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A senator has asked why Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has yet to be investigated for sedition after posting a picture of himself holding a sword on Facebook. Akmal had posted the picture, taken during a recent trip to Japan, on March 14. The picture was captioned: “No matter what, we will not waver from our stance. Better to die standing than live kneeling.”
Lawyer and social activist Siti Kasim said: "I recently saw a TikTok video where he (Akmal) was seen calling the Malays to be ready. He was seen sharpening a parang ... this is something the police must act on.
"It is like he is instigating the Malays to create problems. Islam never teaches us all this," said Siti.
Teach the bigoted BN-Umno and UG a lesson in Mahkota’s by-election
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18, 2024: Johor Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar has again ticked off racial and religious bigots in Malaysia.
The King asked: “Will we need Muslim-only money next? – Discriminating against non-Muslims on the pretext of religion will be detrimental to all Malaysians.”
But will the bigots listen to his Majesty? Not even the so-called Madani Unity Government (UG) led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is listening.
Racial and religious bigotry, not only by politicians but also government departments and civil servants, continue to propagate discrimination on non-Muslims.
Selected bigots can say anything they like under the 3R (Race, Religion, Royalty), especially Umno politicians, and get away with the law.
Have the police and the UG taken any action against Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh for all his rhetoric and national unity and harmony-thretening bigotry thus far?
The most unfortunate thing for Malaysians and Malaysia is that the UG knows how racial and religious bigotry is threatening the country but it continues to not stop or change it!
According to a news report, Akmal has been given a reduced role in the Sept 28 Mahkota by-election as the party plans to ensure it captures a big chunk of the Chinese votes in the state seat.
And Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, Barisan Nasional’s Umno youth candidate for the Mahkota by-election, was quoted by the media as saying his campaign would focus on inclusivity and unity.
Do peace and harmonious-loving multiracial Malaysian voters, especially those in Johor’s Mahkota, want to continue to fall for BN-Umno’s lies?
The DAP should also refrain from campaigning for BN-Umno in Mahkota if it had any political dignity. But, it is unlikely that the shameless “communist” DAP will do that to BN-Umno.
The DAP does not have the political courage to do that as they are in the ruling UG.
As such, the future of Malaysians and Malaysia continues to be the responsibility of voters whose power are with their election ballots.
It is time to teach BN-Umno and the UG a lesson they will not forget in Mahkota. Reject Umno and UG so as to jolt them from their political double-speak.
BN-Umno is begging for your votes - so, tell them to go fly kites. Syed Hussien and Umno are only, yet again, lying and insincere about inclusivity and unity for Malaysians. They only want the non-Malay votes!
No News Is Bad News reproduces below related news reports:
Sultan Johor : Will We Need Muslim-Only Money Next? – Discriminating Against Non-Muslims On The Pretext Of Religion Will Be Detrimental To All Malaysians
14 September, 2024
Discriminating against non-Muslims on the pretext of religion will ultimately be detrimental to all Malaysians, Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar explained today.
In his speech during the convocation of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia today, he expanded on his decision to order a laundry in Muar to discontinue its Muslim-only policy.
Sultan Ibrahim said such practices would not only result in suspicion among non-Muslims, these would also wrongly portray Muslim life as extreme, intolerant and unjust.
Citing currency notes as an example, he said money was handled by all manner of society, including those who would clearly be considered ritually unclean in Islam.
“The same money may have been touched by pork butchers, bartenders and may even have come into contact with heavy filth.
“Must the government then come up with Muslim-friendly notes? Think for yourselves, ladies and gentlemen,” he said.
Sultan Ibrahim previously ordered the laundry in Muar to stop the discriminatory practice, saying Johor was not a Taliban state and that the laundry operator was free to move to Afghanistan if he disagreed.
Preacher Zamihan Mat Zin later criticised “a sultan” over the matter, resulting in his arrest for sedition.
Zamihan later denied that he was referring to Sultan Ibrahim, but the Johor ruler called the preacher a “liar” today for the attempted denial.
Sultan Ibrahim also directed the Johor Islamic Religious Department to cease all dealings with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) that employs Zamihan.
Source : Malay Mail
BN’s Syed Hussien pledges inclusivity for Mahkota voters
-17 Sep 2024, 10:30 PM
The Mahkota by-election candidate says his primary aim is to ensure all communities are heard and included.
