Majority resentment and the rise of chauvinism

By admin-s On Nov 9, 2015

Hafiz Ahmad

I have been observing racial relations in this country for quite some time. After the historic March 2008 election, there were many controversial issues that threatened our multicultural social fabric. I noted political awareness have risen significantly especially among the Chinese community. From the voting patterns for the last 2 elections, a majority of the Chinese have chosen to be anti-establishment by supporting the opposition coalition. This trend is expected to continue in the next 14th general election.

MCA can prepare for its demise by pre-ordering coffins. The Chinese community sees MCA as a weak party. MCA does not put up enough fight for Chinese interests. The Chinese see MCA as no more than UMNO’s lackey. The Chinese frustration and anger becomes deeper when the UMNO leadership insanely spews disparaging remarks and insults directed toward the Chinese. Meanwhile, DAP is on the rise.

The Chinese have chosen DAP as their savior. Although DAP repeatedly claims itself a multicultural party that fights for all Malaysians regardless of race and religion, its leadership line-up is mostly Chinese and they filled all important positions giving some sense of security for the Chinese.

DAP has been very vocal in fighting for minority interests. Issues ranging from the Malay language bible confiscation, the existence of vernacular schools, recognition for UEC examination, government premises dress codes to even protesting against the existence of Jawi road signs around Kuala Lumpur back in 2008.

In my hometown Muar, every road sign around the city has Jawi characters alongside Roman characters. The Chinese in Muar have no problem with it. DAP probably wants to be seen as a hero among the Chinese at the expense of Malay feelings by attacking Jawi road signs. Even road signs can be used as a political weapon to boost its credential as the one true minority protector.

Dress codes imposed in government premises is another issue where DAP has shown itself as a new hope for the Chinese. The Chinese see this government directive as a blatant attack against their freedom despite knowing dress codes have been there for decades even before they were born. DAP leaders quickly responded by condemning the government. DAP has to respond otherwise they will lose the trust of their vote bank. Some DAP leaders went a little bit far by saying dress code regulation is creeping Islamisation. Suddenly Islam that has nothing to do with the dress code has been brought upon for their supporters to debate.

DAP leaders have no qualms looking chauvinist to consolidate their support at the expense of Malay feelings. The more fiercely and vocal they become to defend and fight for minority and non-Muslims interests, the more support they gain. This strategy actually works. One of my close friends was a former student leader in UM that was quite active with opposition parties. He has participated in many political events and forums organized by PKR, DAP and PAS. He said to me, even Chinese members in PKR are uncomfortable with the extreme/chauvinist approach within DAP. This explained how severe chauvinist political approach is within DAP.

This is where the majority and Malay resentment lie. The majority has become more vigilant and anxious than before. Their anxiety is solidified when they see minorities, particularly the Chinese, become increasingly more hostile in fighting for their rights. Recently, UiTM pro-chancellor Tan Sri Arsyad Ayub suggested that UiTM should be opened for non-Bumiputeras. I applaud this suggestion; in fact this suggestion should be done a long time ago. Many Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) already have non-bumiputera students. I do not see why UiTM cannot open its doors to non-Bumiputeras to study.

Instead of seeing this as social progress, non-Bumiputeras reacted negatively to this suggestion. All this time non-Bumiputeras screamed out loud why UiTM discriminates non-Bumiputeras, and when this suggestion came out, they mocked and insulted UiTM calling this institution low class, they do not want to their children to be stupid by sending them to UiTM. If UiTM is so low class, why make noise that UiTM does not accept non-Bumiputeras in the first place?

Non-Bumiputeras’ responses are usually very hostile. This makes the majority of the Malays feel non-Bumiputeras mock and insult them. They read all your comments. This will deepen their resentment toward non-Bumiputaras. I bet even liberal Malays raise their eyebrows reading all the negative comments. They might be re-thinking their position and probably shifting to the right due to chauvinist attitudes shown by the minorities, particularly the Chinese. The liberal Malays have nothing to lose if they shift to the right.

