(7 October 199u) A Malaysian Journal: Jackie / vol. 08 Comments on Dave's AMJ [ (C) Copyright 1998, D. Crocker, Brandenburg Consulting ] [ This is a continuing series of notes about our experiences living and ] [ working in Malaysia, during Jackie's 10-month Fullbright Fellowship to ] [ the Universiti Putra Malaysia, just outside Kuala Lumpur. ] [ Copies may be freely distributed, but must retain this preamble. ] [ Anyone wishing to be added to the distribution list, or removed from ] [ it, should send me a note. /Dave ] Dear Friends, I have a few comments that I would like to add to Dave's, that I just forwarded. If you haven't read his yet, do, so my comments will make sense. The 1969 riots were indeed ethnic riots, not as severe as Indonesia's, but of that flavor. I don't know whether there was a political element. The current demonstrations are entirely political. There are no ethnic tensions, and no ethnic outbreaks. The Chinese and Indians are perhaps more leery of Anwar, because of his conservative Muslim stance. However, many Malays, as well, are wondering what Anwar would actually do, if in power, and are more critical of Mahathir's methods than supportive of Anwar. The sexual charges against Anwar may well turn him into a Saint. I heard more skepticism of Anwar before he was sacked than since. I was quite shocked to see the current edition of Business Week reporting that most Malaysian's are supportive of Anwar's anticorruption reforms. It may be true that most Malaysians are against corruption. However, the photo caption gives the impression that there is both wider support for Anwar and more focus to his "reformasi" than I have been hearing. Clinton became President by realizing "It's the economy, stupid". Certainly the Malaysian people are no more clear about what to do to fix the economy than the IMF or Fed, and they vary considerably whether they have a stronger skepticism of Anwar or Mahathir. As far as Dave's comment that KL is not "exotic" enough for me, well, basically that is true. I don't exactly want to "eat berries", but I did realize before I came that my fantasy was more in line with an anthropologist's job than with being paid by the US gov to teach an economically challenged country how to do capitalism. Realistically, with my background, working with sophisticated, educated Malaysians, in Kuala Lumpur, is as close as I am likely to come to living in a village to study local customs. The biggest problem is that I am not really studying Bahasa. I had to choose a place where I can work in English, and English is wide-spread enough that I have gotten comfortable not even trying to use Bahasa. Our house keeper does not speak English, and I think I have managed to put together about 2 sentences to her in Bahasa. Mostly I am at work, and don't even see her. How colonial, learn just enough to give the maid instructions! I'm really ashamed of myself! (Many of you on my distribution list are getting to know me better while I am in MY than you did when we saw each other regularly). -Jackie =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Jackie Snell 6/98 - 3/99: jaq@admin.upm.edu.my University Business Centre Off: +60(3)948-5649 4th Floor Admin. Bldg. Fax: +60(3)9433-513 Universiti Putra Malaysia Mobile: +60(3)9457-239 43400 Serdang, Selangor MALAYSIA Dave's Mobile: +60(19)3299-445 4/99: snell_j@cob.sjsu.edu Marketing Dept., San Jose State University Off: +1 408 924 3484 One Washington Square Fax: +1 408 924 3445 San Jose, CA 95192-0069 USA =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dave Crocker Tel: +1(408)246 8253 675 Spruce Drive Sunnyvale, CA 94086 USA Brandenburg Consulting Tel: +60(19)3299 445 Post Office Box 296, U.P.M. Fax: +1(408)246 8253 Serdang, Selangor 43400 MALAYSIA