The proper way for Sabah and Sarawak to get the 35 percent of parliament seats

When two parties want something that only one can have, there are two ways to go about it. There is the masculine way and the feminine way. 

Nehru Sathiamoorthy

The masculine way of getting it is via a contest. If you and I both want something but only one of us can get it, we should compete for it. We should both enter an arena, play by the rules and attempt to win the prize by defeating our opponent. The contest should be held on open grounds to be witnessed by all, so that it will be clear, when the result is drawn, who it is that Fortune chose as the winner. Whether in business, courtship, politics, sports or even war, this is the masculine way of deciding who will get what they want and who will have to do without.

The feminine way of getting something that two parties want but only one can possess, is by means of invoking guilt. In a traditional marriage, for example, if your wife wants you to get her some jewelry, but you would rather get yourself some new sports rims for your car, your wife can choose to pursue what she wants by making you feel guilty for not treating her right or being fair to her. If she succeeds, she can force you to forgo your desires and fulfil hers before releasing you from the guilt that she inflicts on you.

The masculine way is suitable when both contesting parties see themselves as independent and equal units. If you and I are not of one unit, but are each a unit in and of ourselves, and we both want the same thing although just one of us can get it, there is no other way to resolve the deadlock other than by means of a contest.

The feminine way on the other hand, is only suitable when the contesting parties constitute an interdependent part of the same unit. When we are all just a part of a larger unit, the subordinate part can utilise the feminine way to secure its rights and interests from the dominant part, by forcing the better side of the dominant part to treat it fairly and properly, less it be burdened by guilt.  For example, in the relationship between a husband and wife in a traditional marriage, or in the relationship between parents and children, where the husband or the parents is seen as the dominant partner, the wife or the children can and tend to utilise the feminine way in order to get their way.

To utilise the feminine way however, there are 3 conditions. These conditions are 1) the subordinate part must think well enough of the dominant part to believe that the dominant will do what is good and right 2) the subordinate part must not threaten to break the union with the dominant part if they don’t get what it want and 3) whatever the subordinate part is asking for, it should not cause the dominant part to feel that the roles of the relationship will reverse, with the subordinate part becoming the dominant part and dominant part turning into the subordinate part, if it were to consent to the submissive part’s desires.

If these three conditions cannot be fulfilled, then the feminine way to get what you want cannot be applied. Instead, it is the masculine way that would be applicable.

The Bornean states need to understand that their demand for 35 percent of the parliament seats cannot be pursued the feminine way, because it doesn’t satisfy any one of the three conditions.

It doesn’t, because East Malaysians, like Professor James Chin says, are openly deeming us in Semenanjung to be akin to colonisers, who are pompously imposing our ideas on Sabah and Sarawak by claiming that, “We know what is best for you and you must obey us”.

East Malaysian leaders are also openly saying that they want the 35 percent of parliament seats to “safeguard” themselves from us, as if we are such monsters that you have to safeguard yourself against us before you can be with us, less we threaten your safety.

There are also frequent voices from the Bornean states who are also threatening to secede the federation if they don’t get what they want .

Finally and most importantly, if Semenanjung were to concede 35 percent of the seats to the two Bornean states, it might no longer be Semenanjung that will be wearing the pants in the federation. Instead, like the tail wagging the dog, it will be Borneo that will likely be calling the shots in the federation.

Considering that, rather than guilt Semenanjung to give Borneo what Borneo wants, it is more proper for Borneo to attempt to get what it wants in the masculine way, or in other words, get what it seeks, through contest.

Politically speaking, what this means is that rather than expect Semenanjung to give to Borneo what it wants on a silver platter, Bornean political parties should try to spread their wings to Semenanjung and win more seats in Semenanjung. If Borneo wants 35 percent of the parliament seats, Borneo should get it for itself and not expect us to make you our lords by our own volition.

After all, Bornean parties just need to win 10 percent of the seats in Semenanjung to get 35 percent of the parliament seats. If Semenanjung political parties are willing to go to Borneo in order to win seats, there is no reason why Bornean political parties can’t do the same. After all, if we the “village champions” from Semenanjung dare to go to Borneo to contest in the Sabah and Sarawak elections, then Bornean political parties, who aspire to be global champions, surely shouldn’t have a problem coming to Semenanjung and try to be the national champion first, isn’t it?

Once you establish your presence in Semenanjung, then you should try to gain the power to amend the constitution yourself, and grant yourself the 35 percent of the seats that you seek.

This is the masculine way of getting what you want.

Academically speaking, it also means that Bornean intellectuals like Professor James Chin should accept Bersih’s invitation to debate with Professor Wong Chin Huat regarding the 35 percent agenda rather than shy away from it using inexplicable excuses.

James has been speaking regularly and vociferously about such subjects as the 35 percent agenda. Wong Chin Huat is an equal and worthy contender to James. Considering that, why should James not welcome the opportunity to debate with Wong Chin Huat publicly, shatter all of Wong Chin Huat’s points in front of everybody’s eyes, establish his own points, and give the Bornean cause a victory.

Instead of welcoming the opportunity to give the Bornean cause a victory, why is the “widely regarded authority on contemporary politics of Sabah and Sarawak” shying away from the opportunity with some obscure excuse about how Bersih’s offer is “insincere” supposedly because Bersih’s offer was extended to him publicly through the media rather than calling him personally.

On what grounds is James deeming an invite that is extended publicly via the media to be insincere? What does “insincerity” mean to James?

What is the meaning of repeatedly speaking aggressively and vociferously about wanting something, but then backing away from the matter with a weak excuse when challenged to step into the arena and get what you want? Do you want what you want or not? If you don’t want it, why speak so aggressively and repeatedly about it? If you want it, why back down from a legitimate challenge?

Let me remind everybody  again, that when you want something that others also want,  and you refuse to see the other party  as good and fair, but instead frequently say nasty things about them, by equating them with colonisers or indicating that you think that they are oppressing you, for example, you can’t just expect them to give you what you want on a silver platter, especially when they also want what you want, and giving you what you want will grant you dominance over them.

If you want it, you should be willing to step into the arena, win and get it for yourself.

If the East wants 35 percent of the parliament seat, I suggest it take the masculine route, ask its own political parties to come to Semenanjung and win the seats it wants in Semenanjung. It should also ask its intellectuals like James Chin to debate with opponents of equal standing like Wong Chin Huat and try to convince everybody in the federation about the merits of its claim.

If you win, you will get what you want and if you lose, you should be sporting enough to accept your loss.

Either way, you need to step up to the arena to get what you want, and not just assume that it is our due to  give you what you want on a silver platter, when what you want is something that we also want for ourselves.