Barisan Nasional’s candidate for the Mahkota by-election, Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, said he would use a family-oriented approach in his campaign. (Bernama pic)
KLUANG: Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, Barisan Nasional’s candidate for the Mahkota by-election, says his campaign will focus on inclusivity and unity.
He emphasised that he would not make lofty promises, choosing a more practical, family-oriented approach.
As a young candidate, I do not want to promise the voters the moon and stars. We want to maintain a more family-oriented approach, he told reporters after a gathering for Mahkota’s Indian community.
Syed Hussien said his primary aim was to ensure all communities, regardless of race or religion, are heard and included.
He said he is committed to providing a platform for all communities to share their stories so that all voices will be represented.
The Mahkota by-election will be held on Sept 28, with early voting set for Sept 24.
The by-election will see a straight fight between Syed Hussien and Perikatan Nasional’s Haizan Jaafar.
Akmal’s role reduced in Mahkota as Umno eyes crucial Chinese votes
-17 Sep 2024, 10:00 AM
An Umno source says Dr Akmal Saleh’s past remarks may have upset the community, whom the party expects to decide the by-election’s outcome.
Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has been outspoken over a range of issues since the formation of the unity government. (Facebook pic)
KLUANG: Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has been given a reduced role in the Mahkota by-election as the party plans to ensure it captures a big chunk of the Chinese votes in the state seat.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an Umno leader said Akmal would have a limited role in the by-election despite the party’s candidate, Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, coming from the youth wing.
The leader said this was because the Barisan Nasional lynchpin acknowledged the importance of ensuring that all Mahkota voters felt represented and respected, in order to gain their support.
“The Chinese voters will play a crucial role in this by-election, and we are working hard to ensure a strong turnout from them, as their support is essential for us to succeed.
We understand that certain comments made by Akmal in the past may have upset the Chinese community. Hence, we are taking steps to ensure that our message is inclusive and unifying, he told FMT.
Akmal has been outspoken over a range of issues since the formation of the unity government, from the proposal to make Emergency-era New Villages a Unesco world heritage site and KK Mart’s sale of socks bearing the word Allah
to vernacular schools.
His most recent outburst was over the mandatory halal certification issue, in which he slammed DAP MP Teresa Kok for opposing the proposal.
Akmal had called Kok a nyonya tua and warned her against speaking on matters concerning Islam. Pundits warned Umno that Akmal’s tirade could cost the party in Mahkota, where Chinese voters make up about 35% of the electorate.
The Umno source nevertheless expressed confidence in the party’s ability to secure a high voter turnout among the Chinese on polling day.
This is despite past trends of a lower turnout among Chinese voters in by-elections and state elections. This was particularly evident in the Sungai Bakap by-election, where a low non-Malay voter turnout contributed to Pakatan Harapan’s loss to Perikatan Nasional by 4,267 votes.
The Umno leader said the party was aiming for at least a 65% overall voter turnout in Mahkota.
He rejected the notion that the by-election would be a walk in the park based on the number of votes both BN and PH obtained in Mahkota during the 2022 state election, when they vied against each other.
He said it was important that the election machinery engaged all communities to secure a favourable result.
While some may view this election as straightforward, we are focused on reaching out to every voter, especially in the Chinese community, to make sure their voices are heard, he said.
The Mahkota by-election will be held on Sept 28, with early voting set for Sept 24.
The seat is a mixed constituency, with Malays comprising 54% of the voters, Chinese 35% and Indians 8%.
The by-election will see a straight fight between BN’s Syed Hussien, who speaks fluent Chinese, and PN’s Haizan Jaafar.
Stop Trying To Be Like Arabs, Johor Ruler Tells Malays – “It Is Not The Business Of Gov Departments To Worry About People’s Dressing”
31 January, 2018
The Sultan of Johor has called on Malays not to discard their unique culture, saying he was disturbed that some people want to stop Muslims from practising the traditional salam greeting.
Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar said he was sticking to “my customs and traditions as a Malay because I’m born Malay”.
“If there are some of you who wish to be an Arab and practise Arab culture, and do not wish to follow our Malay customs and traditions, that is up to you.
“I also welcome you to live in Saudi Arabia.
“That is your right but I believe there are Malays who are proud of the Malay culture. At least I am real and not a hypocrite and the people of Johor know who their ruler is,” he said.
He said, for example, he preferred to use terms like Hari Raya instead of Eid al-Fitr, or buka puasa instead of iftar.
