1. Many of us must have read or seen the film on the wars of the world. I believe it was based on fiction written by H.G. Wells.
2. In this story creatures from another planet rocketed on to this planet earth and attacked it. They intended to conquer the world.
3. Mankind set their armies to defend our world. There was no mention of any particular country.
4. Humanity was facing a common enemy. We had to be together to defend this planet. Fortunately the aliens were killed not by our defence forces but by germs which infected the aliens. They had no knowledge about infectious diseases and had no antibiotics. The disease killed the aliens and the world was saved.
5. The aliens from other planet were our common enemy and we fought against them as the people of this planet earth.
6. Today the peoples of this earth are being attacked by a common enemy; the coronary virus. We should be fighting this common enemy together. But we are not. Each country fights for itself alone. What happens to other countries is of no concern to other countries.
7. The richest country in the world actually reject the organisation dedicated to the management of the health of the world.
8. The United Nations (UN) had set up a World Health Organisation (WHO) obviously for the benefit of the whole world. It was funded by the countries of the world. But the richest country in the world decided to stop funding WHO.
9. Yet this common enemy is not only common for all the countries of the world but is so powerful that no one on their own can defend themselves. The economies of all countries have gone into recession.
10. When vaccines were developed, the rich countries secured practically all the supplies for themselves.
11. Since the World Health Organisation have been deprived of funds, it is in no position to supply vaccines to the poor countries. And no attempt is made to have a central command to deal with this common enemy.
12. As hundreds of thousands die from the attack by this common enemy, many saw only the financial gain to be derived from the vaccine manufacturing industry. Admittedly much money is needed to develop and produce the vaccines. But access should not be limited to those who can pay only. It is possible that some countries and some people will never be immune to the disease.
13. Mutations are a problem. In fact it is possible that the present strain had mutated from some harmless strain. If the poor people are not protected through vaccine, the researchers may develop new strains which can result in another pandemic.
14. The Central Command should be strongly financed and given power to control the distribution of the vaccine so that rich and poor could be protected. Research must be controlled by the central body because it is entirely possible for new lethal strains to emerge and accidentally let loose on the world.
15. What we all must realise is that a common enemy need not come from another planet. It has been shown that it is entirely possible for a common enemy for all the people in our planet to be produced here, in our backyard so to speak.
16. It is important that we have a common front to face this common enemy. The World Health Organisation must be given the authority to licence research and oversee their work. We face the danger of research producing another virus which may wipe out all living things in this world.
17. Don’t laugh. It has already happened. And look at the destruction COVID-19 has wrought.
GOVERNMENTS OF MALAYA
1. The Malay states were all absolute monarchies before the coming of the British. All taxes collected belong to the rulers. They then allocate funds for the various institutions of Government.
2. Quite naturally the ruler would spend most of the money on himself. There was not much left to finance the institutions of Government.
3. Frequently the ruler would borrow money for his own use. The classic case was the five million dollars borrowed from Siam by the Sultan of Kedah for the marriage of five of his sons.
4. Unable to pay the debt, Kedah had to accept a financial adviser appointed by Siam to ensure Government revenue would be used to pay the debt. The adviser was British.
5. Naturally the development of the state was neglected. Additionally, the tax collectors pocketed some of the taxes. It was in order to prevent this corruption that the ruler accepted the offer of the Kapitan China to collect the taxes and guarantee a much bigger amount would reach the ruler.
6. In Johor, the ruler was more astute. Seeing how the Chinese business people were able to enrich Singapore, the ruler invited them to open up land for agriculture along the rivers of Johor. Although all the revenue went to the ruler, there was enough for financing the different institutions of Government.
7. Other West Coast states benefited from their tin-rich land leased to Chinese miners.
8. The rulers of Kedah and Johor saw the development of Penang and Singapore and wanted their states to develop in the same way. They tried to copy the British administrative system. But it was Perak which first decided to bring in British advisers to improve the administrations.
9. Perak was rich in tin and had leased a lot of tin-mining land to Chinese Kongsis. Fighting broke out between the different Chinese mining companies. The ruler of Perak was unable to deal with this. He decided to get help from the British in Penang. The Sikh police force was brought from Penang to put a stop to the fights between the Chinese kongsis.
10. Subsequent to the incident the ruler decided to have the advice of the British in the administration of the state. Quickly Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang followed suit. Under the British these four states were federated.
