Of monkeys, Isma & the future of Malaysia

The best date I’ve ever planned for a girl: I picked her up in my Perodua Kancil (Kancil’s were hip back then ok…). We drove up the hill at Taman Tun in Ampang – the place is known for its street roaming monkeys. I remember that day; the sun was dimmed through some heavy clouds, the air, moist with the approaching tropical rain.

We got to the top of the hill, I parked, took out a loaf of bread and placed slices on the windshield.

Quickly after, I ran back into the car and we sat there, waiting. It didn’t take long for the monkeys to climb onto the car, staring at us stare at them, a whole lot came for the bread and we just sat and watched. Great date.

Today however, when I think back to this occasion, I can’t help but realize how it perfectly symbolises Malaysia’s current political culture.

We sit inside our own worlds with those we care about. When we look outside the window, we see mindlessness causing havoc; animalistic characters whose actions are led by hunger not logic, individuals who have a personal agenda and not a determination for the national good.

Scared, intimidated, we become entrapped in our own little space: isolated, afraid to speak up or step outside.

Some of us suppress our anger, only to take out our rage on the innocent who have nothing to do with the guilt. The chaos means we can’t move our national vehicle forward. We can’t progress.

With the wave of reaction to the comments made by Wanita Isma activist Dr Fatimah Zaharah Rosli, it is now, more than ever, critical for us to remember our role as responsible and forgiving citizens. According to Dr Fatimah, the best way for a woman to help in nation building is by taking care of the children.

For her, this will result in a stable household, with children who will grow up to be beneficial for the country.

As citizens, as readers of such news, and (more importantly) as Malaysians, we now must show our ability to be considerate. Yes, Dr Fatimah’s comments may be ignorant and it may have made some of us angry.

The statement undermined the hard working women who feel differently; women who see themselves (rightfully) fit to be the "breadwinners". But as responsible and calm Malaysians we should also understand that Dr Fatimah comes from a surrounding where there are women who accept being the automatic homemaker. We must be courteous to those who live in those beliefs and not shut them out when criticsing Dr Fatimah’s poorly executed comments.

As well, we need to understand that the articles and news platforms that expose such stories are geared to make sensationalist, attention-grabbing headlines: “Isma wants women to quit their jobs,” “Isma trying to confine women to suit Their political ends.” This is typical and strategically how the Malaysian online media get their clicks, by making us angry.

On a different event but one relevant to this discussion, the Kelab Umno of the US East Coast made the decision to support Malaysian students who participated in the Eric Garner protests. The Eric Garner murder (filmed and shared online across the US) brought to reality the oppressive treatment of Afro-Americans by the police in the US. The resulting demonstrations consumed this Western superpower.

As a Kelab Umno that seeks to engage with the surrounding politics and as an association that believes in the inclusion of all ideas, it was fitting for the club to announce support for the demonstrations. As President of this Kelab Umno, I knew fairly well that the decision would prompt the usual “oh-if-you-don’t-have-equal-treatment-in-Malaysia-why-fight-for-it-here".

At first, things went well. Some students, with great maturity, asked about #UM8 and Bersih. The dialogue was efficient and calm. But inevitably, we started receiving comments of a different tone.

One commenter proclaimed that our support for the Eric Garner protests was a joke, that we might as well give up because if it were in Malaysia, we would be prosecuted. He told us to “save ur gimmicks for Umno assembly la.” Another more fun response we received through email.

This netizen decided very thoughtfully that our movements for dialogue were futile and that “before the end of 2014, soul Umno must die very soon but in any way.” (Frankly, I was more disgusted by his clumsy grasp of English than his lacklustre death-threat).

What puzzles me most is the unfounded logic behind these criticisms. Yes, we understand very much that things in Malaysia are not perfect. We know that being vocal students is dangerous.

But why criticise and hate us if we’re trying to make these realities better? Rather than oppose us, shouldn’t you realise that our engagement with the American fight for equality could only bring greater ideas for Malaysia’s progress? Even if we were to make the slowest of progress for change, shouldn’t that be celebrated? We constantly talk about the necessity for improvement in the public political culture, yet we isolate those who try to embody the change. Has the hate for Umno surpassed our national priorities that we would rather see this party crumble and not evolve?,

What is further disturbing is that these netizens are young professionals. Rather than maturity, we see childish comments, words that stir antagonism rather than an intellectual debate.

A question we get a lot here in the US is “why Kelab Umno?” One email asked: “For students who seem against the status-quo, kenapa tak tukar parti je?” Firstly, it is hard to point to one status quo in Umno. We see first hand that there are some who believe in holding on to strict Malay roots, whilst there are some who are enthusiastic about modernism … all within one party, all within Umno. We do have room therefore to manoeuvre.

We can’t give up on Umno because it is too grand, too historic a party to simply let go. It would do more harm than good if the structure and institution of mno were to not be a part of Malaysia’s future.

As it has done over the decades, Umno will evolve, Umno will mould to suit the progressive and moderate thinking majority Malaysian public. Let us be the Malaysians of tomorrow, not ones easily antagonized and angered by misquotes and out-of-context commentary. Let us be ones who embody hope, maturity and open-mindedness.

Oh and also, to all our Christian friends, Kelab Umno US East Coast would like to wish you a beautiful, loving and smile-packed Christmas. – TMI