“I have been using these Malay terms since I was a child and speaking to my late father for the past 50 years.
“I have no intention of replacing these terms with Arabic,” he said.
His Royal Highness said religious faith was not based on external criteria such as clothing to display one’s relationship with God, saying “what is in the heart and mind is more important”.
He stressed that it was wrong to judge someone.
“God will judge you. If you want to advise someone, then call them to the side and whisper, do not embarrass them,” he added.
Sultan Ibrahim said that during his annual Kembara Mahkota, he shook the hands of thousands of people including women.
“Why must I change? You do not have to be fanatic. If they (women) are not sure, I ask if they want to shake my hands. If they do not want to shake my hands, there is no problem,” he added.
Asked to comment on the recent controversy where Crown Prince Tunku Ismail was criticised by those on social media for shaking hands with JDT player Mohd Safiq Rahim’s wife, Sultan Ibrahim said that she approached him.
“He only extended his hand out. Why criticise? I am sure this is the work of some sour grapes from other places who are jealous of JDT football team,” he added.
Sultan Ibrahim said that this was the Johor way and his message to those who did not want to shake his hands is to simply stay away.
Soon after the incident, Tunku Ismail posted a video on Facebook which showed him shaking hands, in a satirical way, with two women with an oversized glove.
Sultan Ibrahim also expressed his displeasure at the Batu Pahat Public Works Department (JKR) for recently putting up a notice reminding Muslim women about the sin of not covering their hair, which was mounted on a signboard along a road here.
“This is wrong. This is not their role. Since when is JKR involved in this?” he asked.
State Public Works, Rural and Regional Development committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad later said the officer in charge of the matter was directed to take down the notice.
“Since when is JKR, whether at state or district level, being put in charge of religious matters? Their main job is to make sure the roads are properly maintained and not worry about women’s hair,” Sultan Ibrahim said.
The Sultan said he had confidence and faith in Malaysians because the majority of them were decent and religious people.
Likewise, he said that “it is not the business of government departments to worry about people’s dressing. Just do what you are paid to do and mind your own business”.
On a recent meeting with religious groups in UAE, Sultan Ibrahim said the Arabs were becoming more open nowadays.
“They are opening up. Previously women in Saudi Arabia were not allowed to drive but they are gradually allowing it. Some women are even joining politics,” he said, adding that the situation was also the same in Iran.
Source : Straits Times
I Don’t Want A Kafir Chinese Doctor To Greet My Child – Malay Woman Refused To Allow Chinese Doctor To Deliver Her Baby
17 September, 2024
“Saya tak nak lah doktor Cina kafir sambut anak saya!”
Tersentap. Mereka terdiam tengok sesama sendiri.
Puan A dah menjerit kesakitan tapi dia bertegas nak doktor perempuan yang Melayu Islam untuk sambut anaknya.
Puan kami hanya ada dua doktor bertugas sekarang! Tolong faham!” Nurse bertegas. Doktor yang bertugas hari itu ada dua orang – seorang wanita berbangsa Cina dan seorang lagi adalah lelaki berbangsa Melayu Islam.
“Awak, sebaiknya doktor wanita sambut baby ni,” suaminya memujuk rayu. Tegas pendirian Puan A tidak patut seorang bukan Islam menyambut kelahiran anaknya. Mereka dah pening. Suaminya dah cemas. Puan A pegang kemas tangan suaminya.
Keringat membasahi dahinya tapi dia masih berkeras. Dr. Lim berjalan ke katil patient, memegang tangan Puan A. “Puan, saya di sini untuk membantu. Saya bantu puan, ya? Anak puan perlukan puan sekarang.”
Dalam saat genting itu, Puan A mengangguk, menyerah kepada keadaan. Suaminya di sebelahnya memegang erat tangannya, berbisik, “Tak apa sayang, kita serahkan pada yang pakar.” Beberapa detik berlalu…
“Puan, cuba teran! Sikit lagi, kita boleh sambut baby.” “Puan, kepala baby dah keluar, sikit lagi!” Selepas beberapa saat tegang, bayi itu akhirnya keluar dan terdengar tangisan pertamanya.
Si suami tersenyum lega, air mata bahagia bergenang di matanya. “Assalamualaikum, selamat datang ke dunia,” doktor Cina itu bersuara, sambil ketawa kecil. Seluruh bilik bersalin dipenuhi gelak tawa, termasuk si suami.
