THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR & PETALING STREET

As a Malaysian, I am bothered by the visit of the Chinese ambassador to Petaling Street at the most “sensitive” time.  The statement he gave during and after the visit was even more troubling.  He was reminding Malaysians to live harmoniously, to respect the law, to maintain stability, and to uphold pluralism and multiculturalism.  If we look at the flipside, it is like he was reprimanding some Malaysians and the authorities for not upholding and respecting the law, for not willing to live harmoniously and for looking at pluralism and multiculturalism with contempt.

I expect reactions from the Malaysian authorities – the PM’s office, Wisma Putra, some “hyper” ministers, political parties, NGOs and ordinary Malaysians. Rather unexpectedly, so far the response has been quite disciplined and measured.  Ordinarily, I would expect memorandums and demonstrations by now.

Why was the Chinese ambassador doing this? To safeguard China’s national interests and to maintain orderly international trade as claimed appeared more like a red herring to me.

For sure, no one from Malaysia, not even the President of MCA, could ever force the Chinese Ambassador to visit Petaling Street at the most “sensitive” time.  Similarly, no one could force him to make those remarks the way he did.

It looks like realpolitik to me.  China today is strong and powerful enough to flex its muscle by casting aside protocol, convention and ideological considerations.  Malaysia’s response thus far is probably based on realpolitik too.  After all, China today is not Vatican, if you know what I mean.

But to many Chinese Malaysians, me included, we are really in dilemma.  Can we and should we look to China to resolve our problems and calm the situation down?

I think the fundamental questions we need to ask are:  (i) Why was China doing what it did?  (ii) Why are some Chinese Malaysians emboldened by it?  (iii) How should we Malaysians in general and Chinese in particular, avoid foreign interference into our domestic affairs?

As for the first question, I really can’t answer or speculate for China.  I think it is best to wait for the Ambassador’s explanation to our Wisma Putra.  Any speculation could land me into a lot of trouble.

If we read the comment columns of news portals, many Chinese Malaysians were indeed emboldened by the Chinese Ambassador’s action.  So to answer the second question, may be the sense of intimidation and fear among the Chinese community was genuine and hence any support from any quarter was a welcome relief.

The third question – how can we Malaysians in general avoid foreign interference into our domestic affair? This is where Malaysian leaders must separate the wheat from the chaff.  It is time to abandon rhetoric and embrace the essence and substance of national unity and harmony. Our unity must be driven by deeds and genuine impartiality.

As a Chinese Malaysian, I long for a senior Umno leader to visit Petaling Street but so far my wait has been in vain.  Our DPM has made a very good statement in Sarawak, far away from the epicentre of the troubled spot, that he is not a racist.  If I have a mean to advise him, I will ask him to pay to visit to Petaling Street.  I think that one visit is worth more than a thousand words. – TMI