11. As far as the people were concerned British rule was no different from the Governments of the rulers. There was more security and administration were better organised. The survey department marked the boundaries between the states and also the boundary between Siam and Malaya. Land holdings were also surveyed and marked with boundary stones.
12. The rakyat and the migrants from India and China were not allowed to be involved in politics. This was reserved for the rulers and senior members of the administration. When it came to dealing with the British, the rulers had the final say.
13. The Chinese migrants followed the politics of China. They were supportive of the uprising against the Emperor by Sun Yat-Sen They regarded themselves as citizens of China and they put up the Chinese flag during certain Chinese national days.
14. There was no citizenship in the Malay states but the Malays were regarded as the subjects (rakyat) of their Malay Rulers. Although all of them regard themselves as Malays but their loyalty was to their different Sultans. There were no political parties. They seem quite happy to be ruled by the British. In fact, they looked up to the British as superior people, able to govern their country well.
15. The British promoted the idea that Malaya was peaceful and stable because it had no history. This was of course nonsense. But in the schools the history of the country was not taught. In the English schools the students were taught the history of the British Empire and of Great Britain.
16. In the Fedrated Malay States of Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang, the administration was headed by British officers. The few Malays in the administration held junior posts. But in the Non-Federated Malay States of Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johor, Malay officers were understudies to the British heads of departments. The district officers were all Malays whereas in the Federated states even district officers or Residents were British.
17. The stable and orderly societies during the time of the British were much liked by the Malays. The Chinese and Indians too found British rule to their liking.
18. In the Malay States of the Peninsula there was no talk of getting rid of the British. In fact, the rulers and the Malays felt that only the British could rule the country. That was why when the British came back after the defeat of the Japanese, the rulers, their subjects and the Indian and Chinese migrants welcomed them. They looked towards the reestablishment of the status quo ante. Only very few Malays who had gone to Indonesia to fight against the Dutch had any idea about terminating colonialism.
19. Unfortunately, the British had other ideas about relations with the Malay States. They felt that the system of Governments to be cumbersome and costly. There were actually seven different governmental system in the Peninsula.
20. There were firstly the colonies of Singapore, Malacca and Penang ruled directly by the British.
21. Then there were the Federated Malay States ruled as a federation with Kuala Lumpur as the capital. Finally, there were the Non-Federated states of Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johor, each having their own Governments, where the British had to work with Malay administrators. They were less willing to accept British officers.
22. The British felt that there should be only one Government formed by a Union of all the states as well as the colonies. Singapore was excluded from this union. It was to be retained as a British colony, as it was principal base for British military in Southeast Asia.
23. The plan was drawn up in London by the Colonial Office. No consultation was made with the Malay States. It was assumed that the Malay rulers would give their consent. If they did not than the British would simply refuse to recognise them as the rulers of their states. Another prince would be found who would be recognised as Sultan when he signed the surrender of the state to the British.
24. Although there could be a titular Sultan but he would have no role to play in the administration. He would confine himself to matters pertaining to the religious (Islamic) affairs and Malay custom.
25. The Malayan Union plan was kept a secret, but Malaysians began to hear about it through leakages. At once the Malays became agitated. They believed their rulers would not be able to counter the British proposal especially when there was to be a threat of non-recognition.
26. The Malay subjects of the rulers were not allowed to be involved in politics. But the threat was so great that they decided to register their disagreement some how.
27. The Malay newspapers played up the issue. The Majlis of Kuala Lumpur suggested that the Malays should hold a congress and discuss the issue.
28. Some prominent Malays in Kuala Lumpur took the initiative to organise a gathering of Malay organisations to discuss the Malayan Union. There was enthusiastic response. More than a hundred Malay organisations, all non-political attended.
29. The meeting was held in a shabby club in Kampung Baru, the Malay Agricultural Settlement in Kuala Lumpur. This meeting succeeded in identifying some of the unknown Malay leaders. Very quickly they became prominent as for the first time they were accepted as leaders of peninsular Malays. Before that the Malays only knew their Sultan and the prominent personalities in their own states.
30. Of these leaders, Dato Onn Jaafar of Johor was immediately recognised as a national leader. He was well known for his willingness to stand up against his Sultan and to resign from the Johor civil service. He preferred to become a journalist in Singapore. No other Malay had dared to disobey his Sultan. It was considered to be a treason.
31. Dato Onn was successful in the opposition to the Malayan Union. Considering that the Malays at that time were very poor, had little education and had never indulged in politics, the success of Dato Onn and the Malay activists was remarkable.