Ternyata, pada saat genting itu, tiada lagi perbezaan bangsa atau agama. Kesihatan dan nyawa bayi lebih penting dari segalanya. Kisah ini saya ceritakan semula, cerita ketika saya HO dan saya rasa penting untuk dikongsikan bersama.
Hari Malaysia bukan sekadar perayaan perpaduan bangsa. Ia adalah pengingat bahawa dalam saat-saat penting, seperti kelahiran atau kesakitan, kita semua sama.
Kita semua rakyat Malaysia yang bergantung antara satu sama lain untuk menjalani kehidupan yang lebih sihat dan bahagia. Selamat Hari Malaysia. Saya bangga jadi rakyat Malaysia!
Source : Twitter
“I don’t want a kafir (infidel) Chinese doctor to greet my child!” the patient yelled.
He wrote, “They (medical personnel) were silent as they looked at each other. Puan A was screaming in pain but she insisted on a Malay Islam female doctor to welcome her child.”
The nurses had to tell the patient that they only had 2 doctors on duty at that time, a Chinese female doctor and a Malay male doctor. At that point, even the patient’s husband tried to convince her to allow the female doctor to assist her.
“Puan A stood firm in her position that a non-Muslim should not welcome the birth of her child. They (the medical staff) were frustrated and her husband panicked. Puan A held onto her husband’s hand tightly,”
“Her forehead was wet with sweat but she still insisted. Dr. Lim walked over to the patient’s bed and held her hand,” he explained.
Dr. Lim then told the patient, “Ma’am, I am here to help. I’ll help you, yes? Your child needs you now.”
At that point, the patient decided to let the Chinese female doctor assist with her childbirth and her husband also told her to allow the medical staff to do their jobs.
In the end, the child was born and the doctor said something that made everyone in the room smile.
Dr Samhan went on to explain the important reason as to why he is sharing this incident with the public.
“At that critical moment, there were no longer any differences between races or religions. The health and life of the baby was more important than anything else. I am retelling this story, the story of when I was a HO (house officer) and I think it is important to share with everyone,”
“Malaysia Day is not just a celebration of national unity. It is a reminder that, in important moments like childbirth and sickness, we are all the same. We are all Malaysians who depend on each other to live a healthier and happier life. Happy Malaysia Day. I am proud to be a Malaysian!” he said.
The Contributions Of The Chinese & Indians To The Malaysian Economy Have Never Been Appreciated By Most Of The Malay Majority
21 January, 2024
Sukudhew (Sukhdave) Singh Former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Malaysia | Former Independent Director, Khazanah Nasional Berhad
When there are few Chinese and Indians left in Malaysia A quasi-Malay ex-politician’s recent rant questioning the loyalty of Indians because they are not “Malay enough” in his bigoted perspective got me thinking. Not about bigots who, like snakes, only know how to spew poison and wag their forked tongues; but rather, whether the Malays would really be better off if there were a lot fewer Indians and Chinese in Malaysia?
The contributions of the Chinese and Indians to the Malaysian economy have never been appreciated by most of the Malay majority. Historical records and history books have been distorted to minimise the role of these communities in the country’s social and economic development. All this has been done to bolster the role of the Malay community and to justify its exorbitant privileges. Under the guise of addressing inequity, the Chinese and Indian communities have been subjected to a half-century of institutionalised discrimination.
Poorly educated Malay academics, religious scholars and politicians continue to make outlandish claims against these communities as an easy way to bolster their popularity within their own community. I will let the past lie where it is, since there is not much we can do about it. I will only say that people who do not understand their true history have little hope of understanding their future. And it is the future I am concerned about.
In another 50 years, based on current trends, there will be far fewer Chinese and Indians living in Malaysia. The growth of these communities has been slowing. Between 1980 and 2020, the population of Chinese and Indians in Malaysia grew at an average annual rate of 0.8% and 0.9%, respectively. There is a clear decelerating trend in that growth over those years. Even though the growth rates were low, the Chinese and Indian communities were still growing, each almost doubling in size over the four decades.
This will change and the growth of both communities is likely to become negative. Lower birth rates are a factor. Both the Chinese and Indians now have birth rates that are below replacement levels. The Indians also have the highest mortality rate of the three major ethnic groups. The decline is being accelerated by another trend. After being treated as second class citizens for decades, many have left and many more will continue to leave. Increasingly, that trend is evolving into young Chinese and Indians preferring to stay abroad after completing their education.
