MALAY politicians must stop poisoning MALAY minds

 

By Muhyiddin Yasin

 

There is just too much MALAY politics in the surface both from the UMNO faction as well as the PAKATAN faction.

This political game that is being played by both sides seems very obvious that it is meant only to serve their own personal agenda rather than the society.

Malaysian Malays are sick and tired of this endless charade that seems to be dividing its people based on religion rather than unity based on the culture of Malaysia.

The present Malaysian Malays are not Arabs, Pakistanis or Afghans but Malaysians along with the rest of the Non-Malays. Our Malay culture had evolved based on the non-Malay traditions and practices of the Chinese and Indians. Can any Malay challenge this?

Malay politicians need to understand that the Malay culture is a confluence of the others therefore a Malaysian culture is created. The moderate and reasonable Malaysian Malays are aware of this, but the Malay politicians love bringing up religion into the equation to create scenarios like what we have seen with the INTERLOK affair.

 

There is nothing wrong with the religion, but it has to be in moderation as our nation is not of Islamic culture but a Malaysian culture that involves the three major races. Without doubt even the Malays realize that the Islamization policies and the lopsided NEP are tearing away the unity of the nation and its people.

 

The biggest culprit is the Malay politicians from both factions who seem to be fanning either in policies or discreet practices in their agendas to maintain their position in the political structure.

 

Why I am targeting the Malay politicians is because they are the power house of the Malaysian politics. If they can be reasonable and pro-active in a Malaysian way for all, then there will be absolutely no problem.

 

Such unseen events like the recent Valentine issue and the evergrowing power of JAKIM seems to be unsettling the reasonable and moderate Malay population. As I said earlier, this is not Arab, Pakistan or Afghanistan. This is Malaysia. A Malay Malaysian knows his religion and he does not need overreaching artificial Islamic policies to be shafed down his/her throat.

 

Malaysian Malays have enjoyed a harmonious and peaceful life with the Non-Malay Malaysians without much interference from politics until about 30 years ago when the Malay politicians began their campaign in Islamizing Malaysia. Since this campaign, the poorer Malay and poorer Non-Malays continue to be sidelined in their progress.The affirmative actions for the Malays have been totally hijacked by Malay politicians along with their sidekick Non-Malay politicians.

 

Today, such issues like the Valentine day celebration and Interlok for both the Malay and the non Malay is a clear indication of the direction of these Malay politicians without regard to Malaysian culture and practices.

 

For example Hijab is the practice in Malaysia whereas Burqa is the practice in Saudi. Now which is religious? Both are based on the culture of the nation while respecting their religion. Does this make a Malaysian less Islamic than a Saudi?

 

Malay politicians need to understand that there is a difference between culture and religion.

 

In both the Valentine and Interlok issue, the Malay politicians seem to be preaching artificial religion and creating divisiveness without regard to the Malaysian culture of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors and artifacts that the Malay and the non-Malay have been living in Malaysia for generations.

 

I urge upon the Malaysian Malays not to fall prey to Malay politicians that are keener in their political growth at the expense of our shared culture and practices in Malaysia along with our Non-Malay brethren.