32. But Dato Onn himself, in a speech at an UMNO Assembly in Kedah, made it clear that the Malays were not capable of ruling their own country. Onn was not campaigning for independence. He merely wanted to prevent the British from turning the Malay states, which were British protectorates from becoming British colonies.
33. After defeating the Malayan Union, Onn was willing to work with the British on plans for unifying the multiracial population. He accepted membership of the Communities Liaison Committee set up by Malcolm MacDonald, the Commissioner for Southeast Asia. Such was Onn’s acceptance of the ideas of MacDonald that he proposed the Malay based UMNO should accept other races and become multiracial. His idea was rejected by UMNO leaders and he resigned.
PERDANA MENTERI JUTAWAN
1. Biasanya Perdana Menteri tidak kaya. Jika dia kaya maka tentulah dia isytihar di waktu dilantik yang dianya memiliki kekayaan. Bahkan awal-awal lagi dia di kenal sebagai orang kaya, sebagai jutawan. Jika dia tidak dikenali sebagai orang kaya maka ini juga akan diketahui oleh masyarakat.
2. Tetapi apabila Perdana Menteri selepas menjadi PM menjadi jutawan, rakyat berhak mendakwa dia telah dapat wang itu secara haram.
3. Sebenarnya PM tidak boleh ada duit banyak. Penerimaan derma pun salah walaupun dengan ikhlas. Jika ada duit diterima, ianya untuk parti. Tetapi jika di masuk akaun peribadi, itu salah.
4. Jika di dakwa bahawa tokoh negara asing yang menderma untuk apa tujuan pun ia tetap salah. Ahli politik dalam negeri tidak boleh terima hadiah atau derma dari negara asing kerana ini memberi peluang kepada negara asing untuk campurtangan dalam politik dalam negeri.
5. Oleh sebab itu segala kekayaan Perdana Menteri yang didapati selepas ia menjadi PM hendaklah dianggap sebagai haram dan boleh dirampas oleh pihak yang berkuasa.
GUNUNG JERAI DAN PERUBAHAN IKLIM
1. Baru-baru ini hujan turun dengan lebat tidak henti-henti di Gunung Jerai. Di beberapa tempat air bertakung dengan banyak. Tanah semakin lembut sehingga menjadi lumpur. Dan lumpur tidak lagi dapat tahan air yang bertakung begitu banyak.
2. Lumpur pun jadi cair dan mula meleleh turun. Sekali gus lumpur yang cair dan air yang bertakung mengalir turun dengan deras, dan lereng-lereng bukit menjadi sungai. Batu besar dan pokok-pokok tercabut dan dibawa turun oleh air yang sudah jadi banyak seperti sungai dan turun dengan deras.
3. Pengaliran air begitu deras dan banyak sehingga apa sahaja tercabut dan dibawa turun. Bangunan juga pecah dan dibawa dengan air turun curam pergunungan. Dan berlakulah malapetaka dan kematian yang dahsyat.
4. Dalam ingatan penduduk, malapetaka seperti ini tidak pernah berlaku. Tetapi kini ia sudah berlaku. Apakah ia akan berlaku lagi. Jawapannya ialah ia bukan sahaja boleh tetapi tetap akan berlaku. Mungkin tidak di Gunung Jerai tetapi di pergunungan lain di Malaysia. Dan mungkin sekali lagi atau lebih di Gunung Jerai.
5. Kenapa ia akan berlaku lagi? Sebabnya ialah kerana perubahan iklim. Mungkin perubahan ini adalah sebahagian ulangan perubahan planet ini selama berjuta tahun. Mungkin juga kerana kepanasan disebabkan kehidupan manusia yang sekarang berjumlah 8 billion (lapan ribu million). Tiap seorang dari kita memanas iklim hanya dengan kita bernyawa. Tetapi kita juga membakar semasa masakan, untuk panas kesejukan musim sejuk sekeliling kehidupan kita. Demikian juga binatang yang mengeluar gas. Jumlah binatang ternakan lebih dari jumlah manusia. Demikian juga binatang liar.
6. Di tempat-tempat tertentu kebakaran hutan yang meluas, yang tidak dapat dipadam berminggu tetap memanas iklim. Di Malaysia juga kita sudah rasai kenaikan suhu.
