The future!! Happy people!? Beautiful country!?


By Ahmad Mustapha Hassan
The Malaysian Insider
December 22, 2010

In the 50s and the early 60s, when I was actively involved in the struggle for independence, I was more than convinced that with independence the country would experience a future full of promise, stability, prosperity, with a happy and united nation.

During the colonial period, economic activities had been segregated by race. The British were only interested in making as much as possible from the country. The arrangement that they had created had served them well.

Independence would mean the integration of all these activities, and as such, there would be interactive relationships among all. The breaking down of these segregated economic walls, however, did not materialise in a systematic and speedy way. Thus conflicts occurred.

Remedial measures were carried out but it was hijacked by greedy and self- centred politicians. Instead of moving forward, the country went backwards and more acute problems arose. The vision and goals of independence had been thrown into the gutter. We thus moved towards a failed state status.

This is the problem faced by all former colonies. Leaders after tasting power, instead of taking care of the welfare of their people, took care of themselves first and forever. The people remained poor and neglected. Just see the conditions in the African states. See what is happening in Myanmar. Malaysia is no better. See the palaces built by politicians in power.

In Malaysia, to remain in power and continuously rape the wealth of the country, race is used to frighten the followers, that if they abandoned this (greedy) leadership, their future will be in jeopardy.

In fighting for independence, the people were cajoled to support the cause but after the achievement of independence, the people are again coerced into fear of their future if they abandoned the current leadership.

Race is the menacing factor that is being used to their personal advantage, that it will threaten the stability of the country. Not only that, it will also bring about intense communal feelings.

For failure to improve the lot of the Malays, the powers that be encouraged the phrase emphasising the supremacy of the Malays — “Ketuanan Melayu”. This never cropped up during the struggle for independence, nor was it ever used after independence. Only now suddenly it rears its ugly and venomous head, to frighten the non- Malays.

Naturally, a much wider chasm is created and the authorities simply have turned a blind eye to what it has unleashed. The agenda is to create divisions as done by the British colonial powers for self enrichment. But it must be remembered, this is the 21st century and not the late 19th or the early 20th centuries.

The environment and the scenario have changed and the situation is now wrought with all kinds of happenings that can become examples for fear and suspicion. Killings and ethnic cleansing in the name of race have become common occurrences.

The world too has become a smaller place and with that people are no longer incapable of sizing things up. People turn to emigration to escape what they feel may be an impending catastrophe. Even the Malays have no hesitation leaving the country as they feel things have gone too far in this mania of seeking wealth without regards to the welfare of others. The country is suffering from brain drain and only the corrupt are happy with this.

The situation cannot go on like this indefinitely. It is bound to proceed towards disaster. Children in schools have already been made familiar with racial profiling. Teachers are no longer dedicated in their professions. Instead of showing good examples to the students, they have become the source of creating tensions among the students with their brainless comments about the races in the country. But the authorities have shown reluctance in meting out stern action against these recalcitrant so-called teachers.

As long as they are Malays, they can commit these hideous acts and the government will try to provide excuses for their unpardonable acts.

The non-Malays will fall into a different category. Any slight excuse, they will be hauled up as what had happened to the young man Namewee. The young man will be persecuted for all kinds of reasons. This is done to satisfy and pacify the Malay communal extremists.

That racism has been on the increase in the country cannot be denied. Evidence is everywhere, be it in the social sphere, economy or even education.

The activities of the Malay ultra group have only pushed the other racial groups to emphasise more on their own well being and not that of the country. This is the direct result of not stopping the actions and utterances of those advocating the supremacy of the Malays.

The government only talks of racial unity but very little positive action has taken place. Even the governing political party has not moved towards integrating all the parties into one single political entity.

Of greater danger, however, is not the racial element but the religious aspects. This is a much more vicious and serious threat to the country. Unless the country maintains its secular nature and eliminates the dominating character of the religious authorities, the future does not augur well.

Although Islam is the official religion of the country, it does not mean that Islam overrides the interest of other religions in the country. The unwarranted religious conversions have to stop and the episodes of body snatching will have to be put to an end.

