Support initiatives that unite
Ezza Abdul RahmanPublished: Dec 18, 2000 9:25 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Once upon a time you could always depend on issues of race and religion to unite the Malays. But this is not the case today, and this is what Umno fails to recognise, and seem to refuse to accept. The young Malays today of the "cyber era" want to see issues of corruption, liberty, democracy and equality as the cornerstones of the party's struggle.
That is why it is heartening to see one Malay leader - the number two, no less - in our country acknowledging the aspirations of the new Malay. Kudos to Pak Lah. Reverting to issues of race to win support for one's party or even religion for that matter is not the kind of formula we would like to see in the new millennium, not when we live in an increasingly plural society with different ideals, cultures, religions, hopes and needs.
Young people don't buy this kind of racial posturing - therefore it is absolutely crucial to address these issues in the most reasonable and intelligent way possible as opposed to this confrontational way. Particularly because many already don't have an appreciation of the importance of our social contract.
Many young Malaysians have not been schooled about the relevance of a social contract and even if there are those who may have heard of it, they do not see the relevance of that social contract today. Therefore, if anyone wants to espouse the virtues of such a social contract, then he or she must take an approach of persuasion rather than threat or force.
As a young Malay who has many non-Malay friends, and who works and plays with them, I have grown to appreciate that we have more things in common than differences and we don't need a third party to tell us what is good for our communities and for our relationships - we're doing pretty well on our own, thank you.
We have thus far enjoyed a relatively peaceful and harmonious existence, I must say thanks to a government which has been relatively responsive, responsible and forward thinking. But the time has come for more transparency, more democracy, more accountability on the part of our elected representatives.
As a young Malay I appeal to all Malay, Chinese and Indian leaders to put the aspirations of all Malaysians regardless of race above your own party interests. I would also like to appeal to all Malaysians to support any initiatives that will bring the people together rather than divide them; this country cannot progress with a divided nation.
That is why it is heartening to see one Malay leader - the number two, no less - in our country acknowledging the aspirations of the new Malay. Kudos to Pak Lah. Reverting to issues of race to win support for one's party or even religion for that matter is not the kind of formula we would like to see in the new millennium, not when we live in an increasingly plural society with different ideals, cultures, religions, hopes and needs.
Young people don't buy this kind of racial posturing - therefore it is absolutely crucial to address these issues in the most reasonable and intelligent way possible as opposed to this confrontational way. Particularly because many already don't have an appreciation of the importance of our social contract.
Many young Malaysians have not been schooled about the relevance of a social contract and even if there are those who may have heard of it, they do not see the relevance of that social contract today. Therefore, if anyone wants to espouse the virtues of such a social contract, then he or she must take an approach of persuasion rather than threat or force.
As a young Malay who has many non-Malay friends, and who works and plays with them, I have grown to appreciate that we have more things in common than differences and we don't need a third party to tell us what is good for our communities and for our relationships - we're doing pretty well on our own, thank you.
We have thus far enjoyed a relatively peaceful and harmonious existence, I must say thanks to a government which has been relatively responsive, responsible and forward thinking. But the time has come for more transparency, more democracy, more accountability on the part of our elected representatives.
As a young Malay I appeal to all Malay, Chinese and Indian leaders to put the aspirations of all Malaysians regardless of race above your own party interests. I would also like to appeal to all Malaysians to support any initiatives that will bring the people together rather than divide them; this country cannot progress with a divided nation.
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