When Racism is Applauded and Democracy Outlawed

“Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?”
Galatians 4:16

Diligently poring over the newspapers and online news portals in a post-709 frenzy, I am completely appalled and disgusted by some of the reports that I read. Before I can even fully comprehend how a coalition that calls for a clean and fair electoral system can be declared illegal, I also find myself dumbfounded by the proposal to offer an award to those who excel in “uphold[ing] their race.” Since when is racism applauded and democracy outlawed in Malaysia?

Some of those who are in authority have attempted to politicize recent events, portraying them as the political gimmicks of opposing parties. Yet, such a claim cannot be any further from the truth. Malaysians from all walks of life did not march for a political cause on July 9. In fact, that would not have been worth the while. Malaysians are not waging a political war against the powers-that-be. Instead, the war transcends a mere political cause. Malaysians are caught in the middle of a moral war, trying to defend the values that we as a people hold dear to our hearts.

The demand for a clean and fair electoral system is based on the values of honesty and justice. Those who oppose these demands are also inevitably opposing the moral values that the demands embody. Some have argued and said, “But we do not disagree with these demands. It’s the illegal gathering that we oppose.” To this I shall reply that efforts to prevent the employment of a just and reasonable mean to uphold these values are equivalent to direct opposition to these values themselves. Besides, by whose definition is the gathering “illegal” anyway? Isn’t it our constitutional right to gather peacefully?

On the other hand, the same powers-that-be who seemed to have been so concerned with uniting the people, promoting acceptance instead of tolerance, and breaking down the wall that isolates Malaysians of different races also seemed to have been wilfully deafened and blinded to the loud call of racism. An award named after an outspoken racist offered to those who “uphold their race”? It seems to me that one cannot exalt anything without doing so at the expense of another, just as the Ku Klux Klan had advocated white supremacy at the expense of the “coloured people” and Hitler had sacrificed the Jews to achieve a purer and more superior race. Who then will be sacrificed to uphold the Malay race and preserve Malay supremacy?

It is far too easy to underestimate the moral implications of our actions and decisions. After all, a slightly compromised electoral system can hardly qualify as immorality and comparing racial inequality in Malaysia to Ku Klux Klan and Hitler’s regime may seem like an exaggeration. However, moral degradation is not a destination; it is a journey. Having taken one tiny step down the road of moral degradation, there is nothing to prevent one from travelling further down that road until it becomes too late to turn back. From the empty and not-so-wise words of a loudmouth racist to the booing of an Israeli football player culminating in a complaint letter to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), and from the authorities’ use of a little violence with the excuse of “crowd control” to the mysterious death of certain individuals, this road is a slippery slope that will take one on a downhill ride.

I believe many Malaysians would like to ask the authorities the same question the apostle Paul asked the Galatians: “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” If that is indeed the case, so be it, for we cannot cease our fight for truth and righteousness. We can tolerate incompetent and inefficient leaders, but we certainly cannot tolerate immoral ones. Neither can we tolerate those who opt for silence in the face of immorality. Just as it is said of Shakespeare’s Prince Hamlet that “on his choice depends [t]he safety and health of this whole state,” likewise the safety and health of Malaysia is also dependent on the choices (and values) of our leaders.

The True Spirit of One Malaysia

As I was manning the information counter at the expo that my company organized last weekend, a lady walked up to me and said, "Excuse me, is that a bumi hall?" While my eyes followed the direction her finger was pointing, the thought that I might have possibly misunderstood her question crossed my mind.

"Sorry, ma'am," I found myself saying, "What was your question again?"

"Oh, I took a peek into that hall and saw that there are a lot of bumis in there. So I was not sure if there are different halls for bumis and non-bumis."

So I did not misunderstand her question after all.

"Oh, no," I quickly replied, "There is no distinction between bumis non-bumis. All halls are open to all visitors." Then I added, "One Malaysia, right?" To this, the lady gave a light chuckle and walked away.

A few moments later, the implications of her question sank in. The fact that such an idea actually crossed the mind of a Malaysian and that she saw the need to check if there are halls specifically designated for people of different races troubled me greatly. Do we still fail to look beyond racial lines after more than five decades of nationhood?

Indeed, considering all that Malaysia had gone through in the past few weeks, those last three words that I uttered seem to have been unintentionally laced with cynicism.

But do not get me wrong. I am a firm supporter of the idea of One Malaysia that seeks "to preserve and enhance this unity in diversity which has always been our strength and remains our best hope for the future" and to encourage the rakyat to identify ourselves first and foremost as Malaysians, while preserving our unique cultural identity as a complement to our national identity.

However, such a noble and idealistic concept seems rather risible in the light of the reality of our political situation. After all, the ruling coalition consists of three main parties separated along racial lines: the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO), the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC). If we are truly one, why can't we have the United Malaysian National Organisation, the Malaysian Citizen Association, and the Malaysian Interracial Congress instead?

