The myth of Malay unity
WORLDVIEW<br>Harun RashidPublished: Jan 7, 2001 11:01 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
As a matter of logic, the concept of unity implies a common principle or factor which relates the members of a collection. Demographics looks for similarities in age, education or income to provide a pertinent profile for a political or economic purpose.
Politicians study these profiles to plot and project an appeal to the special interests of the voters in a given geographic area. A recognised relationship of religion, language or ethnic origin offers the politician an opportunity to promise promotion of the special interests of the group. This is done in hopes such a promise proves sufficient to assure support in a coming election.
In Malaysia there are about 12 million Malays, who are related as a demographic group by a common language, religion and cultural heritage. For all previous generations the basic demographic unit was the kampung (village).
Today this is still true, though significant numbers of Malays now live in larger population centres. Grouping rural Malays with the urban Malays no longer presents an accurate picture. The Malays are not such a cohesive demographic unit as they were two or three years ago.
The political success of the present administration is based on a cultivated concept of Malay cohesiveness they call "Malay unity". According to the myth, all Malays, united by language, religion and culture, have always, and therefore must indefinitely give political support to a party with the name "United Malays National Organisation".
Political allegiance
The old name does not reflect the present fact, as the party now finds to its detriment. The current dialogue surrounding "Malay unity" betrays their awareness that the Malays are indeed now divided in terms of political allegiance. Most Malays no longer give unquestioning support to a political party perceived to eschew Islamic principles.
Though the Malay political leaders wear the songkok, baju and kain (Malay native costume), their credentials as practising Muslims are now sharply in question. The minister who had responsibility to recover the stained and frayed fabric failed, and he resigned last week. His resignation is said to be voluntary.
Islam makes no allowance for theft, lying and injustice. Whatever positive developments the administration delivered in the past are now made forfeit by the allegation that most gains have been delivered over for the benefit of kith and kin, along with those business associates and bright stars willing to act as proxies, proteges and partners in secret and illegal diversion of the public purse. Islam does not excuse bribery and graft in public servants, however much merit may be offered in mitigation to offset personal greed.
The ministers of the present corrupt administration are drowning in a cesspool of their own toxic waste, and like desperate men throughout history, reach out for support to any and all within reach or hearing. But they callously seek rescue without admission of guilt. They call for salvation based on brotherhood and compassion.
"Give me your hand ... pull me to safety," they cry. Yet they admit no wrong-doing. Why, one wonders, should they be aided to continue in office? They have shown no compassion or brotherhood to others. On the contrary, they are cruel and vicious, with no sign of repentance.
Public expense
The finance minister says there must be Malay unity in order to arrest the free fall of the stock market. Yet he finds no fault with paying from the public purse a price twice the market rate to a man whose position he created. He finds no fault in bringing back at public expense the failed utilities given away to close associates. He finds no fault in the arrest of opposition leaders. He thus tacitly approves their fall. When the game afoot takes this tone of treachery, why should anyone join to rescue them from the retribution of their folly?
The people of Kedah have witnessed the spectacle of the Al-Ma'unah in their backyard. Many know the truth of the matter. For the most part, the people of Lunas know the truth. They have spoken.
Yet it is in Kuala Kangsar that Rafidah Aziz, tainted under investigations for her family-oriented decisions as minister, reports that all will be well. The administration is to put into place a strategy that will buffer the effects of a downturn in the US economy. There were no members of the foreign press corps present. They are not welcome in Malaysia.
Yet Rafidah plans to make her plea for more US investment and more sales of exports to the US, where journalists do not hesitate to ask pertinent questions. Malaysian journalists are muzzled, and foreign journalists are sued or denied access. In the US, they await her visit.
There is no Malay unity in Malaysia. Though conference follows conference throughout the nights and days, the fact remains: there is no Malay unity in Malaysia. Nor is there Chinese unity. Nor Indian unity. The days of racial politics are past. This is the new millennium. The racial party politics of the past are not successful now.
There is no longer a need for a "unified Malay party", nor an all-Chinese or all-Indian party. Their day is done. The newer opposition parties present broad programmes that transcend ethnic and language boundary. While PAS has a Malay and Islamic orientation, its interpretation of Islamic principles is broad and just, based on a concept of universal brotherhood and the preservation of equal rights for all. PAS opposes special rights for anyone.
Red herring
Thus Umno cannot and will not discuss the issue of Malay rights, though they themselves have created the issue to divert attention from administration mismanagement of the Chinese JE and Chang Ming Thien education funds. This strategy is known politically as a "red herring", as though a smelly fish were drawn across the trail to fool the hounds. The hounds are not fooled. Lunas proved that.
Stolen funds are stolen funds, and all the noise of Suqiu election appeals will only increase the clamour for an honest accounting. The embarrassment to the administration is that the Suqiu appeals are all fair and equitable. To oppose them is political suicide. Yet Umno-BN find themselves caught on the horns of a dilemma, and there is no possible extrication. "We will talk no more of that," they cry. The reason is simple enough; they have made fools of themselves yet again.
Waffling and toggling between ineptitude and inaction the ministers, acting on the silly advice of kerbau (water buffalo) drivers cum political pundits, have skillfully managed to alienate simultaneously both the Malay and the Chinese voters. The unwillingness to provide a minimum wage on a monthly basis is now also discouraging the Indian voters, who have begun to support the opposition. There is no one left. Thus, to speak of Malay unity is to speak of a myth.
What unity is to be found in Malaysia is not Malay unity. It is the unity of the opposition, determined to remove a corrupt administration and to make right the many wrongs which stain recent Malaysian history. There is a continuing sense of shame which weighs on every Malaysian with clean hands. Let the administration speak about that.
