Racial Division Is The Real Threat To Malaysia
Tajuddin Rosli
While the policy makers would like us to believe that terrorism, political ideologies and ISIS are national threats, the real hazard is actually marginalising people with race tag. The divide etimpera (divide and rule) principle has been historically used to huge extents by great emperors in different continents across the globe. Malaysia’s fourth Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad ruled the country for 22 years by strongly adhering to this dictum as well.
While they say everything is fair in love and war and an electorate process is indeed war between people with different political ideologies, it is completely unnecessary to play the racial game. Malaysians should stop being fools. In the event of a racial riot, do politicians suffer? The people who stir these riots sit back in their comfortable homes and sip a glass of champagne while the rakyat shed each other’s blood. Let us remind ourselves that no religion in the world teaches its followers to ridicule another.
Mahathir’s biggest failure is preaching the Malay Supremacy. While it allowed him to remain in power and benefitted people aligned to him, the country decayed during his regime. The New Economic Policy (NEP), which was introduced in the 1970s, aimed at eradicating poverty and expedite progression of people in estates and villages.
Mahathir misused this policy and empowered only one ethnic group. He kept on planting sentiments of hatred among the Malays. There was absolutely no truth in his claims. He encouraged financial spoon-feeding to escalate the laze in the people. People who are contended would not revolt against him. The Mahathir poison slowly but surely crept to the people. The situation is in a horrendous state today where even a Malay dreads and shivers to his spine when he or she has to deal with government agencies. Go to Singapore and have a look at the Malays there. Majority of them are mindful, tolerant, and hardworking. What has Mahathir done to us here in Malaysia?
I see postings over social media that Malays are given contracts in BN-ruled states while the Chinese receive them in DAP-ruled states. Indians are being marginalised. Both the MIC and Indian representatives from Pakatan coalition regularly point fingers at one another asking what has each done for the Indian community? Maybe they should ask themselves what have they done that the Indian community is being in their own words ‘oppressed’? I would like to ask what have each of them done for Malaysia?
There are so many minority ethnic groups in the country that hardly receive a dime from the government but are miles ahead of those who get help. How is that possible? Maybe because they know they have to work hard and not rely on free goodies from anybody.Life is not about finding someone to help you. Life is about creating the YOU.
Malaysians should stand firm together and boot anybody out that even tries to bring race into politics irrespective of political ideology. Nobody else is responsible for the carnage in the country but ourselves if we continue to condone racial preferences in our daily dealings.
