By Tajuddin Rosli Free Malaysia Today September 23, 2015
After Bersih participants were filled with pride. After the Red Shirts rally most are filled with shame
COMMENT
Incidents that took place on 16 September coinciding with Malaysia Day have shamed the majority of Malays throughout the country. For the first time ever, I went to work with my face down, feeling ashamed to be called a Malay. I could sense my non-Malay colleagues looking at me and laughing in their heads to what my people have become. I had to put on a brave smile and pretend nothing ever happened.
But the reality is Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu has shown the world how low some Malays in the country have sunk to.
Please don’t get me wrong. The hooligans who gathered for the rally in no way represent the silent majority of Malays in the country who are civilized. Unfortunately, just as Bersih 4.0 was called a Chinese gathering because the majority who turned out were Chinese, Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu was a dark day for the Malays in Malaysia. Those in attendance did not look like they belong in today’s world. They seemed to look like a bunch from the Period of Jahiliyyah who travelled through time to get here.
I had to convince myself that those who attended the rally were not true Muslims. They are part of a cult that Islam does not recognise. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never taught us to ridicule another religion. He never taught us to call others derogatory names. We see people around the world embrace Islam because Islam is a religion of peace. Those who were on the streets chanting racism are not true Muslims. They belong to something else that Islam does not recognise.
I fail to understand the reason for the rally. They say Malaysia belongs to Malays. Strictly speaking, Malaysia belongs to the Orang Asli. Most Malays are descendents from Indonesia. So, what are they chanting about? What if the Orang Asli one day hold a rally and ask the Malays to leave their country? How would we react? We condemn the Jews for robbing Palestinian land. What are we doing here?
UiTM has the largest number of small branches throughout the country. It is a university with predominantly Malays. We have the highest interest rates for Amanah Saham. We get special quotas and extra discounts when we purchase a property. We get loans approved easily. We dominate the public sector. Our children who are academically much poorer get scholarships while the non-bumis with better results miss out. Almost every state is ruled by a Raja Melayu. Majority top posts are held by Malays (although many may not deserve it).
We have it all but those on the streets still say they are being suppressed.
Bersih 4.0 hosted multiple folds more people, yet there was no racism. Look at those who attended Bersih. Majority were young, vibrant, educated and professional. The ‘Red-shirts’ rally instead hosted uneducated, and rude people who baffled the intelligent among us.
Post-Bersih, there was a sense of pride in those who participated. They travelled on their own accord, slept on the street and expressed their point. Nobody went back shy and disgusted.
The ‘Red-Shirts’ rally was sponsored ─ buses chartered, food provided, pocket money given and many who were there did not even know the reason they were there. Post-rally, we feel ashamed of ourselves ─ disgusted at how a minority of Malays represented the rest of us.
With pain in my heart, I sincerely apologise to all my non-Muslim friends for the behavior of some of our uncivilized people. You are responsible as much as we are for the independence of this country. We shall continue to live together as brothers and sisters. Most of us who are true Muslims will continue to live by the teachings of Islam and be at peace with all of you.