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One this day twenty years ago, I was a student in USM staying in the most famous hostel ‘Hilton’. My usual morning routine was to have breakfast at the mamak stall in hostel canteen. A hostel mate, Danny, came and pat on my back and said “Our big brothers are arrested”.

I replied “What big brothers? Who are our big brothers?” I was not involved in any organization in or out of campus. Secret society was definitely out.

“I am sure you have not read today’s paper,” Danny said.

“Yes. I will in a shortwhile,” I replied.

“Chandra Muzzafar, Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh, Dr Kua Kia Soong and many others were detained last night,” Danny said.

“Stop joking. This is impossible. Simply too many,” I still could not believe him. This was during the era without internet. No mobile phones. Don’t even mention about SMS. Everyone solely relied on newspapers, TV or radio for news. Those days, news could easily be controlled unlike these days with internet.

Since then, the political atmosphere in campus changed. Not sure if it’s for the better.

There was an event called ‘Debat Perdana’ that was very interesting where public figures were invited to have debate in campus. There were four speakers that usually consisted of two opposition politicians, one government representative and one from NGO. Students being students with their rebellious inclination would support loudly any non-government speakers even as they entered the hall and when they spoke to the audience. They would jeer at any government representative regardless of whom they were. Every year this was the same routine regardless who the speakers were.

After Operasi Lalang, the hall was so quiet when these speakers entered the hall or even when they spoke. So much had change after this event.

In my years in campus, I attended all Debat Perdana and listened to so many speakers. Some of them are so good and humorous. I will share with you what I remember after so many years. Government representative always had the difficult task of depending government policies, etc. The other three speakers had the easier tasks compared to the government representative.

Dr Jomo Kwasme Sundram’s replied to a government rep who disputed the figures he presented, “The numbers I presented are obtained from government statistics department. If you don’t agree with it, please go and complain to them. Not to me”.

Dr Chandra Muzzafar, after his released from ISA, told students to be active politically and it’s alright to be detained under ISA since there were no jobs in the market. Going to Kamunting will at least guaranteed you 3 meals a day. But, Dr Chandra was released before he was send to Kamunting.

A VP from PAS in defense of purchase of Pajero for their President said “Its for him to carry out party’s work. If he needs a helicopter to do a good job, PAS will buy one for him”. At that time, Pajero was THE 4WD.

A representative from Government, “Government can spend tax payers in any way they like since ALL countries collect taxes.” The hall erupted with students shouting back name of countries which did not collect taxes from their people. So funny.

Dr Ting Chew Pei spoke like a university lecturer. He probably forgot he was no longer a lecturer in UKM. So monotonous and I almost slept.

Dr Farid Ariffin was a very good speaker and he showed great respect for Dr Chandra who was his lecturer during his university days.

Dr Rais Yatim was a super duper good speaker.

Well, that was twenty years ago……… Such a long time ago.