Race politics: Not expecting overnight change - Muda veep

 

JOHOR POLLS | After over six decades of governance by race-based parties, issues of race and religion have become intertwined with politics.

Even parties that profess a multiracial position have not been able to ignore the political realities.

PKR, for example, while defending multiculturalism, tends to also ensure adequate Malay leadership to counter the narrative peddled by opponents that a vote for them would be a vote for "minorities taking over".

DAP too has had to play a balancing act in its bid to address its predominantly Chinese make-up and disproportionate lack of Malay leaders so as not to alienate their Chinese grassroots members.

The youth-led Muda, which was only registered last December, starts with a clean slate. It has even fielded candidates that established parties would normally not field in certain demographies.

Some examples are in Tenang where Muda vice-president Lim Wei Jiet (above) is contesting and Machap where the party fielded its Johor deputy chief R Sangaran.

None of the political parties that came before Muda have ever fielded non-Malay candidates in the semi-rural Malay-majority constituencies.

This has led to questions about Muda's strategies and whether it was being naive.

Lim, in an interview with Malaysiakini, stressed that the political realities are not lost to Muda but they have to walk the talk on what the party aspires.

"Yes... race plays a factor in Malaysia. We cannot deny that. But I think we are also hoping to let the people know that we are a youth-focused party, that brings youth aspirations, and we cut through all races.

"I am not saying that candidates don't matter, but I think the race of the candidate ought to be secondary in nature. Look at the track record, our character, our policies, and the fact that Muda is not aligned with those involved in corruption and abuse of power.

"That is what we are trying to sell. Of course, that is not easy, there is a challenge there. But we just have to learn how to overcome it,” he said.

"We cannot be living in a world where... just because the demographic is a certain way, then we have to field candidate X, candidate Y, candidate Z," he added.

Uphill battle

The 31-year-old lawyer, who hails from the nearby town of Muar, would be the first non-Malay candidate contesting the Tenang state seat.

It used to be a traditional seat for Umno until 2018, when Bersatu's Solihan Badri wrestled the constituency from BN's Mohd Azahar Ibrahim by 1,070 votes.

Johor Muda deputy chief R Sangaran

In Machap, Sangaran is contesting against BN's Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Perikatan Nasional's Azlisham Azahar, and Pejuang's Shahruddin Md Salleh in a seat where Umno has never lost, albeit with a diminishing majority.

Lim acknowledged the uphill battle, stating that Muda did not expect an overnight change.

"We have to convince them otherwise. It's not easy, we have a short time, and hopefully, by connecting with the people and talking to them, I can convince the people that while we may not be from the same racial background, in the end, we just want a better life, better economy and all," he said.

Lim added that they also want to convince voters to look beyond grocery and financial giveaways when deciding who to support.

Voters, he said, need to be convinced they should vote for representatives who can improve their future and that voters are worth more than cooking oil and a pack of rice that some candidates may give to lure their support.

"If they see us as a party that knows what they value, like quality education, having more jobs, a dignified wage, then they should vote for us.

"It’s Muda’s values they should look at," Lim added.

Campaigning for the Johor polls started on Feb 26. Johoreans will go to the polls on March 12. - Mkini