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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 20. August 8 1977

Dear David,

I would like to make some comments on Tan Sri Alex Chen's letter which was published on Salient July 25, page 18.

First of all, I would like to make a brief account of the formation of MSA in the early seventies.

Since the beginning of 1960, there have been Malaysians and Singaporeans studying in New Zealand. There was no MSA during that time, however, the only association which represented Malaysians and Singaporeans in the 60's was MSSA. There was no Malaysian High Commissioner in New Zealand but the Malaysian High Commissione in Australia represented High Commissioner in New Zealand instead.

Since the separation of Singapore from Malaysia the Malaysian High Commissioner in Canberra repeatedly tried to urge the pro-Government Malaysian students in New Zealand universities to form a new association called MSA. The main purpose of the formation of a new association MSA is to bring the Malaysians students to under closer control so as to spy on student activities and at the same time try to divert the attention of Malaysians from social awareness by encouraging the MSA to have more dances, more sport tournaments etc. We can still see that every year MSA allocated a lot of money in organizing a grand 'ball'. We also see that MSA President always declares that MSA is a non-political organisation. It is therefore not surprising to know that the MSA President did not say a single word about overseas student cutback campaign on the Musical Evening despite the fact that the local campaign was only few hours away. It is also not surprising to learn that the President spent some energy to explain to the audience that he had been contacting the downtown cooking experts to cook five courses Chinses meals during the grand 'ball'.

I do not deny that there are few good committee members in MSA. People like David Yap is one of the few. He worked very hard in the student cutback campaign and also attended the ISC.

However, people like Tan Sri Alex Chen is a person without pride, dignity and self-respect. Tan Sri Alex Chen laughs at those Malaysians who have been trying to restore pride, dignity and self-respect for Malaysian students. He jolly well knows that the former MSSA committee did try to put a press statement about 'marriage of convience' and the press refused to put it on. He not only did not sympathize with Malaysians but also tries to laugh at thorn whenever they have encountered difficulties.

Tan Sri Alex Chen does not like Malaysians to condemn South African racist policy. May I ask what motives Tan Sri Alex Chen has ?

Tan Sri Alex Chen had misused she register number of ISC. I would like to tell Tan Sri Alex Chen that only those who wanted to have meals during the ISC were required to register at Lindy Cassidy. However, if you did not want to stay in ISC for meals you were not required to pay and register, you can attend the meeting without any charge. Good try, Tan Sri ! Try again next time ! Ha ! Ha ! Ha !.

MSA did have a representative in the ISC e.g. David Yap. Mind you, Alex, my Tan Sri, MSA lent it's name to ISC too !

Yours sincerely,

MSA member.