7. Apabila suhu naik, salji menjadi cair. Kawasan yang ditenggelami air membesar. Kepanasan matahari menyebabkan air di permukaan bumi jadi wap yang naik tinggi dan jadi titisan air dan awan. Apabila sudah banyak wap dan suhu turun kerana tingginya awan, wap menjadi air dan turun ke bumi sebagai hujan. Lebih tinggi suhu, lebih banyak awan dan lebih lebatlah hujan. Sebab itu hujan di Gunung Jerai menjadi begitu lebat, mencairkan lumpur dan turun dengan pantas sebagai air terjun.
8. Kita di Malaysia bernasib baik. Hujan lebat sepanjang masa membasahkan bumi dan menghalang kebakaran. Pokok-pokok hutan menstabilkan bumi dan menjerap air. Kepanasan juga diserap oleh pokok-pokok dan tumbuh-tumbuhan.
9. Tetapi walau pun lebih selamat malapetaka seperti keruntuhan Gunung Jerai masih boleh berlaku di mana-mana sahaja.
10. Oleh itu bersedialah kita untuk aneka jenis malapetaka di masa hadapan.
TINDAKAN UNTUK COVID-19 (BENDUNG KEMATIAN)
1. Kita sedang lihat jumlah kematian kerana COVID-19 meningkat secara mendadak. Tiap hari hampir 400 orang meninggal. Sebahagian dari mereka dibawa ke hospital selepas meninggal.
2. Kenapakah ini berlaku sekarang. Sebabnya ialah kerana jumlah kejangkitan meningkat dengan amat tinggi. Tidak mungkin semua yang dijangkiti (25,080 orang) dimasuk ke hospital.
3. Amalan sekarang ialah yang teruk, yang sudah memerlukan oksigen dan mengguna alatan untuk diberi oksigen dengan tekanan tinggi, sahaja yang dimasuk ke dalam hospital – iaitu kategori 4 dan 5.
4. Kategori 1,2, dan 3 diarah kuarantin di rumah. Di rumah tidak ada perawat atau oksigen. Kategori 3 yang sudah pun menunjuk paru-paru terjangkit, apabila menjadi lebih teruk tidak dapat apa-apa rawatan di rumah.
5. Keluarga di rumah tidak dapat tolong kerana tidak boleh berdekat dengan pesakit. Doktor tidak dapat dipanggil. Pesakit jadi lebih teruk. Oksigen tidak ada di rumah. Dan akhirnya pesakit meninggal dunia.
6. Saya percaya kumpulan ketiga ini boleh diselamatkan. Mereka tidak begitu ramai. Hospital sementara boleh diadakan. Hospital ini hanya dibekal oksigen dan diadakan beberapa doktor dan jururawat.
7. Lebih seribu pesakit kategori 3 boleh dikuarantin di hospital sementara. Pihak tentera boleh bina hospital ala field hospital. Dewan-dewan di hotel dan bangunan lain boleh dilengkap dengan katil, oksigen dan doktor serta jururawat.
8. Apabila dikesan pesakit sudah jadi lebih serius, doktor dan jururawat boleh beri oksigen. Jika kurang respon, pesakit boleh dipindah ke hospital biasa.
9. Lawatan oleh satu pasukan doktor dan jururawat perlu diadakan kepada kategori 1 dan 2 yang dikuarantin di rumah. Dengan itu jika ada pesakit yang menjadi lebih teruk oksigen boleh diberi. Dalam kes yang serius mereka boleh dipindah ke hospital atau hospital untuk pesakit kategori 3.
10. Saya harap cadangan saya ini diterima oleh Kementerian Kesihatan. Saya percaya jumlah kes baru dapat dikurangkan. Dan juga jumlah kematian.
TINDAKAN UNTUK COVID-19 (KEPADA SEMUA PENDUDUK MALAYSIA)
1. Kita sedang diserang oleh wabak COVID-19, satu malapetaka yang boleh bawa maut kepada ramai dari kita, dari keluarga kita, ibu bapa kita, sahabat kita, kenalan kita.
2. Sehingga kini sudah 12,000 orang meninggal dunia kerana jangkitan COVID-19. Ramai yang tidak dapat dirawat di hospital dan menjadi teruk dan meninggal. Ramai yang tak dapat makan, jauh sekali dari pendapatan.
3. Keadaan sekarang amat teruk. Tiap hari 20,000 dijangkiti COVID-19, tidak dapat rawatan, tinggal di rumah, menjadi lebih teruk dan meninggal.
