The deputy prime minister, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, warns, ad naseum, the Government "would not hesitate to act against magazine publishers who flout the law". If only the good minister meant it. For at other occasions, he threatens undergraduates, fishmongers, opposition parties and members, illegal immigrants, pornographic videotape and CD sellers, kway teow sellers and any group who need to be chastised. "Action will be taken." he warns the publishers if they print "materials detrimental to society." He gets on to his high horse and urges people "to make wise choices and reject such magazines or publications". Mark you, "if they (magazines) are not good, then the people will not buy it. We let them decide but if these magazines go against our publications law then action will be taken." Magazine publishers should now shiver in their pants and take fright at this awesome threat. Their days, as the police would say, are numbered. Yes, they would: 19, 20, 21, 22 et al

Dato' Seri Abdullah begins to believe, as the Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Mahathir Mohamed, that what he says is accepted as an article of faith: what he says is the truth, it will be done, and if you find it is not, then you are at fault. It is this assumption that those who listen and read what they should not say are pleased the country is in good hands. The Malaysian police -- Dato' Seri's "long arm of the law" -- is on the side of law and order, would assiduously track down wrongdoers however mighty. But as Shakespeare said in one of his plays, there's many a slip betwixt the cup and the lip. In Malaysia, there's only a slip. Look at the number of police reports politicians make. If by a National Front body, it is despatched with commendable speed, especially if against opposition shenanigans. If by an opposition politician, the long arm of the law goes on holiday.

How many reports did his jailed predecessor make about wrongdoings in government? Since Dato' Seri Abdullah promises to investigate magazine publishers who flout the law, surely these would have been investigated and resolved by now. But the fact is: none are. Now would they now or ever. The police would act when ordered by the home minister, one Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the last time I checked, or more often one Mahathir Mohamed, the ex-officio home minister. In other words, the police have become a political police force, one which act only against those they are ordered to. When Dato' Seri Abdullah threatens magazine publishers, the police are happy they have a new line of income. You have banned porno CDs? You make your own deals with the police. You will ban the Indonesian illegal from returning? UMNO branches along the coast will make their own deals and help them return. Usually within 48 hours of landing in Indonesia.

More than the threats, why should the home minister make statements he cannot carry out? To those who hear them, it is a sinistral sign of the government having lost control. The police would rather make money than be the long arm of the law. The civil servant would rather make money than do what he is paid for. The soldier would rather make money than do what he is paid for. The minister would rather make money than do what he is paid for. So, if Dato' Seri Abdullah believes the government is on the ball when he says they are, he is grossly mistaken. He must have realised by now that government policy in recent months, indeed years, is to find creative ways to bribe those who work for it. Higher salaries, more perks and privileges, and anything else to bribe them to carry out government policy.

Amidst this is this "Aku Janji" ("I promise") declaration everyone in government, however remotely connected, have to sign. One Mr Adolf Hitler got Germans in the 1930s to sign such a document, not to make civil servants loyal to the government, but to make them loyat to his Nazi Socialist Party. So, it would appear, in Malaysia. This is a way to ensure that all who work in the government and for any organisation that has dealings with it would sign this pledge of eternal loyalty by Malays to UMNO, by Chinese to MCA, Indians to UMNO. The catch is if you do not sign the pledge, then you should not expect any contracts or even sub-contracts from the government. Already, scholarships are given more often to those whose parents are National Front party members. One politician high up in the government and party heirarchy did not even bat the proverbial eyelid when I suggested this is what the "Aku Janji" pledge is all about. For a man who who is quick to deny my more outrageous analysis of current events, which you do not get to read on Sang Kancil, he was strangely silent.

What frightens then is that when the home minister promises perdition to those who break the law, no one believes him. The government machinery so creaks it cannot even be relied upon to do its work. So much so Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi must repeat ad nauseum of the terrifying nature of the long arm of the law. But that he repeats it so often is one reason why it is not. So, the government needs the "Aku Janji" as yet another means to bringing the Malay back to the fold, after that pesky little fellow called Anwar Ibrahim made life all difficult for all when he raised the flag of revolt in 1998. Whatever the government does is disbelieved. It is posturing, no more no less. Even "Aku Janji". Too many are angry about it that many would sign it for less than nationalism or belief. So, does it really matter if the long arm of the law does catch up with the culprit? No. The long arm of the law would either take your money or strangle you, depending on the circumstances. Help is the last you can expect, especially if you are not an "Aku Janji" fanatic.

M.G.G. Pillai
pillai@mgg.pc.my