These incidents have caused a lot of family sufferings and the government must not condone such acts. The government will have to be bold if it wants to safeguard the future of this country. The Syariah courts now seem to be having the upper hand in every family dispute. The courts will naturally support the Muslim member of the family at the expense of the other members. The civil courts have been reluctant to play its role in all these conflicts.

This only brings about a sense of injustice to the aggrieved parties. They have no recourse to correct the injustice that they suffer. The government has not acted on these conflicts for fear of antagonising the religious zealots.

A church that was erected by the Orang Asli who professed the Christian faith was demolished on reasons that could easily had been overcome and the word “Allah” has been banned from use by Christians although in East Malaysia, the word had been in use for a very long time.

The Fatwa Council has become very powerful. Their approach is always negative in nature. Instead of trying to bring about the understanding of Islam to a wider circle, it functions as if everything about Islam is its prerogative to interpret and nobody else’s.

It also takes on the role of seeing that the unfortunate Muslims, who it believes being ignorant and stupid, are not led astray by the non Muslims. Thus non Muslims cannot quote from the Quran as this will confuse the Muslims. There are other major issues which have passed the scrutiny of this wise and able council.

All these are trends that will create greater suspicion among the people in the country. There is no attempt to make each understand the others’ religion and beliefs. The Muslim authority has kept away from associating itself in the interfaith group as this will affect Islam’s standing in the country. This is arrogance of the highest order.

The two most critical factors that will determine what the future of this country will be are race and religion. The government must act fast to counter the ruinous nature and the possible catastrophe that can be brought about by the uncontrolled and emotional makeup of these two elements.

The ugly writings are on the wall.

* Ahmad Mustapha Hassan is the author of “The Unmaking of Malaysia” and a former general manager of state news agency Bernama. He was also the press secretary to prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and the then deputy prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

  1. #1 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Wednesday, 22 December 2010 - 7:03 pm

    Mr. Ahmad Hassan,

    Haven’t heard of you. Maybe that’s because I hardly ever read Bernama. Sorry about that. Still I think that your views have been a little late in making the scene…so where have you been closeted? It’s better late than never, I suppose.

    I think you have made very pertinent comments and pinpointed a number of those roots of evil that have embedded in UMNO.

    May I suggest that since you were once Tun Razak’s press secretary and know Najib’s dad well, maybe you can tell Malaysians if Tun would have approved of this “ketuanan Melayu” nonsense. And, perhaps, give a word of advice on how Tun Razak would have handled today’s political scene. I think Najib is spineless and is wafted and tossed by every political wind. I also think his b#alls are being squeezed by some people, maybe Tun M and others who know his Achilles heel. It’s a tragedy Najib ccannot be his own man and establish his own legacy.

    So very sad.

  2. #2 by monsterball on Wednesday, 22 December 2010 - 9:30 pm

    yea…better late than never.
    And what is new that we don’t know.
    But talk till we drop dead.we must.. to expose the devilish Govt.
    It is like spreading the good words of Allah and should make all more awakened.
    For that..many thanks… Ahmad Hassan.

  3. #3 by waterfrontcoolie on Wednesday, 22 December 2010 - 10:51 pm

    Now, the BANKRUPT Politician is given the driver’s seat in SPAD; he is empowered to collect $3 billions on the plate chips??? ha! ha! ha! 3 cheers for ALL Malaysians who still keep them in OFFICE. Isn’t this funny, while election is looming all these acts are proposed. What is the REAL REASON? A sign of LAST COPEK??? If is is so, can they run away?? well you can say, wuth so many countries in the West going bankrupt they will be happy to protect all of them!!

  4. #4 by PoliticoKat on Wednesday, 22 December 2010 - 11:07 pm

    40 years too late. The train has already left the station.

    Mr. Ahmad Hassan,
    My advice is too look at the economical and political situations of south east asia and the world in general. Malaysia’s situation is more precarious than you realize.

    The days that Malaysia could have been a power has passed. You just need to look at Vietnam, a bombed out shell in the 1960s, and be horrified that their internet infrastructure is more developed than Malaysia.

