You did it in 2018, you can do it again tomorrow

 

The Malay is part of the Malaysian problem, but he is also part of the solution. Why should we believe what the racist politicians tell us? Why should Malaysians fear their fellow Malaysians?

The fear is just a construct of the politicians who wish to divide and conquer. In the real world, the three main races – Malay, Chinese and Indian – can, and do, live in peaceful harmony. In typical Malaysian style, however, we must complicate matters, and hence we build walls, and drive a wedge between East and West Malaysians as well.

What the racist politicians neglect to tell you is that Malaysians share a rich history based on respect, dignity and mutual understanding. The history taught in our schools has been distorted and cherry-picked. In other words, politicised.

When Tunku Abdul Rahman liberated us, he did not seek to destroy the other races. His dream was not to conquer the non-Malays or to claim supremacy.

He did not think it would take a couple of years to get us on our feet, but he was prepared to go for the long haul. He would have succeeded but for a few politicians who were impatient. Eventually, they won.

Being a man of honour, he resigned after the May 13 riots in 1969. The racial harmony that he had devoted much of his political life to strengthen had collapsed.

Very few people know what the Tunku had struggled to achieve. The youngsters of today only understand the bile that is being spread by those who champion Ketuanan Melayu – Malay supremacy.

While May 13 remains a dark phase in our nation’s history, Malaysians, old and young, will never be allowed to forget the incident. It has been used countless times by politicians to scare people away from public discussions and debate on the subjects of citizenship, education, culture and religion.

We have been so conditioned by these errant politicians that we do not dare to discuss “sensitive issues”, or do things that may be construed by them as “undermining racial harmony and national unity”.

Another former prime minister, Abdul Razak Hussein, was part of the second generation of Malay politicians. He launched the New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1971 to tackle the economic and social disparities, which fuelled racial antagonism.

The twin goals of the NEP were to reduce, and eventually eradicate, poverty, and to reduce, and eventually remove, identification of economic function with race.

When Dr Mahathir Mohamad took over as prime minister, he started to unravel our social fabric so much so that we now treat other races with mistrust. It was also a time when the NEP was hijacked to benefit a handful of Umno cronies.

The young Malays of today have been brought up in a culture of privilege. Their parents also have been rewarded by a system that rewards one race, but penalises the others.

For instance, we see public universities becoming more and more politicised. They are paid for by the taxpayers of all races, but benefit predominantly one race. The vice-chancellors are elected from a pool of experts from just one race.

There are many other areas of everyday living that benefit the Malays at the expense of the other races.

The younger Malay is not only fearful of losing his benefits and privileges, he is also fearful of losing his identity. He is told that he is the only one that matters in Malaysia, and yet, the IT-literate Malay sees a whole new world in cyberspace.

Those who have money and have been overseas can see, feel and taste the difference. Students who have been abroad, and the Malay expatriates, experience another world, which is not dominated by Chinese and Indians.

That Malay sees that not only can Malays co-exist with others, they can also stamp their own mark on the world. He knows he is just as good as anyone.

When he returns to Malaysia, or when he experiences the real Malaysia, he is torn between what the politicians tell him and what he knows to be the truth. That is his personal demon.

Being abroad, or just surfing the web, has deepened his outlook on life. For instance, he knows apartheid is not acceptable. He is aware that Valentine’s Day is not about sex.

Under Pakatan Harapan, Malays will find that they do not need crutches that those who preach Ketuanan Melayu will tell them are necessary.

Under Umno Baru and Perikatan Nasional, Malays will be kept in a state of utter hopelessness and pessimism.

Under Pakatan Harapan, Malays will flourish.

Vote wisely in GE15. - FMT

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