Let’s defeat Dr M’s colonialist attacks on multiculturalism

 Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s vicious attacks on multiculturalism and secularism is a manifestation of Malayan imperialism and colonialism that threatens Malaysia’s territorial integrity.

His claim of non-Malays wanting to change Tanah Melayu to a multiethnic country on June 28 and July 3 claim that it is unconstitutional to promote Malaysia as a multiethnic country reveal the malicious mind of a Malayan imperialist and colonialist.

He sees Sabah and Sarawak as nothing but colonial possessions of Malayan Malays.

For all his attacks on Western imperialists and colonialists, Dr Mahathir has become one when he looks at Sabahans, Sarawakians, and Malayan minorities.

By insulting Sabahans and Sarawakians as subjects of Malayan imperialism and colonialism, Dr Mahathir is declaring war on the very idea of Malaysia.

If by being part of Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak were to become appendices of Tanah Melayu, and Sabah and Sarawakian natives to be assimilated as Malayan Malays, there would not be a Malaysia in the first place.

Own independence

Sabah and Sarawak would have stayed on as British colonies and waited for our own independence at a later date, as Brunei did in 1984.

Sabah and Sarawak are proudly multicultural and inclusive.

As in Malaya, we have Malays – Sarawak Malays and Brunei Malays – and Chinese and Indians. We also have Kadazan-Dusun-Murut, Bajaus, Suluks, Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Hulu, Melanaus and other groups.

Don’t pigeonhole our natives as Malayan Malays. We celebrate inter-faith harmony and multilingualism. We eat at the same table.

We celebrate each other’s festivals. We will stay this way and not be assimilated into bigotry and segregation.

If any Malayan Malays carry the imperialist and colonialist mindset and treat Sabahans and Sarawakians as subjects of dominance and assimilation, then they are effectively advocating Malaya’s separatism from Malaysia.

For the longest time, many Sabahans and Sarawakians have been wrongly accused of separatism.

We never want separatism if Sabah and Sarawak enjoy freedom, prosperity and justice within Malaysia as promised. If separatism ever gains popularity, it will be nothing but the response to Malayan imperialism and colonialism.

Neocolonialism

Dr Mahathir, listen clearly from us if you ever need a reminder: Sabah and Sarawak are not colonial possessions transferred from Great Britain to Tanah Melayu. We did not opt to replace the British with Malayans as our colonial masters in 1963.

In Sabah’s state anthem “Sabah Tanah Airku”, we proudly proclaim: “Merdeka sepanjang masa. Bersatu segala bangsa Sentosa. Sabah negeri merdeka.”

Likewise, Sarawak’s state anthem, “Ibu Pertiwiku”, underlines sovereignty within Malaysia: “Sarawak Dalam Malaysia, Aman Makmur Rahmat Tuhan Maha Esa. Kekallah Sarawak bertuah, Teras Perjuangan Rakyat, Berjaya Berdaulat!”

When Malaysia was formed, it was a union of four multiethnic and secular countries: Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak.

If the plan were to become appendices of an ethnocracy as Dr Mahathir wants Malaya to be, Sabah and Sarawak would have stayed out.

Suppose anyone wants to change the social contract in 1963 by internally colonising Sabah and Sarawak.

In that case, they are taking Malaya out of Malaysia because the Malaysia Sabah and Sarawak signed up in 1963 is a land of freedom and democracy, neither an ethnocracy for Malays nor a theocracy for Islamists.

Divide and rule

Dr Mahathir deliberately divided and ruled Sabah’s multiethnic people with religion to satisfy his imperialist control of Sabah so that relatives and neighbours would fight each other.

He even assaulted Sabah’s sovereignty with Project M, which enfranchised foreigners whose votes he could control.

It is sad that he squandered his second chance to serve Malaysia and redeem his wrongdoings in 2020.

It is sadder now that after losing his deposit in the 2022 general election, he wants to undo Malaysia to stay relevant.

He wants to cringe on his past so much that he is happy to deny all Malaysians a better future.

We Malaysians must not fall into Dr Mahathir’s vicious plan to divide and rule.

We must instead stand together to affirm the original Project Malaysia that our forefathers and foremothers signed up for in 1963.

We must decentralise all Malaysian states and materialise the promises in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

As we enter the Merdeka months of August and September, let us solidly rally behind the Madani government that upholds all Malaysians and denounces bigotry, hatred and colonialism.

Sabahans and Sarawakians do not get to vote in the state polls this round.

So we hope voters in Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu will send a clear message to reject ultra-nationalism, colonialism and imperialism championed by Dr Mahathir and company. - Mkini

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WILFRED MADIUS TANGAU is Tuaran MP.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.