Hidup Najib, Hidup Melayu? – K. Haridas

What do we do with leaders and their double talk? Datuk Seri Najib Razak said his government would do its utmost to ensure peace and security of the country as well as ensure that racial harmony is preserved.

“We have seen blood in the streets. We have seen the burning of shops, but let me say this – I will never allow that to happen in Malaysia. The peace and security of the nation is my government’s top priority,” he told a National Integration Seminar in Kota Kinabalu yesterday.

He then congratulated participants of a racist rally in Kuala Lumpur through a message read out by Umno Supreme Council member Tan Sri Annuar Musa, who said, “I just spoke to the PM. He is shocked and touched that the rally is so peaceful”.

Annuar claims a turnout of 250,000 people. Another former Umno stalwart from Malacca, Datuk Seri Ali Rustam, warned that the rights and the position of the Malays should not be questioned, and urged the government to bring back the Internal Security Act (ISA). The rally was covertly organised by Umno.

Rustam exhibits his ignorance as no one ever questioned the rights or position of the Malays. He obviously does not even know what Bersih 4 was all about. These are examples of former Umno stalwarts trying to gain favour with their leader.

Not to be outdone was another former Umno stalwart Datuk Seri Noh Omar from Selangor: “Malays are not like those who attended the illegal rally (Bersih). We give them an inch and they want a yard”.

He needs to know that like this rally the Bersih 4 rally was not illegal. We neither want an inch or a yard, but what is just and fair for all Malaysians.

Also present was Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan shouting out “Hidup Najib, Hidup Melayu”. How much lower can they exhibit their dignity?

Perhaps he should have said, “HIdup Najib, Hidup Umno Melayu or Hidup Bugis”. To equate Najib as the saviour of the Malays could offend many like those in PAS, Amanah and PKR. They would consider this an affront to their dignity.

I suppose having been embarrassed before his own division, Ahmad is now hoping to gain presence in a wider arena by currying favours with his boss. One hopes that some of these politicians would be able to look in the mirror and see themselves squarely as others see them.

By their actions, these politicians have violated the code of respect between coalition members of Barisan Nasional (BN). How can MCA, MIC and Gerakan continue to be part of such a coalition when their own community is so badly disparaged? What does this say about BN as a party?

If these component parties had any sense of dignity they would now leave the government and stand independent. In this way they will bring to those in power the sacred notion of respect that is critical for inter-ethnic goodwill and understanding to flourish.

This is a challenge to their sense of dignity. If they do not respond in a significant way, the end is nigh for these coalition parties. For too long they have tagged along and the last general election results showed a severe loss in support. This can be attributed to not standing up to Umno on fundamental and critical issues.

One is saddened by the comments about the Malaysian Chinese and if Umno continues in this vein they will pay a heavy price in the politics of the future. We are all Malaysians and it is really sad to have a racist rally supported by a party in government.

At least in so far as Bersih 4 was concerned, they had clear objectives beyond ethnic sentiments. There was nothing racist about Bersih 4. Malay dignity is not in the hands of the Malaysian Chinese nor others. Each ethnic group stands or falls by its own dignity.

The September 16 rally has hurt the notion of Malay dignity because un-Islamic racist sentiments were fuelled. To blame others for hurting your dignity is to act most irresponsibly, and to have a prime minister who talks about racial integration and on the same day congratulate a racist rally, is a most glaring indictment to Malay dignity.

As the former chief minister of Terengganu has emphasised, everything today is largely in the hands of the Malays. The royalty is made up of Malays as are the majority in the army, police, civil service, judiciary, legislature, Bank Negara and the banking sector, the chief ministers, leading officials in all the government-linked companies, to mention some very significant areas.

Under these circumstances how can the Malaysian Chinese and DAP be responsible for the mismanagement and inefficiency that is so evident?

The cause of Bersih 4 was never to promote a racist agenda. This is like blaming all our problems on Singapore!

It is time that those in power have the courage to look at themselves. The inner jihad is so critical and when this is overlooked, it is only natural to find reasons to blame and scapegoat others.

In today’s world of globalisation and diversity, politicians must take note that racism has no future. Only an inclusive government that protects and champions the interest of all citizens can compete and provide what is fair and just to all.

One salutes the leadership of the Johor sultan who is clear and candid about racism and the equality of all his subjects. It is sad that that royalty generally have not spoken about their subjects in the way the Sultan of Johor has done.

This is perhaps a reason why many non-Malays fear the royalty. We fear what we don’t know or understand because very little has been done by the royalty to address the needs of non-Malay citizens or empathise with their concerns.

We have to get our democracy working again and this will mean a new start. For this to take place, courageous steps have to be taken by our present politicians and political parties. They will have to put national interests above party interests.

Sabah and Sarawak are two significant states that are critical and if Malaysians want justice and fairness in their states, they will have to first ensure that the core is right and that we have at the centre a democracy that is vibrant and working.

What do slogans like “Hidup Najib Hidup Melayu” mean to Sabahans and Sarawakians? How insensitive can our politicians be after five decades of Malaysia and rally on such a theme on Malaysia day?

We are in a bind with a prime minister whose credibility is so low, who does not know how to differentiate between national interests and ethnic interests, who does not realise that his time is up as he has gathered too many skeletons in his cupboard. Dignity has all to do with ethics and credibility.

Will Umno continue to put the interest of the nation below the interest of its president? What will this do for our nation’s dignity?

* K. Haridas reads The Malaysian Insider.