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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 23. 23rd September 1973

Watch for Instigators

page 16

Watch for Instigators

Sirs,

Professor Campbell cannot be more right when he said "that overseas and New Zealand students alike will be exposed, in our Universities to political views of all shades". I believe that every Malaysian in this university and other academic institutions throughout New Zealand appreciates the atmosphere of freedom as such. However, while breathing under the sanctuary of freedom let us not forget about the reality we as Malaysian are going to face. Let us not forget while having the privilege of being bombarded by "political views of all shades" that ideology minus reality is at best crippled and at its worst the root of dissension. Let us remember that it is Malaysia not New Zealand that will be our final home.

Subversive ideologies and political views are not quite tolerated in Malaysia at the moment, and the advocator of such is likely to suffer servere reprimand. Let us, therefore, think beyond the realm of ideology and the scope of our discontent into something more peaceful and less threatening, solution more practical and less idealistic. I appreciate, understand and do feel what it is like to be discontended, but surely revolution and subversion are not the only ways of getting rid of our discontent. Probably Jack De Silva (despite his faults) was right when he said that let us use the "ballot box" instead of the "gun barrel" in demanding our wants. Malaysia might not be as free as New Zealand but we still have the secret ballot.

It is all very well for non-Malaysians who live thousands of miles away to say "why don't you rise and revolt; overthrow the capitalist; kick the feudal lords etc" for they are not going to be there to suffer and endure the consequences while that happens. While we are killing and hacking at each other they would just sit and watch, saying things like; "You see, I was right!" or "I know that would happen" and so on. People like that are a clique of frustrated intellectuals who through their boredom turn to be instigators and armchair revolutionaries. They are worse than the worst dictator because ' they create trouble then watch while you suffer.

This letter is not a threat, nor is it a warning and not even a piece of advice, but just a reminder of the things that each and every one of us Malaysians already know.

Drawing of Batman and Robin

Yours sincerely

James Masing.