BEST IDEA SO FAR! – ‘LET’S HAVE A MALAYSIAN PROCLAMATION TO EXPOSE DISHONEST POLITICIANS’

There seems to be a sense of calm in the country following the general election (GE15) last November.

There is a greater sense of hope now under Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government, despite the hard hits to our economy.

There is still a pile of problems to deal with, though.

There are troublesome mental contortionists, who twist history just to discredit the current government. For example, one recent accusation is that Anwar is so oppressive that he is worse than the British colonials.

Such a statement lacks historical depth.

I think this statement has had a “boomerang effect”. The people can quickly recall that Anwar wrote The Asian Renaissance and not The Malay Dilemma.

People are also aware that both books focus on how values contribute to the success or failure of a nation. One book was about nurturing civilised values inherent among Asians, the other about the inherent laziness of the Malays.

The Asian Renaissance argues for Asians to stand up for their values, and not abandon them for what might be thought of as more progressive alternatives.

Respect our cultures

The key is moderation and selective adaptation. To be held captive by another cultural value system such as the European, American, or even Arab system, would be problematic.

As a multi-ethnic society, Malaysia should refrain from the complete abandonment of one value system for another. We are culturally, ethnically, and religiously very mixed.

For example, we should not reject the kebaya or baju Melayu, for the Arab abaya or the jubah. All that matters in Malaysia is that modesty and human decency are preserved.

Similarly, the idea of dressing in formal attire should not be rigidly understood as the blazer, or western suit and tie.

Malaysians have many ways of dressing formally. We have such a rich, colourful, and elegant tradition of dressing. We should also use fabrics and styles that complement our weather and climate.

Noise about Malay rights

The Malay Dilemma is an emotional book, contrary to the book The Asian Renaissance.

The discussion throughout reflects the disruptive racialism that describes current Malaysian politics. Furthermore, the ideas in that book about “lazy Malays” are oppressive and reflect an exploitative, colonial mindset.

So, it is not Anwar who is oppressively colonial.

Recently, some politicians have been pushing for a Malay Proclamation gathering. They claimed it was not going to be a political event. It would discuss issues pertaining to the Malay community. But in fact, it would definitely have been a “political” event.

The very fact that it was proposed in the first place is that it would pander to the political objectives of certain attendees. It is childish to declare that an event like this would not be “political”.

The main “issues” that were to be discussed at the gathering were about the Malays who are no longer dominating the economy. The claim is that “others” have wrested control, monopolised the nation’s wealth and that the country is spiralling out of control.

Seriously?

Let me propose a “Malaysian Proclamation”, to expose the dishonesty of these politicians, ex-leaders, and other opportunists.

Other Bumiputeras left in the shade

Why not focus on the indigenous peoples of our nation? They have been marginalised and oppressed for decades. Many of the country’s Bumiputera communities have lost their rights to their lands, territories, and resources.

Their populations are decreasing as well. Many live in squalid conditions. Greedy politicians have robbed them of their dignity, and these thieves are billionaires today.

The typical narratives about “rights”, ethnicity, and religious “sensitivity” conveniently leave out the plight of our indigenous Bumiputeras, who include our Semang, Senoi, Sakai, Jakun, Bajau, Rungus, Iban, Kayan, and many more communities.

Among those politicians who scream about Malay or Bumiputera rights, they are silent on this. Rather, it would be less hypocritical if they travelled to Pahang and Perak’s interior, or Sabah and Sarawak.

Organise a “proclamation do” there. If they really care about the issue of “monopoly” or control over resources in the country, what better way to address it than to expose the plight of our indigenous communities, right? They have been brutally marginalised, cornered, and oppressed.

Towards a caring society

We should all work together, to help the nation recover. We must allow the new government to carry out its challenging tasks.

An indication that the Anwar administration is proactive is the recent policy move by the education minister, Fadhlina Sidek. Her decision not to close school canteens during Ramadan is an excellent step towards a “caring society”. It does not reflect an oppressive government.

Furthermore, Fadhlina has set a precedent. She has registered a critical initiative within the bigger framework of the government’s commitment to reform.

We want more news like this instead of monotonous, ethnocentric and bigoted comments by political hypocrites.

FREE MALAYSIA TODAY

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