Worsening ‘us vs them’ narrative will lead to a failed state

 

Malaysians are tired of the Machiavellian tactic of divide and rule, successfully used by British colonial authorities to make us believe that keeping us apart in separate ethnic zones would be best for all.

When Malaya obtained independence in 1957, the multi-racial team that led the talks with Britain emphasised a secular nation and pushed for rights for all ethnic communities to be inscribed into the constitution.

It was a narrative that our first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman was most passionate about, even as he went about forming Malaysia in 1963 with Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak in the federation.

But the race riots of May 1969 changed everything and the subsequent New Economic Policy introduced by the Barisan Nasional government in 1971 separated Malaysians into Bumiputeras and non-Bumiputeras. With this dichotomy legitimised, the division kept slowly but surely widening.

Now, after more than five decades, it is reaching its apex. From politics and healthcare to education, the narrative of “us vs them” has taken over. Malay-based parties are unabashedly saying Malaysia is a country for Malays, implying that others are second class citizens.

I am not saying this narrative is unique to Malaysia but a differentiating factor is that it is a knife with two blades, race and religion, that cut at one swoop. This is why many worry that Malaysia will look totally different in a decade or so, if not sooner.

The sounds of divisiveness started getting louder after the general election last year. Now, following the six state elections in August and the recent Kemaman by-election, it appears this narrative has grown deeper roots.

Umno, which is bleeding Malay support, has been told by Bersatu and PAS leaders to drop its ties with the DAP (read: the Chinese) in the unity government and instead join “us” in a bid to topple Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim whose multiracial party PKR is hinged on non-Malay support.

What is their basis for their call, you ask? It’s for the sake of the ummah apparently, or Muslim unity.

Their brazen talk about racial unity makes one wonder if these people ever consider how left out others will feel hearing it, as if only the unity of Malays matters if Malaysia is to progress.

It’s racist battle cries like these that give legitimacy to the “us vs them” dichotomy. PAS and Bersatu have become more and more blatant about claiming Malaysia to be a Malay land which must be ruled by a mainly-Malay government. Now, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who once sung the praises of Malaysia’s multiculturalism on the world stage, has started lending his voice to their calls.

I remember vividly in the 90s, at the peak of his watch, Mahathir would celebrate Malaysia as an exemplary multiracial country that could be emulated by the world.

Sadly the insidious forces of racial supremacy are getting stronger and more vocal. What is worrying is that many Malaysians buy their preaching – hook, line and sinker.

Decades-old policies based on race, emphasising special privileges for Bumiputeras at the expense of deserving fellow Malaysians, have pushed citizens towards becoming extremely clannish. The impulse to choose “our” side is inherent in most every Malaysian. We are all guilty here.

The trend has been evident for the last decade but has, in the past five years, assumed the strength of a tsunami waiting to be unleashed at the next general election and the one after that.

Look at our political rallies. Most of the speeches from the opposition focus on the unity of the ummah, morphing into exhibitions of hate for “them.” Debates in Parliament and state legislative assemblies have been replaced by shouting matches.

Sadly, these traits have been slowly ingrained in us and have done much to shape our history of intolerance. The NEP knocked many of us off course. The wedge between “us and them” is now getting wider.

For now, based on current voting trends and the unity government’s inability to implement reforms that matter, it appears to be a herculean task to move from an “us vs them” mentality to one that celebrates oneness.

But if we don’t succeed in narrowing the gap at least, Malaysia is only set to fail. - FMT

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