A Letter for the Moral Malaysia

Like children we go around claiming ‘this chair is mine because I sat on it first.’ This is stupid behavior.

Shamil Norshidi, President of Kelab UMNO US East Coast, NY

I’m either too exhausted to care or too fed-up to comment. It’s midterms week here in the US; I have a paper due tomorrow and a test to study for. But frankly, there’s too much rubbish to not say something. I speak of course about the issues compelling our Malaysia today: DAP’s frenetic urge to seek prosecution in the Nancy Shukri/ Ibrahim Ali bible-burning uproar, the overly overblown case about the “I want to touch a dog” event and the uptight- have-nothing-better-to-do Malay NGOs seeking Sedition charges for those who call Malays ‘pendatang.’

My intention in writing this is not to cause antagonism. As a Malaysian, I don’t believe in speaking back, I don’t believe in the—now very prevalent—culture of revenge talk. This is an open letter; a letter not really intended for Lim Kit Siang or the reactive Malay NGOs but a letter that I hope can remind us of the ideal Malaysia—an escape from the sad reality that is Malaysia today.

What is Malaysia? Are we a nation of compromise and understanding between the diverse races or are we a nation gripped by fragile sensitivities?

On many sides of Malaysia’s politics today, it’s sad to see elected representatives—grown ups—acting so childishly. Amongst many, this one’s for you Lim Guan Eng: a man constantly on edge, agitated and in havoc. You and your party insist for Nancy Shukri and the Attorney General to redeem themselves by prosecuting Perkasa president Dato’ Ibrahim Ali. Another character, Lim Kit Siang, you proclaim that the “national outrage will not cease” so long as Ibrahim Ali walks unpunished.

Yes, I very much understand that the people around you are frustrated by the A-G’s decision. But as a leader of the community, shouldn’t you be the one to stand up for something greater? Shouldn’t you realize that your insistence for Ibrahim Ali’s prosecution would only cause more tensions? You walk around like an intellectual, so try being one.

Again, I get where you come from and I understand the frustration when someone as thoughtless as Ibrahim Ali orders for the burning of Malay-language bibles. Anyone with any sense of logic knows how un-Islamic Ibrahim Ali’s action was. But, as a leader and as a character that is looked up upon, I urge you, Lim & Lim, to not fall prey to your own hatred. Stand up and be an example of patience and mercy. Show your community that anger and revenge must always be avoided. That is a true leader, not one who just voices frustration.

I know it is hard to see now, but the majority of Malaysians know how so very wrong Ibrahim Ali was. His reputation cannot stoop down lower. Personally, I think we need someone like him around to remind us of the old Malaysia we work to move away from. This criticism on your character, Lim Guan Eng and Lim Kit Siang, could have been directed at many other so-called leaders of Malaysia today but I chose to highlight you because you call yourself the opposition. Don’t call yourself a reformed style of politics if your character is identical to the old and immature Malaysia.

The recent and ongoing fiasco of who called who ‘pendatang’ is another example of how un-Islamic Malaysia really is. When Gerakan Johor delegate Tan Lai Soon said Malays could also be called ‘pendatang,’ all the kids in the park—yes kids—ran to their mommies crying. Gerakan party chiefs—rather shortsightedly—suspended the Johor representative. The Malay NGO Pembela filed a Sedition charge the next day because apparently (in just one day) so many Malays were angry and, in the words of Vice Chairman Aminuddin Yahaya, “insulted for the position of the Malay rulers.” What a load of nonsense.

First of all (and I suppose as a Malay NGO, you link closely with Islam), you are breaking one of the most fundamental insights set by Prophet Muhammad (SAW). When the Prophet ruled over Medina, it was packed with Christians and Jews. Contrary to propaganda, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) never once isolated the non-Muslims. In fact, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) worked hard to learn and be at peace with other religions. As the Quran outlines: “All those who believe in God and the Last Days and who does good deeds will have nothing to fear or regret,” Surah Al-Maidah. The prophet proclaimed that diversity in a community was essential as a plan of Allah. It was a way for people to go beyond their norms, beyond their customs and learn of other communities. Diversity was seen as a platform for growth.

But how are Malaysians to grow and learn from each other if anyone that brings up heritage history is charged with Sedition? Who cares who came first, we are all pendatang and visitors of this Earth that Allah granted us. Like children we go around claiming ‘this chair is mine because I sat on it first.’ This is stupid behavior. How can Malaysia develop if we can’t face our past, if we can’t talk about 1969 or Lina Joy or our growing national racism? How can we move forward without knowing where we came from, without knowing our past mistakes?

I was brought up to understand that Malaysia is a nation of moral liberty, that Malaysians are encouraged to be open minded and forgiving. So much of the headlines today give proof to how distanced we are from this noble Malaysian ideal. So many of our so called leaders today act like over sensitive cry babies than people who will carry us forward. Albeit with fading hope, I still believe in Malaysia. I still believe that even though we are born into different races, we have a higher obligation to strive to be Malaysian. To Lim Guan Eng, Lim Kit Siang, Ibrahim Ali, Pembela, I hope my words did not offend you. My intention was purely to seek a better path.