Another factor of the majority’s resentment is vernacular schools and the inability and simply laziness of the minorities to speak our national language. Undeniably, the Chinese that go to vernacular schools have a poor command of Bahasa. In extreme cases, some do not even know how to speak the national language at all. This is understandable because of the environment they are in. After they finish primary school, some may opt to further their secondary education in SMK, some may go to an independent Chinese school or SMJK. After they finish secondary school, they further their studies in Taiwan or Hong Kong. If they cannot afford to send their children overseas, they send them to Kolej New Era or Tunku Abdul Rahman College.

All their life they speak Mandarin, listen to Mandarin songs, watch Mandarin TV programs, mingle only with their own kind. In short, the Chinese live within their own colony and in their own cocoon. The majority will argue why they should be given equal rights as Bumiputeras? They speak a different language than us, their children go to different schools from our children, they hardly communicate with us, they do not join the military or police forces to defend our country, they live in a different world. They are nothing like us, they are not us. Now they want equal rights and status as Bumiputera?

Imagine the minorities in Western countries, let’s say the Muslim minority in Britain or Australia, living their life the way the Chinese do. They only speak Arabic; go to Arab private schools funded by their own community; do not know how to speak English, even if they do they do not have the English accent; they refuse to mingle with the mainstream society – they definitely would be fiercely condemned. They will be exposed to all kinds of vicious propaganda attacks. They will probably be accused of trying to overthrow Queen Elizabeth and establish the Caliphate system. They would be treated like second class citizens for generations to come. The British or Australian majority will resent and discriminate against them.

One of my lecturers casually asked me this question: Why do we not have Chinese football players in our national team? He explained vernacular schools are generally small, they do not have a proper football field or a football field at all. Where will the students play football? He stopped there. I think what he was trying to say is that vernacular school is one of the reasons why we no longer have Chinese football players unlike in the 60’s and 70’s. It makes sense because most football players start playing football when they are very young. If they went to vernacular schools, they will not have a chance to play football. I remember during my primary school, football is the most popular and the most played sport in national schools.

I think Malaysia is the only country on God’s green earth that can tolerate citizens that are not proficient in speaking the national language. Some of them do not have some sense of ownership and love for the national language. I guess Indonesia was right to force assimilation down the throats of their minorities. All Indonesians regardless of race and religion identify themselves as Indonesian; they all speak the Indonesian language. Jakarta has a Chinese descent as their Governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or popularly known as Ahok. Probably in future, Indonesia will have a Chinese descent as President.

Nothing good comes out from being chauvinist kiasu especially when you are the minority. Maybe you can feel good about yourself but negative consequences are colossal. You only give far-right Malay groups more ammunition to cause more racial tension. In fact, being chauvinist, you sabotage the works that have been done by the liberal Malays who all this while speak on your defense against far-right Malay groups and religious fanatics.

I do realize liberal Malay figures are very popular among non-Malays. Current racial relations in this country is very fragile and precarious. Just put a Malay and a Chinese in one room, you will get a racial riot just like what happened several months ago at Low Yat although there was nothing racial about the cause of the incident. It was a hand phone theft. Distrust and resentment have taken over our society.

Pro-bumiputera policies are not meant to stay forever. I do hope that those policies will be more reasonable, more liberal and gradually disappear. Opening up UiTM for non-Bumiputeras is the right thing to do. Do not mock this suggestion just to intentionally hurt others’ feelings. Do not be kiasu. I also hope that English medium schools will be revived. Convert all national schools to become English medium schools – but the Malay language as the national language needs to be protected and strengthened. All citizens must be proficient in speaking Bahasa. All business signboards, road signs, government building signs must use Bahasa Melayu alongside English as a second language. Signboards with language other than Bahasa Melayu and English must be banned and taken down.

I believe there are more open minded and reasonable people than there are religious fanatic extremists. Do not paint a picture with the same brush.