4. Oleh kerana keadaan ini orang ramai perlu pandang serius wabak ini dan sanggup menerima segala tindakan untuk kurangkan kes baru.
5. Memang menekan apabila mengamal prosedur operasi standard (SOP). Memang sukar untuk patuh arahan memisah diri dengan jauh dari orang lain sepanjang masa, memakai pelitup muka, membasuh tangan. Memang sukar untuk tidak ke pasar dan lain-lain.
6. Tetapi jika tidak sanggup mengamal arahan ini, lebih ramai akan dijangkiti, dan maut setiap hari.
7. Satu cara yang penting ialah suntikan vaksin. Cuba dapat suntikan secepat mungkin. Kita lebih selamat jika disuntik. Ini sahaja cara menyelamat kita. SOP menolong tetapi vaksin lebih mampu selamat kita.
8. Ya, memang menekan semua ini. Tetapi jika kita tidak sanggup mengalami kesusahan, keadaan akan jadi lebih teruk dan ramai yang akan dijangkiti dan meninggal dunia.
TINDAKAN UNTUK COVID-19 (PEMBUKAAN SEKOLAH)
1. Parti Pejuang telah kaji secara mendalam berkenaan pembukaan sekolah.
2. Hasilnya ialah kami berpendapat sekolah tidak boleh dibuka dalam masa terdekat. Kami meminta kepada Kerajaan baru supaya pembukaan sekolah ditunda sehingga wabak COVID-19 reda.
3. Dalam satu kajian yang dibuat oleh majalah The Economist, UK terdapat kenyataan seperti berikut: “Consider our Index worst performer, Malaysia”.
4. Index ini menilai prestasi semua negara di dunia dan Malaysia adalah yang terburuk sekali; bukan India, bukan Indonesia, bukan Philippines, tetapi Malaysia.
5. Ini menunjuk betapa tindakan-tindakan yang diambil oleh Kerajaan Perikatan Nasional, walaupun berkuasa tanpa had undang-undang dan Perlembagaan kerana isytiharan darurat, gagal mengawal wabak COVID-19.
6. Keadaan jangkitan di Malaysia amatlah teruk. Jika sekolah dibuka guru, murid dan ibu bapa akan terdedah kepada jangkitan secara besar-besaran.
7. Kami bercadang pengajaran di semua darjah dibuat melalui TV.
8. Caranya mudah sahaja.
9. Pertama: Guru yang terbaik di Malaysia ditugas untuk mengajar melalui TV. Mereka akan mengajar seperti biasa dihadapan TV yang akan tersiar di TV di rumah.
10. Dua: Tiap darjah akan diajar oleh guru yang terbaik bagi darjah itu.
11. Tiga: Pengajaran boleh dirakam oleh guru dan murid dan diulang berkali-kali untuk mentelaah di rumah.
12. Empat: Satu panel guru perlu diadakan bagi tiap 10 sekolah dan darjah. Mereka akan menjawab soalan oleh murid di kawasan mereka melalui telefon.
13. Lima: Ibu bapa dikehendaki menentukan anak mengikuti pengajaran di TV.
14. Enam: Terdapat banyak stesyen TV untuk siar syarahan guru bagi tiap darjah. Satu stesyen TV akan diguna untuk satu darjah.
15. Tujuh: Di rumah mungkin ada hanya satu peti TV. Jika ramai anak di darjah yang berlainan, sukar semua anak mengikut pelajaran di beberapa darjah. Untuk ini TV kecil boleh diguna yang terhad kepada menerima siaran sahaja.
16. Lapan: Di belakang guru akan diadakan papan hitam atau putih untuk guru tulis atau lukis.
17. Sembilan: Meja diadakan di depan guru untuk apa-apa demonstrasi yang diperlukan.
18. Akan ada berbagai masalah pada permulaan. Semua masalah boleh di atasi, termasuk teknikal dan teknologikal.
19. Dengan cara ini semua murid dan penuntut akan nikmati pengajaran guru yang terbaik di seluruh negara.
20. Apabila wabak COVID-19 tidak lagi mengancam barulah sekolah dibuka.
21. Cara mengajar perlu dikaji semula untuk mengguna manfaat teknologi moden.
TINDAKAN UNTUK COVID-19 (DARURAT)
1. Majalah Economist melapor bahawa Malaysia adalah negara yang terburuk sekali dalam dunia berkenaan dengan mengawal wabak COVID-19. Malaysia dikatakan negara “worst performer” berbanding negara lain di dunia.
