“A good newspaper, I suppose, is a nation talking to itself.”
- Arthur Miller
Ideally, I would like my Weltanschauung to be classed based but unfortunately, living in Malaysia and not observing complicated race-based hierarchical structures is dangerous, especially when the non-Malay dialectic is defined and controlled by one racial group and the mainstream political process is defined by race and religion.
The months leading up to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim assuming the highest office of the land was a time of racial and religious flashpoints meant to hoodwink the majority polity and demonstrations of reactionary politics by minority communities.
The following news stories demonstrate the racial quicksand we find ourselves in and how the political apparatus of this country chooses to profit politically from these flashpoints.
The narrative is defined by how the state chooses to always coddle the racial anxieties of the majority polity but retreats to the fig leaf of inclusivity when it suits their agendas.
I understand that the floods and other environmental issues made a major impact this year - but the reality is that with good governance and a strict policing of the nexus between political and corporate patronage, these issues could be mitigated if there is political will.
However, when it comes to race and religion, the issues get more complicated. We have never had an honest discussion about race and religion in this country and perhaps we never will. This, of course, is the Malaysian dilemma.
Deep down inside, we know what is wrong but to commit to solutions that would right these wrongs would not be politically feasible, especially when young people have been indoctrinated by the vast religious bureaucracy and electoral legerdemain remains an issue which, so far, Pakatan Harapan has shown no will to address.
Imbalanced civil service
When former minister Teresa Kok drew attention to this issue, she received strong pushback from Cuepacs president Adnan Mat, who claimed that not only was Teresa politicising the issue but Pakatan Harapan never did anything but threaten and intimidate the civil service.
Of course, the old canard that folks who join the civil service do it out of “patriotism” is a dog whistle of how non-Malays are not loyal to the country.
In 2017, former Treasury secretary-general Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim opined that the government of the day should cut down on the oversized civil service.
As reported in the press, he said the country's bloated civil service has created inefficiencies in the economy and failures in the financial disciplines of ministries and government departments.
There is a reason why the civil service has become bloated. This has everything to do with a sustained effort by successive governments to create a class of voters loyal to racial and religious hegemony.
Disrespecting national language
Is it any wonder that a regime bankrupt of ideas would weaponise language to rile up the base? In June, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) board of governors’ chairperson Awang Sariyan proposed individuals “who do not respect the national language can be fined up to RM50,000 or jailed in proposed amendments to the (DBP) Act 1959.”
In reality, non-Malays use the language among themselves more often than they use English, especially when interacting with people from different backgrounds and educational levels where mother tongues and English are just not utilitarian.
“Disrespect” in ketuanan (supremacist) ideology is shorthand for anything the Malay uber alles cretins say is disrespectful.
It is not based on any qualitative or objective standards and that is the point. Anyone at any time could be accused of being disrespectful and minions of the state, funded by our tax ringgit, will jump into action.
Basikal lajak
Next year, the Court of Appeal will hear the appeal of clerk Sam Ke Ting after she was acquitted by the Magistrate Court - but a High Court judge allowed the prosecution’s appeal to set aside the lower court’s decision.
Not only was the racial sentiment running high but bleeding hearts were claiming that the basikal lajak phenomenon is society's fault.
It is difficult to make the case that society is to blame for the basikal lajak tragedy because as citizens of this country, we do not participate in society as equals.
The political system is predicated on race. Economic, social and legal policies are predicated on race and the non-Malays are constantly told to be grateful for their citizenship.
The Lowyat 2 fiasco, fire-fighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim’s untimely death and the demonisation of non-Malay economic interest point to a system predicated on antagonising the different racial communities in this country.
Anyone who has driven when these basikal lajak kids are around will tell you how dangerous it is. They will tell you how these kids sometimes barely have control of their bikes.
They will tell you of the fear they have of a kid falling down in front of their car and the fear of losing control of their vehicle.
And they will also tell you how these kids have no concern for their behaviour but more importantly, any concern for the people driving around them. There are no victims here, only “volunteers”.
Loh Siew Hong saga
To understand the tragedy of this single mother, Loh Siew Hong and how unilateral conversion is a threat to disenfranchised non-Malays in this country, please read her story here.
Loh eventually found the twins, now 14, with an Islamic NGO and her 10-year-old son at a tahfiz school in Tasek Gelugor, Penang. All three were unilaterally converted to Islam without her knowledge.
To understand the role of the Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin in this tragedy, please read his comments here.
“But the problem is, the kids do not want to. We are not holding them because that is not within our powers, but they (the children) told us to help defend them, that they want Islam, they want to go to a religious school,” Asri reportedly said.
Even PAS weighed in on the issue.
The PAS Ulama wing urged the government and all parties to give priority to the welfare of Loh’s three children who have chosen Islam as their faith so they will not be disturbed and forced to return to apostasy, saying: “Muslims have been patient for a long time and we do not want the religious harmony guaranteed by the Federal Constitution to inflame the sentiments and anger of Muslims.”
The fact that Asri posted this on his social media account is a testament that the state does not view this as a crime. If it did, Asri would immediately be arrested for aiding and abetting in a criminal endeavour.
Now we know what Asri thinks of “cow worshippers” because, in this country, the historical legacy of Hinduism and the profound way in which it influenced native cultures have, over the decades, been “ketuanan-washed”.
The fact that Asri had to apologise for his racist poem about Indians but took it as an opportunity to wonder at the ungratefulness of non-Malays should tell us about the kind of religious operatives we are dealing with.
There will be more of these types of cases because the perpetrators understand they will not be sanctioned by the state.
Keep in mind that for these religious operatives, there are always "enemies" of Islam and conversion turns these enemies (even children) into "friendlies".
Bon Odori
Bon Odori is the beginning of the end. What the Selangor Sultan was advocating in defence of this festival was for Muslims to embrace the multicultural aspects of the Malaysian experience.
And what was PAS' response to one of the pillars of our nation? A total snub of the royal advice. Indeed, so bold was PAS that the party encouraged other religionists to disregard the advice of the sultan.
And the state did not do anything. It kept quiet.
Here they are advocating that people disobey the sultan and question his religious credentials, but when activist lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri explored themes of power and suppression regarding the royalty, she was hauled up by the state security apparatus.
What PAS is demonstrating is the shape of things to come.
Well, that is it, folks. For a certain section of Malaysian polity, we end the year with guarded optimism.
Let us hope it holds for 2023. - Mkini
S THAYAPARAN is Commander (Rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum - “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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