HARUN RASHID is a scientist avidly interested in the application of Islamic principles in international affairs. The promotion of goodwill through civilisational dialogue motivates his writing. His Worldview column is a personal analysis of Malaysian affairs from a global perspective.
Politicians study these profiles to plot and project an appeal to the special interests of the voters in a given geographic area. A recognised relationship of religion, language or ethnic origin offers the politician an opportunity to promise promotion of the special interests of the group. This is done in hopes such a promise proves sufficient to assure support in a coming election.
In Malaysia there are about 12 million Malays, who are related as a demographic group by a common language, religion and cultural heritage. For all previous generations the basic demographic unit was the kampung (village).
Today this is still true, though significant numbers of Malays now live in larger population centres. Grouping rural Malays with the urban Malays no longer presents an accurate picture. The Malays are not such a cohesive demographic unit as they were two or three years ago.
The political success of the present administration is based on a cultivated concept of Malay cohesiveness they call "Malay unity". According to the myth, all Malays, united by language, religion and culture, have always, and therefore must indefinitely give political support to a party with the name "United Malays National Organisation".
Political allegiance
The old name does not reflect the present fact, as the party now finds to its detriment. The current dialogue surrounding "Malay unity" betrays their awareness that the Malays are indeed now divided in terms of political allegiance. Most Malays no longer give unquestioning support to a political party perceived to eschew Islamic principles.
Though the Malay political leaders wear the songkok, baju and kain (Malay native costume), their credentials as practising Muslims are now sharply in question. The minister who had responsibility to recover the stained and frayed fabric failed, and he resigned last week. His resignation is said to be voluntary.
Islam makes no allowance for theft, lying and injustice. Whatever positive developments the administration delivered in the past are now made forfeit by the allegation that most gains have been delivered over for the benefit of kith and kin, along with those business associates and bright stars willing to act as proxies, proteges and partners in secret and illegal diversion of the public purse. Islam does not excuse bribery and graft in public servants, however much merit may be offered in mitigation to offset personal greed.
The ministers of the present corrupt administration are drowning in a cesspool of their own toxic waste, and like desperate men throughout history, reach out for support to any and all within reach or hearing. But they callously seek rescue without admission of guilt. They call for salvation based on brotherhood and compassion.
"Give me your hand ... pull me to safety," they cry. Yet they admit no wrong-doing. Why, one wonders, should they be aided to continue in office? They have shown no compassion or brotherhood to others. On the contrary, they are cruel and vicious, with no sign of repentance.
Public expense
The finance minister says there must be Malay unity in order to arrest the free fall of the stock market. Yet he finds no fault with paying from the public purse a price twice the market rate to a man whose position he created. He finds no fault in bringing back at public expense the failed utilities given away to close associates. He finds no fault in the arrest of opposition leaders. He thus tacitly approves their fall. When the game afoot takes this tone of treachery, why should anyone join to rescue them from the retribution of their folly?
The people of Kedah have witnessed the spectacle of the Al-Ma'unah in their backyard. Many know the truth of the matter. For the most part, the people of Lunas know the truth. They have spoken.
Yet it is in Kuala Kangsar that Rafidah Aziz, tainted under investigations for her family-oriented decisions as minister, reports that all will be well. The administration is to put into place a strategy that will buffer the effects of a downturn in the US economy. There were no members of the foreign press corps present. They are not welcome in Malaysia.
Yet Rafidah plans to make her plea for more US investment and more sales of exports to the US, where journalists do not hesitate to ask pertinent questions. Malaysian journalists are muzzled, and foreign journalists are sued or denied access. In the US, they await her visit.
There is no Malay unity in Malaysia. Though conference follows conference throughout the nights and days, the fact remains: there is no Malay unity in Malaysia. Nor is there Chinese unity. Nor Indian unity. The days of racial politics are past. This is the new millennium. The racial party politics of the past are not successful now.
There is no longer a need for a "unified Malay party", nor an all-Chinese or all-Indian party. Their day is done. The newer opposition parties present broad programmes that transcend ethnic and language boundary. While PAS has a Malay and Islamic orientation, its interpretation of Islamic principles is broad and just, based on a concept of universal brotherhood and the preservation of equal rights for all. PAS opposes special rights for anyone.
Red herring
Thus Umno cannot and will not discuss the issue of Malay rights, though they themselves have created the issue to divert attention from administration mismanagement of the Chinese JE and Chang Ming Thien education funds. This strategy is known politically as a "red herring", as though a smelly fish were drawn across the trail to fool the hounds. The hounds are not fooled. Lunas proved that.
Stolen funds are stolen funds, and all the noise of Suqiu election appeals will only increase the clamour for an honest accounting. The embarrassment to the administration is that the Suqiu appeals are all fair and equitable. To oppose them is political suicide. Yet Umno-BN find themselves caught on the horns of a dilemma, and there is no possible extrication. "We will talk no more of that," they cry. The reason is simple enough; they have made fools of themselves yet again.
Waffling and toggling between ineptitude and inaction the ministers, acting on the silly advice of kerbau (water buffalo) drivers cum political pundits, have skillfully managed to alienate simultaneously both the Malay and the Chinese voters. The unwillingness to provide a minimum wage on a monthly basis is now also discouraging the Indian voters, who have begun to support the opposition. There is no one left. Thus, to speak of Malay unity is to speak of a myth.
What unity is to be found in Malaysia is not Malay unity. It is the unity of the opposition, determined to remove a corrupt administration and to make right the many wrongs which stain recent Malaysian history. There is a continuing sense of shame which weighs on every Malaysian with clean hands. Let the administration speak about that.
HARUN RASHID is a scientist avidly interested in the application of Islamic principles in international affairs. The promotion of goodwill through civilisational dialogue motivates his writing. His Worldview column is a personal analysis of Malaysian affairs from a global perspective.
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