Slipping into our racial cocoons
Suddenly, pluralism, moderation and secularism are politically incorrect words, regarded as threats to the fabric of nation building. It’s astounding. Since when did this degeneration of proper thinking begin?
Wong Chun Wai, The Star
Seriously I find it disturbing that the voices of mono-ethnicity and mono-religion are becoming louder in Malaysia. They may be the minority but not many of us seem ready to tell them off, and the result is they remain unchallenged.
Major countries all over the world, at least the ones that matter, are embracing and celebrating diversity and pluralism.
They proudly put on the badge of multi-culturalism as a showcase to tell us that they have real cosmopolitan cities.
The irony is that Malaysia had a head start. Of all the Asean countries, with the exception of Singapore which was then part of us, no other country in the region could regard itself as a plural society.
From the many places of worship of different religions to the diverse choice of food and the make-up of our demography, Malaysia has the perfect credentials to tell the world that we are truly Asia.
Take a walk down Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling in Penang and we find a mosque, a Chinese temple, an Indian temple and a church standing next to one another.
No one has ever complained that this centuries-old cluster of religious places has caused uneasiness to the people.
Now, try to do the same in modern Malaysia. Try building all these places of worship of different faiths today and see how our extremists react.
They will tell us that it is politically and religiously incorrect and there will be howls of protests from various non-governmental organisations.
These instant NGOs, with a membership of five persons, including the wives and children of the presidents, will claim that they represent a particular race or religion.
And yet many of us, including those in authority, fall for such pressures and demands. The rest of us, mainly rational and level-headed moderates, are not quite prepared to argue our case. Silence, unfortunately, can be interpreted as consent.
Suddenly, pluralism, moderation and secularism are politically incorrect words, regarded as threats to the fabric of nation building. It’s astounding. Since when did this degeneration of proper thinking begin?
It’s only in Malaysia, and only in recent times, where we argue insanely over whether we should be Malaysian first, or Malay, Chinese, Indian and lain-lain (others). And yet these same people, when asked the same question overseas, will dutifully and proudly declare themselves Malaysian.
But on their return to Malaysia, possibly even during the flight home, they will transform themselves, in typical Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde fashion, into their racial cocoons. Or is it caves?
