Petrology professor visits KU
Malayan rests from racial pressure
By MIKE RADENCICH Kansan Staff Writer
Charles Hutchison, professor of petrology and mineralogy at the University of Malaya, decided to "get away from it all" for a year by visiting the University of Kansas campus.
Hutchison, a red-haired Scotsman from Aberdeen, said he was taking a year's leave from his work in Malaysia to rest from the tensions of racial problems over the last year in Kwahalumpur. capital of Malaysia.
In a Kansan interview, Hutchison outlined the causes of the rioting and killing in the capital city and described the effect of it on the people of Malaysia.
The Malays, he said, consider themselves as being the prime natives of the country. But, over the past few decades, two generations of Chinese have immigrated into the country and, in a short period of time, took over the entire Malaysian economy.
Because of the Chinese take-over of the economy, racial problems have developed because the Chinese hire more of their own countrymen than they do the native Malays. Hutchison said that in the rural areas, the farmers tend to lead a more leisurely and relaxed life by enjoying what they have and not rushing themselves or bothering themselves with luxuries.
In the cities, however, the Malays see that the Chinese are much better off and this is the cause of many of the problems in Malaysia. This was somewhat similar to the racial problems in the United States, he said.
Hutchison said that last year's riots were caused by the elections in Kwahaalumpur. The primary religion of the Malays is Islamic whereas the Chinese practice Buddhism.
During the election campaign the politicians continued to bring up the religious differences between the two cultures, Hutchison said, and continually aroused the people by emphasizing these religious differences that could possibly bring on rioting and fighting.
After the election results were posted, Hutchison said, and after the Malays saw that more of the Chinese won offices than they did, the rioting started. Almost all of it took place in the capital city of Kwahalumpur because racial tension was already at a fever pitch there.
Hutchison said that in contrast to riots in the United States, there was little actual destruction of property, whereas an alarming number of killings occurred.
Because of the rioting and the danger of being shot in the streets, the people of Kwahalumpur were put under martial law with an all-night curfew, Hutchison said.
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"The people were not even allowed to step outside their houses or visit next-door neighbors because of the great danger of being fired upon," he said.
The most remarkable thing that happened during the riots was the great risk taken by the native Malays to protect people caught in the riot areas, he said. The Malays who were not involved in the rioting and shooting actually brought in Chinese from the streets who would otherwise be shot by the rioters.
"In doing this," he said, "the Malays brought possible danger on themselves from the rioters who would go from house-to-house searching for Chinese."
Hutchison said that in the middle-class suburbs, there was no trouble since most of it was confined to the capital city, and there was complete freedom and cooperation.
The night the rioting started, he said, he and his wife were in town looking for a restaurant where they might enjoy a pleasant evening dinner. After finding most of the restaurants closing up because of the impending riots, they finally found a small place
and settled down to dinner.
"When we later left the place, we were surprised to find the streets entirely deserted, not knowing the cause. We were soon met by police who told us of the rioting and escorted us home," he said.
Some of his friends who also dined in restaurants, he said, had to spend the night there because they lived much farther from the city than he did.
After the rioting, he said, the Malaysian Parliament was suspended by the British and even now a one-hour curfew is imposed every morning as a result of the rioting. Also, the government has been trying to help cool down the racial situation by hiring more of the native Malays into industry.
Hutchison said that no trouble occurred at the University of Malaya during the actual rioting; but afterwards, some of the more militant students attempted to arouse trouble, the prime goal being to cause university officials to nationalize the facility.
He said the militants were protesting the fact that the university is taught mainly in an English atmosphere with a large majority of English and other foreign instructors teaching there. The trouble was quickly suppressed by riot squads of police using tear gas, he said.
Hutchison, who is not a U.S. citizen, said he would return to Malaysia after his year was up.
"It is a community of young people sensitive to burning current social issues. They show forth a high degree of social conscience. These young people want to do 'their own thing.' We of the older generation should develop a style of life which permits young people to be individualistic and within limits, 'do their own thing,'" he said.
WICHITA (UPI)—Gov. Robert B. Docking said Tuesday the older generation "should develop a style of life which permits young people to be individualistic and within limits, "do their own thing."
Photo by Mike Radencich
Individualistic youth promoted by Docking
In remarks prepared for delivery at the Kansas Spring Leadership Conference of business education clubs, the governor said today's youth is more informed and probably more idealistic than any previous generation.
The governor said it is important to try to understand young people, that ways must be found to transmit to the youth feelings of mutual respect and concern, and be willing to cope with change.
The state leader said these young people have put the older generation on notice.
"Many of these young people care about this society—these persons who make up the citizens of the world. They are challenging the older generation to care about more than a comfortable house—a secure job—and quiet retirement," Docking said.
"Some of us know that our agencies and institutions must change, bullets change them where necessary and not tear them down," Docking said.
Charles Hutchison
A native Scotsman from Malaysia decided to "get away from it all" and come to KU for a year. Charles Hutchison is a visiting professor teaching petrology and mineralogy.
Kansas House tentatively okays cigarette tax increase
the measure today. If it passes, it will go to the senate.
The bill would raise the present cigarette tax from 8 cents per pack to 10 cents, and impose a tax of 25 per cent on the wholesale price of other tobacco products.
TOPEKA (UPI)—The Kansas House Tuesday tentatively approved a 2 cent increase in the cigarette tax and a new tax on other tobacco products, such as cigars and smoking tobacco.
The 125-member chamber is expected to take a final vote on