The Malaysian diaspora is large, and it will continue to grow. I expect that beyond the next 20 years, if not sooner, the Chinese and Indian populations in Malaysia will start declining. And that trend will continue, leaving these communities much smaller. For the Chinese and Indians, the diminishment of their numbers would reduce their political and economic influence.
The Indians are already feeling it with some Malay politicians feeling very comfortable with taking potshots at the community. I also expect that the shrinking of these communities will lead to a shrinking of the dynamism of the Malaysian economy. When communities cannot rely on privilege but must compete to get ahead, it increases the overall competitiveness of the economy. That competitiveness is eroded when the numbers of the unprivileged shrinks relative to the privileged.
What will be the consequences of this long-term demographic trend for Malaysia and the Malays? Perhaps, when their Chinese and Indian neighbours are gone, the Malays will miss the multi-ethnic richness of Malaysia’s past. They may miss the fact that Chinese New Year, Christmas, Diwali, Wesak, and Thaipusam are no longer public holidays. Or perhaps, they will rejoice at their political and religious hegemony. They may celebrate the mono-religious nature of Malaysian society which many have craved for so long. No more worries about alcohol drinking, concerts, or short skirts. No more worries about non-halal food anywhere in Malaysia.
Where there were temples and churches, there will now be mosques. For the tens of thousands of Islamic scholars in the country, with fewer non-Malay targets to pillorize, they will now turn on their own community to remain relevant and employed. Sharia law will be the law of the land. Even if the Malays rejoice at the mono-religious nature of Malaysia, that would be about the only thing they have to cheer about. Other things happening around them will not give them much reason for celebration.
Let us start with the likely fate of the race-based discriminatory policies under the New Economic Policy. What the Malay leaders have essentially done under the New Economic Policy is to give their community a crutch, told them they can never survive without it, and that the non-Malays want to kick that crutch out from under them. It has been a successful strategy for their leaders to enrich themselves, but not so good for the future of the community. It has left them feeling entitled, but insecure.
This has been going on for a half-century. And it will try to continue for another half-century, as it is hard to give up privileges once bestowed. But the NEP is highly likely to sink under its own weight when the economy can no longer support this burden of privileges. Especially, when the non-Malays are no longer around to carry a large part of that burden. Privilege cannot exist unless there is a sufficiently large number on unprivileged. The narrative that had defined the NEP since its inception will also have to change. There will be too few Chinese and Indians left to be made scapegoats of this misguided and abused policy.
Who will be the new targets on which the Malay leaders will place the blame for the sad state of their community? The Bangladeshis? The Indonesians? The Rohingya? Perhaps. But perhaps it will finally dawn on the Malay community that their biggest enemy had always been within their own community. Those who claimed to be their champions have turned out to be traitors to their race and country. The infighting among the Malay elites for the economic spoils has already started. And as the population of non-Malays shrinks, it will get worse. With fewer Chinese and Indians, the need for vernacular schools will be considerably less, and there would be fewer of them, if any.
The Malay nationalist will have gotten their wish. Everybody would now be subject to the same mediocre public education. The poorly educated of one generation will become the teachers of the next generation. Hence, mediocrity will not only be perpetuated but will progressively become worse. The universities will continue to churn out thousands of Ph.Ds. with paper qualifications but not the intellectual skills or knowledge to contribute effectively to the economy. Most likely, the civil service would become bloated with these Ph.Ds., to the great disadvantage of the nation. Productivity will be abysmal, and wages will be low to reflect that. Losing the two communities with close cultural links with the two largest economies in the region will have negative economic consequences for Malaysia.
Economic ties with China and India are likely to greatly diminish and that deterioration will accelerate when other more dynamic regional economies provide more attractive destinations for trade and investment by these major economies. Even links between Malaysia and the Middle East countries, which are so highly valued now, are likely to become more frayed as those countries become increasingly focused on using their oil wealth into attracting expertise and investment from the developed countries to diversify and modernize their economies. Malaysia will have little to offer to attract the attention of these economies.
Public debt is likely to continue to climb given the lack of political will over decades to address the core issues undermining fiscal sustainability. If these continues, and the economy underperforms, that debt is likely to get much higher and more unsustainable. At some point, the rating agencies will start rounds of downgrades of Malaysia’s sovereign rating, which will have significant negative effects across the economy, particularly on the exchange rate and the financial system.
