RPK – What Malays need to know about him

The trouble with our understanding of RPK is that his iconic stature is built on what we’ve seen of him from when Malaysia Today came on the scene. We’ve missed out on understanding his past, his experience, his history.

By Suflan Shamsuddin

As a Malay, it is easy to misunderstand RPK’s rhetoric.

He comes down hard on us… He tells us to break our addiction to the NEP, to not tolerate corruption and patronage, to embrace universal values, and to understand that what UMNO does is to keep us in a never ending cycle of insecurity for their own political gains. He’ll whack us when he thinks Muslims behave despicably; even when to do so gets him in trouble with the law.

If, as a Malay, you do not understand the context in which RPK makes these arguments, you’d think that he was doing it to pander to the non-Malays. You’d think he had sold out his race. You’d think he was a traitor.

Malays need to realize, RPK is NOT the enemy. He is NOT a traitor.

The trouble with our understanding of RPK is that his iconic stature is built on what we’ve seen of him from when Malaysia Today came on the scene. We’ve missed out on understanding his past, his experience, his history.

If you actually look back at what RPK has done before his life as a blogger, you will realize this man has probably personally done more to help the Malays, with his own blood, sweat and tears, than most UMNO politicians would have ever have done in their whole political career. Sure, it is easy for any politician to give gifts, and promise to build hospitals and schools, when it isn’t his money.

RPK’s past contribution to helping the Malays, especially in his many years in Kuala Terengganu, has included speaking up for the Malays, breaking his back for the Malays, and spending his own personal wealth to help them, without the benefit or support of UMNO. He has helped to build schools for underprivileged Malays and to ensure that they have an opportunity to have Islamic education. He has fought in the past to ensure that the Malays are not overwhelmed by the challenge to survive without any support, by making his voice heard at various forums and meetings with cabinet leadership, in his capacity as a senior member of the Malay Chamber of Commerce. He has served as chairman to many mosque committees and been an active member of the PTA of schools whose students are overwhelmingly Malay. He has gone to jail in the name of protecting the values of Islam which he felt was being de-based by the acts of those who pretend to speak and act with authority over Islamic matters. The list goes on.

To me, he has earned his right to speak his views. And as much as it sometimes stings to hear what he has to say, I have to accept that he has shown by his deeds where his heart is. Believe it or not … he speaks to us like a loving Uncle, who will not hesitate to kick you up your backside when he thinks you need it … because he loves you, he wants what’s best for you … because he’s done a lot to help you, and will continue to do so. He also knows that it is his duty to hit you with doses of realism, for your sake and to wake you up from your slumber.

He reminds us that we must live together with others harmoniously if Malays are to succeed as a society, and to compete on equal terms if we are to truly be emancipated. He tells us that our capacity to be a good Malay, and a good Muslim, is down to having a firm moral compass, being able to accept criticism and personal accountability, and to be willing to be the master of your own fate, and not be the slave of the ruling political elites.

Perhaps Malays need to find out what else he’s done, and ask themselves what they have themselves done for the Malays, before talking so rudely about him.

We are all entitled to our opinions in a debate about the future of our country, whether as Malaysians or as a member of any community. But just because RPK and others like him choose to challenge the conventional rhetoric of UMNO, whether it be with regards to Ketuanan Melayu, NEP, or anything else, it does not make him a traitor to the Malays. On the contrary, he is nothing short of being a Malay champion.

We owe it to our ourselves not to dismiss the views of those who speak with our best welfare at heart, and that of all others and the nation, no matter how hard he may at times, come across.

Sekian. Wassalam.