Malay hegemony is still alive and well

What has not changed with the change of government in May 2018? The thinking of Malay leaders that the non-Malays, Chinese in particular, need to accept their point of view on matters they feel strongly about; without the need to reason or be subject to open discussions. 

In simple language, "Malay hegemony "is still alive and well on matters considered 'sensitive 'to the Malays. The non-Malays must accept them without question. Unity and racial harmony, according to these Malay leaders, are predicated on this "sufferance" by the non-Malays

Although our first prime minister was spot on when he said in 1958 that the non-Malays were happy to do their business and carry on with their lives; and was willing to let the Malays decide on political matters, it's no longer true now.

Today, the non-Malays are more conscious of their rights as citizens; and more willing to assert themselves, as they should, on matters which they consider important.

The Malay leaders, however, have not woken up from their slumber - that the non-Malays are different today than their great grandfathers. These Malays are still irked by the more independent attitude of the non-Malays. They still think they can ride roughshod, and expect the non-Malays to submit.

The non-Malays now have a stronger economic base; pay a lot of taxes, and they are no longer afraid to assert their rights as citizens, and being equal to the Malays. As citizens, they have as much right to voice their opinions.

In view of the changing circumstances from the early days of Merdeka, I hope in 2020 and beyond, our Malay leaders start abandoning their false sense of "authority" and be willing to engage in discussions with the non-Malays on the so-called sensitive matters.

Rather than using the normal mantra - "don't test the patience of the Malays" - try a more pragmatic and reasonable approach. These are some of the issues that could be treated and handled differently if we do not use 'false authority' as a weapon.

The Jawi issue should not have been started by the Education Ministry in the first place. The opposition by the Chinese is absolute that even DAP could not appease. The Bersatu Malays will be equally adamant the policy must stay. A collision is now inevitable.

Do we need this? Many younger Malays now are already conversant in Jawi and Arabic. The Jawi script is not going to die. PAS governments record their minutes of meeting in Jawi. So the decision to impose Jawi in schools, especially vernacular schools, could not be to keep the Jawi script alive'.

More likely it's just to impose 'Malay authority'. It's another way to manifest "Malay hegemony". Anyway, the intrinsic value of Jawi in modern education is minimal; unless you plan to work taking minutes in PAS-led governments. So what's the point?

The argument that Jawi is part of Bahasa Malaysia, and therefore should be studied is disingenuous. If that is so, then why do we need to change the law to make Malay spelling conform to the Roman alphabet? Just continue with Jawi as we did before the British ruled Malaya.

Some Malay leaders are playing politics by resorting to another false historical narrative; then we changed the Jawi script to Roman alphabets to make it easier for the non-Malays. No, we did not change it, the colonialists did. The former masters changed Jawi to the Roman alphabet because the British and the Dutch in Indonesia decided together, in the 19th Century, to do so to modernise and standardise the Malay language.

They decided the Arabic/Jawi script be changed to the Romanised script, for trade, for learning the English and Dutch languages and for other practical reasons. They decided to abandon Jawi; but certainly not to make it easier for the Chinese to understand Malay. That is patently false.

So I can understand why Chinese groups are objecting to the introduction of Jawi in vernacular schools. The reasons offered by the cabinet hold no water. It is all emotional.

Then we look at the emotional way the Education Ministry dealt with the issue of someone singing the national anthem in Mandarin. The police are suddenly called in, as if they are certain the laws have been broken. Everyone wants to start an investigation, as if an alien had launched an invasion.

When someone used Arabic to sing the anthem, there was no such ruckus, emotion or anger. There was no police report, and the Education Ministry was relaxed.

When it comes to the national anthem, the law does not say we have to do it in a certain language, unless it is a formal affair. Any language is permissible; so long as we remain respectful. 'Respect' is the keyword under the law. Our emotional Malay leaders don't even understand that.

If our Malay leaders are less prone to emotional outbursts and are more interested in dealing with issues using facts and figures, try to listen carefully what Daim said about the high cost of living and the need to bring food prices down. Daim must know a thing or two about why prices are not coming down.

Why is it that these Malay leaders do not feel outraged or sensitive when it comes to massive profiteering in the country? Why only about Jawi?

Can we start examining why monopolies are still enjoying their best years after the Pakatan Harapan promise that there would be no more monopolies in the country? Who brings in rice and sugar and onions into the country? Who controls the supply of eggs, fertilisers and cement in the country? Who has the permits to import cars?

Who are the biggest beneficiaries of our subsidies scheme? The same group as before May 2018. Can we start to be more factual and practical and talk about more important things than being emotional about the Jawi script?

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ZAID IBRAHIM is a former minister. - Mkini