    The seaports of the Philippines are now on par and sometimes better than Malaysia.

    Singapore has a GDP larger than malaysia, and their tech base is alot better. They are recruiting scientist from all around the world. I have seen their booths, along side booths from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Taiwan and Germany. Singapore plays it similarity to Malaysia as a selling point!

    Malaysia also has been exploiting it natural resources to the hilt. We will be buying natural gas from Australia in 2014. And our oil production will probably not last into the 2020s..think about that.

    And yes China and India are finally here. BRIC, the new economical “tigers”.

    And do note that Russia is busily building ports to service the arctic trade routes that will open in a few more years when the arctic polar ice caps are no more. The impact, the lost of trade going pass the straits of Melacca will be enormous.

    So… the point is… fail to fix Malaysia and she become the new basket case of Asean. Succeed in that task, and she becomes the little sibling of Indonesia and Singapore.

    Realization of ones errors… better late than never. But opportunity only knocks once, and Malaysia, thanks to BN-UMNO leadership blew it. I just hope people like you realize how much was actually lost.

    There are perks being the Master and big decision maker. But along with that power comes responsibility and the ultimate position of taking full responsibility of failure.

  5. #5 by Loh on Wednesday, 22 December 2010 - 11:17 pm

    ///Children in schools have already been made familiar with racial profiling. Teachers are no longer dedicated in their professions. Instead of showing good examples to the students, they have become the source of creating tensions among the students with their brainless comments about the races in the country. But the authorities have shown reluctance in meting out stern action against these recalcitrant so-called teachers.

    As long as they are Malays, they can commit these hideous acts and the government will try to provide excuses for their unpardonable acts.///–Ahmad Mustapha Hassan

    That is the proof of Ketuanan Melayu. Melayu can do no wrong!

  6. #6 by Loh on Wednesday, 22 December 2010 - 11:25 pm

    As the press secretary of Tun Razak and Tun Hussein Onn, he was not chosen by Mamakthir because he was Malaysian first. Mamakthir kills this nation.

  7. #7 by ktteokt on Wednesday, 22 December 2010 - 11:34 pm

    And don’t forget they are also out to CON THE YOUNGER GENERATION! Turn to the back of school exercise books and you will see the Five Principles of the RUKUNEGARA printed there WITHOUT THE PREAMBLE! The reason for CASTRATING the RUKUNEGARA is none other than a SELF-ADMISSION OF GUILT for fear that the younger generation might ask what the words “MEMBINA MASYARAKAT YANG ADIL” mean!!!!!! Can there be a race more superior and over and above the others in a MASYARAKAT YANG ADIL?

  8. #8 by raven77 on Thursday, 23 December 2010 - 12:21 am

    You must be talking about the pre Mahathir and malaysian Islamic era….

  9. #9 by k1980 on Thursday, 23 December 2010 - 9:40 am

    What pre Mahathir and malaysian Islamic era? The new history syllabus will spin that Parasmeswara, the founder of Melaka, was the great-great-great grandpop of the mamak!

  10. #10 by boh-liao on Friday, 24 December 2010 - 12:14 am

    If Ahmad Mustapha Hassan is sincere n means what he wrote, he should work with PR 2 get rid of UmnoB/BN n he must speak out against UmnoB 2 rural n deprived Malays, n 2 nonMalays too

  11. #11 by baochingtian on Friday, 24 December 2010 - 3:29 pm

    Tell it to the poor Malays, En Ahmad Mustapha, get them to understand situations in the country, u hv a responsibility to do that.

  12. #12 by cemerlang on Friday, 24 December 2010 - 4:44 pm

    Depends on how one interprets happiness. If one’s happiness is all about everyone being the same, then for that one, it is happiness. Twins cannot be the same. Clones also cannot be the same. Dolly the cloned sheep died early but the one from whom she came from did not die early. That is already a difference.

  13. #13 by boh-liao on Friday, 24 December 2010 - 8:47 pm

    Just look at what’s going on in d Sime Darby case – at least RM338mil n 5 senior officers
    Sure, happy people, easy $$$, instant multi-millionaires in dis beautiful NEP land

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