///Can Malaysians afford another 50 years of race-based politics albeit fine-tuned? ///– Azly Rahman.
Malaysia is bleeding everyday with its racist politics brought about by race-based political structure. 38 years after racist policies have been blatantly implemented in the name of NEP, the country has almost depleted its human resources not only of the non-Malays who succumbed to the push factors, but Malays too who consider the NEP stigma a huge price to pay to remain. But that structure has worked well for those who are in power at the expense of the nation.
///Malaysians are in a bipolar condition in a unipolar form of governance in which there is the belief that only race-based politics is the one best system.///– Azly Rahman.
It may be important to examine what make them think so. Is it because race-based politics is the way for the country to proceed, or is it because race-based politics is the way for the politicians to continue?
The way the political party forming the government is organized has a direct consequence on how the government administers the country. When the political party chooses to convince the voters and their supporters that they are there to fulfill their wishes, they carry out the duties as expected in a democracy. But when the policies serve only to cater to the interest of the voters which divide the society into classifications such as race and religions, they are effectively making the party a gang, and their supporters the captive voters. UMNO has perfected it as a classic example. To convince that the captive voters were right in their choice, the government moulds the mindset of the supporters that they are weak and vulnerable, and that they only survive under the protective cover of the party. To sweeten the deal the government implements policies that are obviously for the advantage of their supporters, and as emphasis, these policies are seen to be at the disadvantage of the other communities. A division of the society into the term bumi and non-bumi is now complete. The indoctrination that they are vulnerable makes the beneficiaries become ever so sensitive to suspect any discussion bordering on their advantages as a challenge to their status quo. The past three decades have elevated the term NEP, Islam, corruption within UMNO, ISA, Malays’ privilege as sensitive words.
The government ensured that the aggrieved party would not be able to complain against the unfair and unjust practices by enforcing the sedition act, the printing license regulation and ISA. The control was handled in the name of national security. Social unrest s said to threaten national security; and a group of people gathering together to demonstrate their unhappiness against any statements or actions is proof of that unrest, but the interpretation which party causes the unrest is left to the government. The interpretation is based on who has the support of the racist government. For example, immediately after the 308 election, demonstration organized by UMNO against the new PR state government of Penang was considered proper and so the state government was the cause of the demonstration. However, when the supporters of Hindraf joined the open house hosted by the PM in the manner not to his liking, some of them were taken into custody. So, the government through its political party makes sure that the aggrieved parties among the citizens had no recourses to seek government redress of the unfair policies. ISA and sedition acts have been seen to be used for political advantage rather than for national security, however biased it has been utilized. Consequently, ISA and sedition act keep the same set of political opportunists in power, and with the fail-proof structure, people in power were free to treat national coffer as their piggy banks. The printing Act keeps the people in the dark on the actual state of the country, and in particular, alternative to the present corruption infested government could have improved their standard of living many fold. Further if the government ceases to practice racist politics but allows the people to excel based on their aptitude the people would not have to serve the agenda of UMNO to attend universities when they can be more economically active in trades and occupations; the 60 000 unemployable graduates is the result of NEP. That frees the Malays to pursue what they please and at the same time allows other non-Malays to develop their potential. More importantly, just and fair government policies would stop brain drains that have been going on for the past 38 years since the advent of NEP.
Race-base politics in the country allow the party with numerical superiority to exercise winner takes all, and the others are like minority shareholders serving at most decorative purposes. The incumbents would not be willing to forgo the proven advantage. Because of the structure, aspiring politicians have chosen to out poll their competitors by demonstrating their flair as racists and masquerade as saviors of the race. The brand stays and it is a path of no return, even till the dying days. So party position in race-based political parties are monopolized by those who are willing to be seen as racist, and subscribe to the racist policies. Those who believe in the good sense of justice and fair play will not present themselves to serve, and that is why money politics is said to be rampant in the coming UMNO party election. Tengku Razaleigh revealed that he was asked to pay 2 million ringgit to get nomination from one division. Candidates without the resources cannot hope to go far in UMNO. It is because with race-based political structure, a position in UMNO has a good chance of landing an important position to recoup the expenses. The risks would be much higher in other political setup.
The people in the country can live in peace without being affected by the color of their neighbors or co-workers. Bakri Musa claims that he was proud to accept wholeheartedly his classmates whose parents were of different races as Malays. The only common identification is the religion. When Malays can accept others as Malays without looking at their colors and lineage, there is no difficulty in accepting Malaysians as Bangsa Malaysia without looking at the color. So, as long as the government does not insist religion as the point of departure for Malaysians Malays in Musa’s mind would be happy to treat all Malaysians as equal. The term Bangsa Malaysia has been suggested as an extension of the definition of Malays minus the religion; for culture issue is never a sticking point. But politicians are quick to deny that concept. The only reason was that this deprives them of the expertise which they would exploit within the party and in administering the country. TDM is still pursuing his ‘ethnic cleansing’ albeit non violence approach to assimilate non-Malays, after he has paid the ultimate price of calling himself Malay, and severing his ties with his ancestors in Kerela, India. That is the price he expects to exact from non-Malays and other Indians. His writing on this is appended.
///Truly Malaysian politics have not been decoupled from racial sentiments and loyalties. And it is going to remain so for as long as the different races prefer to be separated and divided, prefer to strongly uphold their languages, cultures and their historical origins and links. All that is said about reforms and liberalism is mere lip service.///–TDM. From CheDet at http://test.chedet.com/che_det/2008/11/racism-and-2008-elections.html#more