"

"Why don't you ask the people who were arrested? Ask the people who had their cars and motorbikes bashed by the police. Ask the people who were struck with batons, and given tear gas. Ask the ten who were charged. Ask them if they are serious."

"Ahmad, this whole thing is a ridiculous mess. Where will it all end?"

"Why not just give the people a police permit, and let them meet peacefully in Bukit Jalil Stadium?"

"But Ahmad, would that settle the issue of the Malay rights?"