Daim is after all a Malay: How can he be so sure BN won't lose any more Chinese votes?

I think that except for former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Umno political leaders have basically adhered to a gratifying tradition, namely they are more objective and sensible when commenting on national affairs after stepping down. Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin is one of them.

Daim was a very controversial minister when he was in the office. He seldom got attention after retiring from politics until he accurately predicted that the BN would lose Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Perak during an interview in 2007. He is still frequently interviewed by media today and everyone wants to know about his views on the coming 13th general election.

During a recent interview with Sin Chew Daily, Daim predicted that the BN can still retain in power this time. However, he also pointed out that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is currently facing two challenges, namely internal solidarity and the responses of Chinese voters.

Undeniably, Daim has done some homework. Together with his many years of experience, as well as his relationship with BN component party leaders, he is believed to have collected some information that can increase credibility of his analysis.

Of course, Daim is not God and he possesses no prediction super power. Whether his analysis is appropriate and whether his view is objective, different people with different stands will make different interpretations and judgements.

Beyond racial identity - lip service?

In any case, the ruling and alternative coalitions should pay attention to some views of Daim. For instance, he suggested that Najib should openly manifest the "Malaysian people first" concept, as it is a basic requirement for a leader to go beyond racial identity.

If Najib accepts his suggestion, it would be an exemplary act that can earn some points for the BN and Umno. Another example would be, he said that the greatest problem of the country is everyone has regarded themselves as victims. He called upon all citizens to think in the perspective of Malaysians.

It is an unarguable fact that Malaysia is a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural country. If a country with different racial groups can really achieve the ideal in which all racial groups can put aside the differences and work together, the different cultures can surely lead to a powerful creativity. Unfortunately, what we can do most of the time is just not to interfere and maintain a surface harmony of mining only our own business.

In our hearts, however, we have always felt like being threatened by other racial groups. Many people are shouting "fairness" but in their hearts, they actually think that their respective racial groups are greater than the others, and have never taken seriously the ideas and appeals of others.

Daim is still a Malay

Although Daim is aware of the surface problems, and claimed that he is a Malay advocating the Malaysian first concept, he is, after all, still a Malay.

Therefore, he is still unable to think out of the racial box when it comes to issues related to racial interests. He might have many Chinese entrepreneur friends and understood the thinking of some upper class Chinese, but he does not understand the middle and lower class Chinese, as well as young Chinese.

Therefore, he does not believe that the BN could lose more Chinese votes this time and therefore, he denied unfairness in the education policy of Malaysia.

-Sin Chew Daily