Inter-racial hate and suspicion is Malaysia’s biggest problem
Little hope of change
In a long discussion with a colleague last night, I realized how deep hate and suspicion is embedded within peoples’ hearts (should be mental maps).
Racial bigotry and prejudice are a national blind spot. Everything is seen within racial shades, where society is split up and fragmented. Variously defined groups live within their own separate conclaves, which now have very few common denominators. This has destroyed any sense of national unity.
Go to the rural areas, and it has become a world of Arabism. Social status is now measured by how much one resonates as an Arab. Go to Jinjang in Kepong, and you will see the resemblance with a small town in China. Malaysians now live within their own bubbles, and hardly interact with other ethnic groups.
There is now no longer any appreciation of the various cultures within Malaysia. Interaction between various cultures during festival times is now forbidden in the totalitarian society Malaysia has become. Malaysia is now a quasi-apartheid community. With the evolution of Ketuanan Melayu, the imposition of the New Economic policy (NEP), and the stupidity of identity politics, Malaysia cannot call itself a united nation.
Now the PAS version of Ketuanan Islam models itself upon Taliban society, which the leadership admires. With Salafism also, the theology excludes relations with Kafirs, or non-believers. Islam has become a tool of segregation.
The Chinese has been portrayed for generations as the root of all evil in Malaysia. Never mind corruption at the top echelons of government by Malay rulers, the Chinese are worse. This narrative protected the ruling elite from close scrutiny for years.
While Malays has been given special rights, Chinese have been punished for being born Chinese. Places within the civil service and education have been severely restricted. Many left the country out of lack of opportunity.
The nation breaches one of the most basic human rights, that is the right for equality of opportunity. Equity hasn’t worked in Malaysia, just as the west is finding now. In Australia and the US, we see division in society growing, just as it did in Malaysia.
These divisions within Malaysia are causing national security issues. The CCP United Front is winning the hearts and minds of Malaysia’s young Chinese, while Saudi money and religious teachers are winning the hearts and minds of Malays.
Hate and prejudice are ingrained within government policy. Ismail Sabri and Tengku Zafrul Aziz framed one of the most racially biased budgets in Malaysian history during the last government. With Tengku Zafrul still a minister in an important portfolio, does anyone expect change and reformasi?
Goodbye Keluarga Malaysia.
Two months with Anwar Ibrahim and we see he is a status quo prime minister. There is a good minister of national unity from Sarawak, Aaron Agu Anak Dayan. However, the unity portfolio is an empty one with no power to do anything. The rest of Malaysia could take a few pages out of the Sarawak playbook, where Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg wants all students to learn English, Mandarin, and Bahasa Malaysia. They learn three languages in European schools, why can this be done in Malaysia?
Malaysia’s foreign minister Zambry Abdul Kadir likes to portray Malaysia as the best example in the world in promoting the culture and peaceful living among the people of various races and religions. He must have seen the advertising of ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’ on the flight over to Saudi Arabia.
The best advice comes from the Hadiths.
“Hate your enemy mildly: he may become your friend one day” (Al-Timidhi)
We must keep in mind what the Prophet is reported to have said:
“He who hurts a dhimmi (citizen) hurts me, and he who hurts me annoys Allah” (Al-Tabarani)
The time has come for a national reconciliation, so Malaysia can move forward.
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"The best advice comes from the Hadiths......He who hurts a dhimmi (citizen) hurts me, and he who hurts me annoys Allah” (Al-Tabarani)".
Isn't invoking the Hadith already acceding ruling authority to Islam, with perhaps no room to any form of recognition to non-Islamic authority? Furthermore, isn't the status of a dhimmi classically that of a non-Muslim that is a second-class subject to dominant Muslims, and have to pay jizya (poll tax) for 'protection'.
But then again, that may be what an Islamic society, any kind of Islamic society, ultimately turns into. That is, a society ruled by Islamic laws. Brunei already implemented staunch Islamic laws some years ago. And Indonesia is also showing signs of becoming more staunch. One such sign, the hordes of Muslims demanding Jakarta governor Ahok be removed for alleged blasphemy and they got their wish. Another sign, reports that all 24 Muslim-majority provinces (out of a total of 34) in Indonesia now have mandatory Islamic dress codes for girls and women at various levels (https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/07/21/indonesian-women-speak-out-dress-codes).
In the 1970s after the coup-Tengku was forced to resign and Razak took over the helm of Malaysia ( no elections) the Muslim government had a free reign to do 'all and sundry'. The promotion of Malay nationalism, changing the media in schools, history books, road signs, among many other policies -creation of the NEP eroded the state of its uniqueness-multiracial, multicultural and multireligious character. Over the last 50 days -the P Ramlee era disappeared. Malaysia must be looked at as Afghanistan was in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, Malaysia is 'on track' to be the next Taliban like state. With the inclusion of Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indonesian, Arab cultures through marriage and other means the "Malay identity" is gone. Politicians divide Malaysian by promoting anti-racial hate. The Non-Malays with very little from the government (a blessing in hindsight) are/were resilient and still have become successful, while Malays have been afflicted by corruption, and roll back in education etc. Malays are reaping what they allowed their politicians to sow. The NEP was a total failure.