Malaysia: A land of tribalism?

 

It seems like Malaysia is increasingly deteriorating into a land of “tribalism”.

Every day, we read about politicians pronouncing decrees and trying to organise our society simply motivated by cultural tribalism. How else would you term the recent declaration of a menteri besar that 4D lottery shops will be banned in his state?

This politician then asked anyone who wanted to gamble on the lottery to go to the neighbouring state of Penang. Why? Presumably, he felt that the “tribe” in Penang is organised differently and will accept this.

A day later, when a reporter from FMT asked two leaders who are colleagues of this politician to comment about the ban, they simply turned hostile and asked the reporter a nonsensical question back.

One of the two, our religious affairs minister, pointedly asked the reporter if she could tolerate her husband being a gambler. His response to this journalist, who was merely doing her job to raise a public interest question, was dumbfounding.

It is like asking a man if his spouse would tolerate him taking another wife.

These are “tribal” questions that we know to steer clear of, especially in a plural society.

In Malaysia, leaders cultivate and nurture behaviour, and attitudes that stem from showcasing a strong loyalty to their own tribe or social group. Our political landscape basically provides for this kind of tribalism.

Even in our recent Budget 2022, monies were allocated along “tribal” lines.

After the unveiling by the finance minister, a former minister opined and was widely quoted as saying that Malaysia is a very unique nation in the world, where apportionments in the national budget are race-specific.

On the one hand, our prime minister peddles the pragmatic idea of all Malaysians belonging to one ‘family’, yet the policies of his government appear to be shockingly lopsided to serve just one community.

Political parties that have dominated the fabric of Malaysian society since before our independence are organised along racial or religious lines. For over 60 years, we are reminded daily that only people from our “tribe” will look after us.

Beneath the veneer of Malaysia’s slick multi-ethnic narrative, there simmers a dark and sinister undercurrent of racial and tribal discontent. And why wouldn’t it, when tribalism is openly practiced.

There is a place for tribal sentiments.

When I was at school, I found my tribe of rugby players. I mean that I found a social group to belong to, which welcomed me, and made my schooling quite enjoyable.

As a Penangite, I relate to being called “Penang Kia” or a proud son of the state. It is, in a sense, belonging to a tribe with shared heritage, references, and experiences of the island.

But in politics, the connotations of the “tribe” are clearly negative. It signifies an attachment to policymaking that is unhealthily excessive, like a primitive cult or a religious sect.

The tribally-driven political leaders believe in their own brand too much, putting everything on blind faith, above practical reasoning.

In Malaysia their approach to the governance and management of a vastly diverse nation is extremely parochial and irrational. They naively prefer the simplicity of what they already know and belief. And, they are not open to alternatives.

Malaysia has a longstanding history of using “fear of others”. Politicians thrive on turning us into illogical citizens. We end up being ruthless tools in service to an ideology.

This is evident in our race relations, communal living, and recently, even in what is right for our healthcare. Fear is a very strong instrument that blurs our judgment and changes our behaviour.

At a tribal level, people are more emotional and consequently less logical.

I know this personally. Currently, as a suffering Manchester United football fan, every time “my” team plays, I pray for a win, hoping God will take our side in the game.

Many leaders nurture and cultivate this kind of irrationality.

In the electoral frontline, politicians with the help of some media, do their darndest to keep us separated, and fearful of each other. They will keep harping on the “struggles of their race” and draw battle-lines with the “others”.

There isn’t a more potent weapon than fighting for the “tribe” in this war, for an aspiring politician.

They actively want this because if we spend time with “others”, talk to them, eat with them, and congregate together, it will dawn on us that they are just like us. Every Malaysian of any “tribe” comes with all the strengths, weaknesses and emotional frailties that the other possesses.

Ultimately, when we co-mingle freely and without the manipulation of politicians, we realise that we are all the same. Some of us are sturdy, while others feeble; some of us are hilarious, yet some are dumb; some are nice and others unpleasant.

In reality, when the politics spewed by these manipulators get a hold of our fear, we degenerate to irrational, tribal and often aggressive people. We end up becoming weapons ourselves that these politicians use to spread their own agenda.

Malaysians need to wake up and not succumb to these fearmongers. We must not allow unreasonable tribalism to derail us from evolving into a progressive and inclusive nation. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.