Learning to love one another this Christmas

Christmas offers hope, peace on earth and goodwill among all peoples everywhere. 

That message can be lost in irreligious overindulgence and the jingle and jangle of commercialism. Yet Christmas is a time of joy for all, because God loves us and beckons us to come to our senses, like the prodigal son, and forsake all wrongdoing.

Jesus, whose birth and incarnation people celebrate, taught us to love God and love people. It is the cornerstone idea for us Christians and a stumbling block to others. 

But then all religions have their own cornerstones and stumbling blocks. What bonds us all, regardless of our ideas on religion, is our humanity. 

Christmas is a catalyst for change if we want a new direction. From it, we can elicit lessons for politics. A new direction requires a new way of doing things, a new way of thinking. 

I offer some wild ideas. It was once a wild idea to think a man could walk on the moon, but what is wild may turn out to be a panacea.

The panacea for Malaysia’s neverending political troubles instigated by racists and bigots is a four-letter word. The antidote to save a poisoned nation is the same four-letter word. It is a word we hear often but see little of in politics and the policies of governments.

There is a ministry for every conceivable activity, but not the one that matters. We teach religion in schools but we don’t see the four-letter word in practice. Everyone wants it but few are seen giving it. Religion is the opiate, not the remedy.

Love is the four-letter word we badly need to see enacted today. It is the remedy for a sick world. We need a Ministry of Love to spread love in a society of mistrust, jealousy and even hate.

And what the nascent Pakatan Harapan government troubled by political infighting needs is love, not just for some, but for everyone. We put them in power, but not to destroy one another.

A new hope

Christmas brings with its celebration the theme of love that should conclude the year for Malaysians. 

On May 9, 2018, a new Malaysia was born. It brought joy to the nation. It created a new Malaysia of hope, led by a leader of hope.

"Sayangi Malaysiaku" became a popular slogan. Voters were asked to love their nation and save it by voting for change. But how do you love Malaysia unless you love the people? Not just of your own race or religion or social hierarchy.

Do the leaders love Malaysia? Do the citizens love their country? Love and live together is the practical reality now the euphoria of regime change has dissipated.

There is a growing feeling of ambivalence, even a sense of forlornness among the most pessimistic. Doubts arise. Hope deferred makes the heart feel sick. 

When undelivered promises are explained away as ‘guidelines’ then indeed the problem is real, not a matter of mistaken perception.

After May 9, Dr Mahathir Mohamad was heralded like some political saviour. Some of his actions since then have made even those among his ardent fans think twice about his intentions. 

They fear old habits die hard, and Mahathir the reformer is less seen than Mahathir the schemer.

How quickly Malaysians can change their minds though as polls reveal of his drop in popularity. There is rising discontent with Mahathir’s decisions – his political dallying with Umno, obsession with the third national car, or even his choice of education minister.

Mahathir lamented national schools being inordinately religious, and wants the focus to be on science and English proficiency. But the education minister saw fit to label certain schools "medan dakwah" (field of propagation). And you wonder why Mahathir saw this man fit to take on the job.

In contrast, Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin is making waves and making a name for Malaysia. Nature lists her among the top ten people who mattered this year.

I read a letter she wrote to the Lynas employees protesting at Parliament. In the missive, she sounded concerned, considerate and utterly competent. Her sincerity and humility and people-centric approach could win hearts and votes. Mahathir can do with more such ministers.

A sense of déjà vu

Still, most Malaysians will think anything is better than a BN government, at least in the short term. That is undeniable.

Mahathir, however, risks stirring old memories unless he breaks from the past. The devil we know is the devil Malaysians don’t want.

If Malaysians feel a sense of déjà vu it is understandable. Mahathir is fallible in picking the wrong people for important jobs. He himself lamented he erred in supporting two former prime ministers. Not long ago, he disclosed several in his cabinet are not performing. That’s not surprising.

Old leaders may make old mistakes. God forbid we keep quiet, or it will be back to ‘the bad old days’. We love, so we speak. Political correctness is for Brutus and Judas.

The biggest and costliest mistake Mahathir may yet make, however, is to not keep his word and deliver the promises Harapan made in the manifesto. It matters because credibility is currency in politics.

Another is the failure to work closely with his designated successor Anwar Ibrahim in ensuring a smooth transition of the country’s leadership. 

A third might be in recycling certain former tainted Umno leaders. Would voters have supported Mahathir had he told them he would have former Umno leaders join the new government? I doubt the true believers of Reformasi would accept it. 

Even an Umno leader has mocked Mahathir for infecting Bersatu with the Umno "virus." The only credible Umno leader is a contrite one who has recanted his evil ways of serving corrupt leaders. 

Loving the country

What Mahathir needs to do is to love his country and people as Nelson Mandela loved South Africa. And let others also have the power to do things their way, the proper way.