2. Kita dimaklumkan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan bahawa pada hari ini, 20hb Ogos, 23,000 orang telah dijangkiti oleh COVID-19. Seramai 233 orang telah meninggal dunia dan beberapa lagi telah bunuh diri.
3. Tekanan jiwa yang dipikul oleh semua rakyat amatlah berat. Ramai yang kehilangan ahli keluarga, kanak-kanak yang kehilangan ibu bapa, yang dengan tiba-tiba jadi yatim piatu, kehilangan ketua rumah, kehilangan kawan dan keluarga.
4. Penderitaan mereka amatlah teruk sehingga ada yang bunuh diri.
5. Sebilangan orang yang ingin menyumbang tenaga dan kepakaran mereka untuk menghalang perkembangan wabak ini meminta supaya mereka diberi pengiktirafan oleh Kerajaan, tetapi ditolak. Mereka sanggup bekerja secara sukarela.
6. Mereka ini terdiri dari pakar perubatan, ekonomi, sosiologi dan lain-lain. Mereka mempunyai pengalaman menangani krisis. Mereka boleh bantu dalam usaha melawan wabak seperti ini.
7. Sekarang kita ada Kerajaan yang baru yang mungkin sibuk dengan urusan lain. Sebaliknya wabak ini memerlu pelbagai tindakan segera.
8. Jika badan yang mereka cadang diletak di bawah Kerajaan, politik akan mengganggu tindakan mereka. Adalah lebih baik jika mereka dilantik dan diletak di bawah kuasa Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
9. Saya khuatir wabak ini akan melanda negara dan ratusan yang akan meninggal dunia. Ekonomi tidak boleh pulih dan penderitaan orang ramai akan meningkat.
10. Percayalah wabak ini tidak mudah dikawal. Ia tidak akan pergi dengan sendirinya. Di waktu ini keadaan sudah jadi amat serius. Ia boleh jadi lebih serius dalam masa yang terdekat.
11. Kita perlu bertindak sekarang ini juga. Janganlah utama politik dan undang-undang pun. Sebenarnya inilah masa isytihar darurat kerana tindakan luar biasa perlu diambil. Kita tidak boleh tunggu Kerajaan disusun sebelum bertindak.
VAKSIN
1. Saya ucap tahniah kerana usaha Kerajaan tingkatkan jumlah suntikan vaksin.
2. 500,000 sehari boleh kurangkan kes baharu.
3. Tetapi saya berpendapat jumlah perlu dinaikkan lagi kepada 800,000 sehari kerana peningkatan kes baharu disebabkan terlalu ramai dari yang sudah dijangkiti berada disekeliling kita yang tidak dapat dikuarantin dengan berkesan.
4. Mereka terpaksa ada di rumah di mana ada yang belum dijangkiti. Mereka juga tidak patuh kepada SOP sepenuhnya.
THE REMOVAL OF WHITLAM
1. There is an incident in Australia when a Prime Minister was removed by the Governor-General. (read here)
2. I quote below an account of the incident:
“The first duty of a Government, even a reforming Government, is to govern well. The Whitlam (Prime Minister Gough Whitlam) Government was a blundering, poorly disciplined government. Whitlam himself was so committed to the platform and his mandate that he refused to change course when Australia along with the rest of the world entered an economic recession in 1974. He continued to spend big money on his reform program when he should have been cutting back on spending.
The Government’s biggest blunder was to enter into a dodgy scheme to raise a huge loan overseas so that the State could become the owner of mineral and gas resources. The Government pretended that this was a loan for “temporary purposes” so that it did not have to tell anyone about it.”
3. When this became known, the liberal leader Malcolm Fraser said that the Government was so bad and so damaging to Australia that he would force it to go to the people.
4. Whitlam declared he would never give in and hold an election.
5. Whitlam said again and again that the Governor-General would act only on his advice. In normal times that was true. But in times of crisis, a Governor-General does have special powers. Kerr (Governor-General Sir John Kerr) began to think he would have to use them.
6. So Kerr acted secretly without any warning, on 11 November 1975, he dismissed Whitlam as Prime Minister, installed Fraser as caretaker Prime Minister.
7. After Kerr had made up his mind to sack Whitlam, he checked with Sir Garfield Barwick (Chief Justice of the High Court) to see whether he was doing the right thing. Barwick said he was.