This pattern of internal discontent and the insufficiency of civil political institutions to foster change can also be found in Asia. Constitutional amendments which curb the judiciary and legislative action which imposes draconian measures curtailing freedom of speech and assembly have been introduced in Malaysia over the last several years. In a 1988 assessment, Chandra Muzaffar, president of the Malaysian NGO, ALIRAN, reported that public fora have become non-existent. Even letters to the editor of print journalism have declined, revealing an element of self-censorship.19 This state repression of the forces of change inherent in the exercise of fundamental rights further indicates how the constitutional process frequently is used as an instrument to subvert fundamental rights, notwithstanding the continued reliance on the same process to privilege certain rights.