Inflation will spike while the economy goes into a prolonged downturn. That downward spiral will likely put the country under the IMF, and difficult policy decisions that severely affect the welfare of the country’s citizens will be introduced. Fiscal policy will be severely restrained.
The bloated civil service will have to shrink and even suffer pay cuts. Depending on how bad things have gotten, even these measures may fail to revive the economy, and economic instability will be the new reality for Malaysians. The millions of retired civil servants will find that the government pensions and medical benefits they were promised are now less than they were.
Daily necessities will be harder to afford and expensive new medications to treat their chronic diseases will be unavailable in government hospitals because the government does not have the money to pay for them. The standard of health they expected will not be available, and their life expectancy will be shorter.
The large population of elderly Malays will find that their privileges have become empty promises because the government can no longer support them in their old age. Their children are barely earning enough to make ends meet for their own families. Wide-spread destitution of the aged will be the reality.
University graduates will have a hard time finding good jobs and will face a lifetime of underemployment or misemployment. Parents will face the reality of their daughters, some with Ph.Ds. from local public universities, going to other countries to work as maids and housekeepers. Young Malays, whose forefathers had proudly proclaimed that they were “sons of the land”, will find they must look at other countries for jobs, because the land of their birth has become barren of opportunities.
With few Chinese and Indians left in the country, the major burden of servicing and paying the huge public debt will fall on the Malay community.
It is fair this community should bear this burden since they were the major beneficiaries of the government spending that led to that huge pile of public debt. Leaders from their community stole the most from public coffers. But, from the perspective of the Malay descendants, they may consider it very unfair that they must carry the impoverishing burden that is a legacy of the exorbitant benefits enjoyed by their forefathers.
The children will pay for the sins of their fathers. With the economy in shambles, daily life a constant struggle, many may ask questions about how it was possible that Malaysia could reached this dismal state. They will ask how a country that was once a land of opportunity could have become the economic ruin that is now their reality? How can a community that had so many people with titles, that occupied almost every senior government position, had so many ministers, and enjoyed so many privileges, reach this state of destitution?
What happened to the hundreds of plans and masterplans that every Malaysian government had launched since the birth of the nation? How many of those plans were implemented with success? They will ask how their forefathers could have thought it was a good idea to undermine the education system and sabotage the future of their own community?
How could such a decrepit education system have been allowed to persist for so long that generations of Malay youths have been left bereft of skills and knowledge? They will ask what happened to the trillions of ringgits in petroleum income? Where did it all go? Unlike other petroleum exporting countries, why was Malaysia unable to build up a reserve of savings to safeguard its financial future?
Why did their forefathers think that dignity and honour can be demanded from others? That these can be bestowed with titles? Why did they not understand that dignity and honour must be earned? They will wonder why their forefathers did not have the wisdom to choose leaders of merit, irrespective of race, who could have guided Malaysia into a brighter future?
Why did they keep choosing corrupt and incompetent leaders of their own race and religion, despite their obvious failings? They will wonder why so many Chinese and Indians, second-class citizens in Malaysia, have found success in their new homelands, while they, the privileged, who had all forms of government assistance from cradle to deathbed, are now facing a bleak future in a ruined economy.
There will be so many questions. However, the time to ask those questions will already have passed. Few in the community asked these questions when there was still an opportunity to change the course of history. The opportunity for reforms will be long gone and that missed opportunity will be part of history – as will be the community with the greatest responsibility for the sorry state of the country.
The dismal state of the economy, and the never-ending struggle to make a living, will be daily reminders to the Malays of the terrible consequences of being on the wrong side of history. As the author David Grann says, ¨History is a merciless judge¨. It may not take 50 years for the above scenario, or some elements of it, to play out. I am being generous with the timelines. Call it fiction if you wish, but the trends in our society and economy should give us reasons to pause and ask where we are heading as a country.
We tend to not appreciate something until it is gone. Let us not let that happen to our multiracial Malaysia. The Chinese and Indians came to Malaysia by an accident of history, as did the Malays.
The Chinese and Indians, through their blood and sweat, built the Malaysian economy, and the Malays have directly benefited from this. That is a fact even if the history books choose to not acknowledge it. Racial chauvinism rarely leads to good outcomes, and it will not for Malaysia. We still have an opportunity to come together to define the narrative for our collective future. Or we can leave it to self-interested bigots who have no interest in any future but their own, and suffer the consequences.
Source : Linkedin
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