Professor Syed Husin Ali, a Malay lecturer at the University of Malaya, was arrested by the Malaysian Secret Police on 7 December 1974 on a charge of having helped the Malayan Communist Party in 'subversive activities' in institutions of higher learning and 'acting in a manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia'. On 4 February 1975 he was detained for a period of two years under Section 8 (c) of the Internal Security Act 1960, in Taiping Detention Camp.

We print here a letter on his arrest by his wife, indicative of the very great concern many in Malaysia are feeling over now almost non-existent democratic rights and civil liberties in Malaysia.

Struggle to the End

I would like to know why my husband was arrested.

What 'crime' has he done? He was arrested at 2.00 am (7 December 1974) at a time when people sleep. Is it that the government wanted to terrorise us?

My children and I condemn the arrest of my husband and other friends, and we condemn the method of arresting him secretly.

If the arrest was connected with the demonstrations of the peasants and students, I am fully convinced my husband and his colleagues are on the side of truth. He has spoken against poverty, hunger and injustice. Just as the students who are now demonstrating. All these protests were started by the rakyat of this country themselves, as in Baling, Kulim, Sik in Kedah and other places, who are impatient with their living conditions, who subsequently became courageous as to hold big processions to protest against the policy of government that makes the rich grow richer whilst the poor become impoverished. 'Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi'. What else is left to us as human beings but to protest our rights?

I challenge the government which arrested my husband to charge him in open court, if it is true there is still justice in this country. My husband has the right to defend himself if the government has the 'right' to arrest, detain, and accuse him. Only cowards make accusations without permitting replies. We dare to be tried, dare the government bring them to trial?

I have gone to High Street Police Station where my husband and friends are kept. But the government have directed the Special Branch not to allow me and my children to meet my husband. When I persisted and asked as to when I could see him, a Special Branch man told me, 'You will be informed in due course'. Until today I have not been told as to when I and my children could meet him.

These are the laws and regulations practised by people in power who act arbitrarily, although they love to talk about democracy and justice.

This act of forbidding visits has caused me to suspect that my husband and his friends in detention are being given bad and improper treatment which is inhumane. Otherwise why are we-wife, children and family not allowed to meet them?

As a wife and mother to my children, this statement is not made as an appeal or to plead for sympathy. I am a Kelantan born who is proud of Tok Janggut. It is the spirit and courage of this Kelantan hero that make me unafraid, but indeed leads me to be more determined in facing the condition that is forced on to us. It is not the cowardly spirit of the decendants of those who have sold our people and country for generation after generation. According to a Malay saying, 'Genggam bara api, biar sampai jadi arang.'

Sabariah Abdullah

(Mrs S Husin Ali