Devils advocate: How do you explain the success of Operasi Lalang in 1987? Answer: The law of diminishing returns might apply more slower because (a) society was much more conservative and timid then (b) the cost of detention without trial under ISA was much higher than prosecution under Sedition Act (c) support structure for the victims was formed after it happened (the forerunner of SUARAM) and majority of members of the public stay away because of fear. Under all these conditions, the tipping point may be much higher, perhaps 500 to 1000. The number of detainees, 106, might therefore far from the tipping point. Despite this, the Operasi Lalang coupled with other events like the Judiciary Crisis in 1988 brought about the near miss in the 1990 General Election. Dr Mahathir would have been the Parliamentary Opposition Leader had it not been because of the smear campaign on Kulis cross-like headgear.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 11:15:51 +0000
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