The scapegoating of Malaysia's minorities

YOURSAY | 'Minorities have little or no say, but get scapegoated for the insecurities, real or imagined, of the Malays.'

Rafizi: It's time Pakatan Harapan focus on Malay issues

ACR: The non-Malay population has naturally been dwindling for years now and this trend is set to continue. Soon, it would be ridiculous to talk about X percent of people being a threat to XX percent.

This is especially when the constitution and our tradition of public administration gives unbridled control to the Malays. It should be easy for Pakatan Harapan to enlighten the Malays in this regard.

Decades of Umno's lies can surely be unwound in this information era, can't it? You still have 18 to 24 months to carry out this work.

We Are Concerned: PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, you are right.

Our Malay interests must be upheld and safeguarded to the fore by the opposition to allay their fears of being overwhelm by the other races, a claim which is the tool used unscrupulously by BN to their fullest advantage.

Swipenter: Tell me, when are non-Malay issues addressed by Umno-BN or Pakatan Rakyat, and now Harapan?

The minorities have been on the defensive over the last four decades, and don't try to deny that. The minorities do not come up with official policies nor do they get to implement them.

For all intent and purposes, all officialdom is controlled by the Malays. The minorities have little or no say, but get scapegoated for the insecurities, real or imagined, of the Malays.

The minorities defending whatever rights they have left are now construed as challenging the Malays. This is the myth created by Umno and is swallowed hook, line and sinker by the Malays.

Perhaps it is always nice to blame someone else for your failures because then you do not have to take personal responsibility and accountability for it. Just externalise all your problems to others, and you come out smelling like a rose and make yourself look a victim, depending whichever scenario is expedient.

Now tell me, who is taking up minority issues, Rafizi?

Roguekiller: Pakatan Harapan, you have obviously foreseen what needs to be done. But please don't just talk. You do not have much time as the next GE is due in slightly over two years.

Positively focus as a multiracial force, as the aim is to capture the hearts and minds of all Malaysians.

Of utmost importance is select a Malay member from any party, ideally one who is earmarked as DPM, to lead Harapan.

With a poor leader who is lackadaisical and silent as a mouse, you will not be able to push Harapan's agenda forward to gain the attention of Malaysians.

The Analyser: The fact that they are even entertaining a forum titled ‘Can the opposition win Malay votes in the 14th general election?’ shows how totally out of touch with reality they are.

They should not even be considering the Malays as a separate issue. They should be formulating philosophies and policies that treat all Malaysians as equals. Only then should they be thinking about strategies.

PKR is heading down the same Malay preferences/religious interference road that has been the hallmark of Malaysia's failures for the past 58 years.

Existential Turd: Despite Malays controlling all major government institutions and GLCs (government-linked companies), they still feel insecure. The situation will not change even if Harapan comes to power.

So, one must ask, why after over 40 years of affirmative action and all sorts of discounts, BR1M benefits thrown at them, they still feel insecure?

What is the hole that no New Economic Policy (NEP) can fill? Why has NEP failed? What new policies can be put in place to replace the easily abused NEP? To put it bluntly, "Apa lagi Melayu mahu?"

We must distinguish the concerns of the common Malays from those in power. There are genuine concerns from common Malays and should not simply be dismissed out of hand as greed.

Those in power exploit the insecurities of the common Malays to perpetuate the economic policies that overwhelmingly benefit themselves.

However, I think the Malays are slowly realising NEP has not really helped them. The government gives on one hand but takes away a whole lot more from the other.

If Harapan pledges to remove the crutch without offering a replacement, they will certainly face objection because the Malays will have nothing left to stand on.

Like addiction to drugs, more assistance will not overcome their insecurities but instead deepens it. Cold quitting is not a viable option either, as the patients will suffer withdrawals. BN-Umno's prescription is more drugs. That does not bode well for the future of the country.

Over time, they will suck the country dry. One thing I agree with Rafizi is, the Malay dilemma is a Malaysian dilemma; just as the Chinese dilemma or Indian dilemma or Iban dilemma are all Malaysian dilemmas.

They have to be collectively addressed by all Harapan component parties and not be delegated to a single party. -Mkini