Identity politics still an obsession, says researcher

Dina Zaman says Malays have a lot to say about race and religion.

PETALING JAYA: Identity politics is so deeply entrenched in Malaysia that race and religion become a bigger priority to many Malays despite concerns over bread and butter issues, says a researcher concerned with ethnic relations and religious harmony.

Dina Zaman from Iman Research said this was among findings during the research outfit’s conversations with many Malays in the peninsula, when they were asked on what it meant to them to be a Malay and Muslim.

Dina thinks that it is an unhealthy trend when identity politics has a great influence.

But she said the fact that Malays, including the younger generation, have a lot to say about what’s going on in the country, indicating they are not short of ideas and also “not as passive as people think”.

Since 2016, Iman has been conducting focus group discussions with Malay youths on how they view non-Malays.

This year, much of their concerns were about bread and butter issues.

Yet, a big concern among many Malays they spoke to revolved around issues of race, such as the large numbers of non-Malay ministers in the Pakatan Harapan government.

“These fears could stem from years of indoctrination and identity politics of race and religion,” she told FMT on the sidelines of a forum to discuss religious extremism and minority rights in Malaysia.

She warned that if left unchecked, such sentiments could lead to mistrust among the communities.

Dina said there are expectations that the PH government will move away from identity politics.

“They must have the will to move away from identity politics which is short-term gain. I am happy to see that the younger MPs look like they want to change things and that’s good.” - FMT