In some aspects, we have indeed come a long way since the May 13, 1969 racial riot. Yet after all this while, we are still living with the ghost of May 13. The bloodshed and violence of that fateful day has ever since haunted the generation that has lived through the event, frightening many into silence and acquiescence as they have learned to quietly accept the "lot" that is dealt to them, even int he only place that they can truly call home. But for my generation, we have heard so many different versions of the event from parents, teachers, and history textbooks that we have ironically become oblivious to what really happened on that day. Quoting George Santayana, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Let alone those who do not even know that actually took place in the past.

The July 9 scare that involved the shutting down of downtown Kuala Lumpur may have been partially reminiscent of May 13, and yes, my generation will always remember 709 just as my parents' generation remembers 513, but we will remember this day for a very different reason: 709 reversed the effects of 513, because on July 9, 2011, thousands of Malaysians of all races stood up together in unity for a common cause: to fight for that which is right and just. And all these not for the benefit of any particular racial group, but for the good of the country in which God has placed us. Those who stood up did so because we care for this place that we proudly call home and we care enough to defend our rights as citizens of this nation. If this is not the spirit of One Malaysia, I don't know what else is.

On July 9, 2011, One Malaysia ceased to be merely an idealistic concept; on this day, the world stole a glimpse of the attainable reality of One Malaysia, when Malaysians managed to look beyond the color of our skin. On this day, the cause of Bersih 2.0 has achieved what the government has failed to achieve in the past 54 years: the unity of all Malaysians, regardless of race.

While the Deputy Prime Minister unashamedly declared that he is first and foremost a Malay, those of us who see ourselves first and foremost as Malaysians hunger and thirst for justice and integrity in Malaysia.

For the concept of One Malaysia to transcend mere idealism, Malaysia should be only led by those who perceive themselves first and foremost as Malaysians. Those who do not see themselves primarily as Malaysians are not fit to govern this land called Malaysia.

Malaysia belongs to Malaysians. And I am proud to be Malaysian. Let us join hands with our fellow countrymen and further the reality of One Malaysia!

The Political Circus

Here we are again, caught up in the tangles of yet another sex scandal involving politicians. Déja vu!

So Datuk T invited members of the press to view the alleged sex video individually, and the viewing was conducted privately at a hotel room, of all places. And how did the video come into his possession? Why, of course the accused had sent him to the alleged crime scene in search of a misplaced watch, during which he stumbled upon a hidden CCTV!

Somehow, I cannot seem to shed the feeling that there is something fishy (almost Machiavellian!) about this.

After all, why is the exposition carried out in such an under-handed fashion? Private viewings in a hotel room? Can anything be carried out in a more discreet manner? If the act in question does indeed pose a dire threat to the moral values upon which our nation is founded (as Datuk T claims, the culprit is not "the pious person with high moral values and integrity as portrayed, and therefore is not fit to be leader" (The Star, March 21)), it seems fit to me to expose the culprit and his deeds to the public, and allow justice to run its due course. And why does the accuser perceive the need to assume anonymity? If his intention is indeed to preserve the political integrity of the nation, his duty to the rakyat surely obliges him to bring to light the misconducts of another fellow politician, and he should carry it out without fear or shame.

Yet, to insist on the political demise of the accused, that, I believe, has crossed the line of duty. In fact, the call for the accused "and his wife [to] step down from politics" (The Star, March 21) not only reflects a double standard (wait, who's the president of MCA?), but it also consitutes an infringement on the rakyat's freedom to decide. In a democratic nation, the right to pronounce a death sentence on the political career of the individual in question should be left in the hands of the rakyat. I fully trust that the rakyat has the wisdom to know who and what kind of individual they want in authority over them.

However, the identity of the culprit is a question that has yet to be answered, and so is the question of the video's authenticity. For all we know, this may be yet another attempt at political assassination.

In the midst of all these uncertainties, one thing is certain: We, the Rakyat, are tired and sick of sex scandals and political gimmicks.

Since obtaining independence almost 54 years ago, as a nation, we are still in the process of forging a national identity. And even before we manage to arrive at any substantial achievement, here we are caught up in yet another frivolous political child's play. Perhaps if we begin to transfer our energy and attention from these scandals and gimmicks to our efforts in nation-building, we will finally achieve what our founding father dreamt of when he negotiated for our independence from the British.

Dorothy Parker

General Review of the Sex Situation

Woman wants monogamy;

Man delights in novelty.

Love is woman's moon and sun;

Man has other forms of fun.

Woman lives but in her lord;

Count to ten, and man is bored.

With this the gist and sum of it,

What earthly good can come of it?

Dorothy Parker, 1926

P.S.: Yes, I just found my new favourite author!