Pay no heed to those who harp on racial issues

 

­­Malaysians need to grow up fast and stop paying heed to anyone who tries to break the already fragile race relations in our rainbow nation.

Strangely, we continue to entertain some parochial politicians who have already lost their real relevance. These people are still desperately trying to stoke the embers of racial tensions in 2023. They are from a bygone era.

Every time we think we see light at the end of the tunnel for our country, one of these old jamokes pipes up, and stirs the hornets’ nest. And collectively, Malaysians sit up and listen.

It is absolutely clear that Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government is walking a tightrope, and is doing its darndest to ensure that Malaysians of all creed and religions feel safe, secure, and protected.

The prime minister, in a public address this week, rightfully asked for examples of when his government acted to the detriment of any particular community in Malaysia. His question was aimed at divisive politicians who have started beating the war-drums, claiming that the majority Malay race are once again being displaced.

For every “thinking Malaysian”, Anwar’s question was spot on. All we hear from these chaps, like a broken record, is this same drivel that the “Malay community is once again losing out”.

If this was indeed the case, shouldn’t we question former strongmen who were in charge of the country for yonks, about why we are in this situation? It now seems like they were not able to rectify this “imaginary” disparity for all the years that they controlled the government with an iron fist.

Yet, they expect Anwar to do it in a mere six months.

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Bankrupt of any useful and progressive new ideas, politicians like Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his current sidekick, Abdul Hadi Awang, the PAS president, have reverted to harping on issues that should have been put to bed a long time ago.

Over 65 years after independence, after a succession of Malay majority governments, and over 50 years after the New Economic Policy (NEP) with preferential treatment for Bumiputeras, these two old-timers are trying to fire up racial tensions once again. It is the same old same old from these two.

One wants a “Malay Proclamation” and the other one says that wealthy non-Muslims and non-Malays are “givers and takers” of bribes, who influence the Malays.

Mahathir, after being prime minister for 22 years and 22 months, says that the Malays are suffering.

Unfortunately, because of his name recognition and perhaps the residual affection he has in the Malay heartland, except of course, on his own island of Langkawi, every time he speaks, people perk-up and pay attention. Even renowned political analysts say we should not really write the nonagenarian off.

But really, aside from being a thorn on the side of his one-time mentee turned arch enemy, what will this “proclamation” actually do for ordinary folks?

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What does Mahathir want to “proclaim” now? He had over two decades in power to improve the circumstances of the Malay community. Obviously, he is admitting publicly that he failed them miserably. So, why would the community place their trust in him, again?

Mahathir’s assertions are just a flight of fancy that aims to hoodwink the poorer segments of society. Finally, we have to see that his antics are just absurd.

And, Hadi spews out unsubstantiated accusations as always. He speaks his mind, and his followers simply lap it up without any thought. For them, what he says becomes the gospel truth.

In August last year, he made the same nonsensical claims about non-Muslims and non-Malays being the cause of corruption in Malaysia. 28 police reports were made against him. Clearly, the police did not think these reports warranted any further action. So now, nine months later, Hadi is regurgitating the same bile.

Both these old-timers are simply clinging on to the vestiges of self-importance.

So again, I repeat that Malaysians just need to grow up. It is time to monitor and bring to justice anyone who upsets the racial balance in our precious nation. This has to be done regardless of how senior or how much of a religious icon they may be.

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Because of all the fragilities in Malaysia, our precariously balanced race-relations must be safeguarded at all costs. The nation cannot afford to have prolonged, protracted, and unbridled distrust between our communities.

Ultimately, a united Malaysia is the only Malaysia that will survive in the long run. And, anyone who tries to break that unity should be locked up and the keys thrown away. - FMT

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