We have heard Mahathir lament over the Malays. Not once or twice, but many times. The days of lamentation are over. It is time to get the best ministers and rouse civil society to pervasive reform. 

Help the Malays but recognise the limits. We are tired of hearing Mahathir repeat the shortcomings of the Malays, but persist in implementing policies that cause their predicament.

I know of Malays who exceed the Chinese in many endeavours. The Malays are brighter and better than Mahathir thinks. It is time to match aptitude and abilities with the right opportunities and resources. Don’t belittle any race and make them self-fulfilling prophecies.

Rid the nation of institutional racism. How? Dismantle race-based policies. It is a cover-up for racist politics and reason why the majority of Malays will not improve. Appoint the best people to do the job. If a Chinese or Indian, or even a Japanese is required to run the government department, so be it.

But will Mahathir have the courage and wisdom to shoot for a long-term goal and ride through short-term protests? Pampering is not a sound policy. Neither is protectionism. Mahathir capitulated to the anti-Icerd brigade. He lost his political halo.

We have seen the New Economic Policy bastardised, leading to the breeding of kleptocrats. From the traffic cop on the streets, to the little Napoleons in government departments, and right to the former prime minister and his deputy's offices, corruption has left its trail.

So why continue with a system that has failed?

A radical break

Radical change is needed and the solution is beyond the mind of a politician. Politicians are only good for making empty promises. They are full of platitudes. 

Lim Kit Siang is a rare exception, like the late Tan Chee Khoon. But a reformer cum politician can make the difference. That is why Malaysians voted for change. It has to be a radical difference, or else how does a nation rid itself of the cancer of racism and corruption?

Love is the answer.

If Mahathir loves his country he will not play politics. If Anwar loves his country he will not play politics. If we love Malaysia we will not play politics. Playing politics is the certain route to the country’s ruin. We have seen racist politics divide the nation.

If you love your nation you will not be corrupt. Now is the time to love the country not in word alone, but in deed.

Let the government make new policies that reward the Chinese for helping the Malays in business. Let the Malays know their religion properly and rid their teachings from false teachers that imprison them to superstition, bigotry and separatism. Make policies that ensure the rights of all are protected as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

Chinese helping Malays, Malays helping Chinese, Indians helping Chinese, natives helping Malays, and so on. Impossible? Possibly, that is why Malaysia desperately needs a leader who loves. If the government can’t provide one, then civil society must raise more lovers.

Remove all the racist and unjust laws that do not meet universal standards of justice, equal opportunity and Islamic jurisprudence. One cannot be a defender of Islam if one doesn't defend everyone from unjust policies. The call to defend race and religion is nonsensical when one is the very enemy of race and religion.

The government and civil society must forsake the past and begin the journey of helping one another toward a peaceful and prosperous future. 

I don't need a Chinese organisation to fight for my rights. I want a Chinese organisation to fight for the rights of the Penans and other natives who have lost their lands to timber thieves.

The DAP, supposedly multiracial, should lead the way. In fact, Mahathir should leave Bersatu and become a DAP member. The MCA and MIC should merge and form a multiracial opposition. Pakatan Harapan should be a political party, not a political coalition. 

Wild ideas, but they make the point.

Until there is radical reconfiguration of the political formula in Malaysia where race is dealt a fatal blow, there will be the perpetuation of racist leaders pretending to be the ‘PM for all’ – what Najib uttered at a Christmas function – when the very foundation of their position and politics is the shifting sand of race.

Until race is neutralised, any government that relies on it to stay in power will eventually sink in the quicksand.

Grow love, spread love, show practical love across the races and every Malaysian can be proud to call himself or herself Malaysian. Otherwise, it is all hypocrisy. Mahathir will be the biggest humbug if he fails to achieve all that Harapan promised to change Malaysia.

A Christmas wish

Love casts out fear. Open rebuke is better than love concealed. We all die someday and turn to dust. But what we do to make life better for others matters. And who is more able to make the difference than the politicians in power? 

So all many want for Christmas is to see a stop to all that puerile political infighting and playing of politics. 

I think Mahathir can change the Malays if he wants to. If he does not know how to, I can show him. Rid Harapan of dud ministers, ostracise corrupt Umno rejects and include everyone in building the nation.

Anwar can then take over from Mahathir. Why? Because it was publicly stated. There must not be a one-man show administration. We have seen how toxic one-man show governments are. 

Love, humility, servanthood, sacrifice – all these virtues and more were personified in Jesus. We need more politicians built from the same character, honest, loving and wanting to do God's will. 

Think what leaders we will have, what citizens we will have, what Malaysia will be like if we all were more Christ-like in our dealings with one another. 

Christmas is to me more than religion. Let us love one another and make Malaysia a nation of love.

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STEVE OH is author and composer of the novel and musical Tiger King of the Golden Jungle. He believes good governance and an engaging civil society are paramount to Malaysia being a unique and successful nation. -Mkini