BY CHRISTOPHER FERNANDEZ
More than five decades ago, former Malaysian prime minister and dictator, Mahathir Mohammad wrote a book entitled, ‘The Malay Dilemma’ which was used as a point of guidance in the formulation of affirmative action for Bumiputeras.
While the content of the book was highly controversial, it nevertheless caused the descent of this nation into a rogue state as ‘indigenous’ people or Bumiputeras enjoyed special rights and privileges illicitly.
This caused the ‘crack up’ in race relations for Malaysians as the gains made and accorded to the Bumiputeras actually came at a cost to the Malaysian Chinese and Malaysian Indians who were virtually arm-twisted into sacrificing for Bumiputeras.
These affirmative action policies, in various forms and guises over the decades up to now, have spawned a new scenario emerging which independent analysts describe now as ‘The Malaysian Dilemma’.
Fragmentation of the major races
Over the years since the implementation of affirmative action began in 1970, it has caused a great deal of anguish and distraughtness among the Chinese and Indians leading race relations to become fragmented.
Instead of setting the three major races on an equal footing, Tun Abdul Razak, under whose watch the New Economic Policy was implemented, rode roughshod and trampled on the rights of the Chinese and Indians.
With one fell swoop of authoritarian gesture, Abdul Razak sounded the death knell to the hopes of the three races coming together as a kind of Malaysian race or ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ which now political leaders are describing as wishful thinking.
But all hope is not lost actually on this hope of a Malaysian race as in this era of globalisation there have been major shifts in the demography of Malaysia which is why The Malaysian Dilemma has evolved.
Affirmative action for all races?
In the run-up to polling day in the last general election, Malaysians of all stripes were ‘quickened in their spirit’ listening to a ‘ceramah’ where Anwar stated the time has come for a needs-based affirmative action policy and not a race-based policy.
This was not only sweet words to hear by the long suffering Chinese and Indians but also by a great number of Bumiputeras who felt their special rights and privileges were not won by fair and square means and this was the opportune time to offload guilt.
If the government thought that Abdul Razak’s policy was acceptable to all Bumiputeras, the truth is that many Bumiputeras confessed to feeling fear, guilt, shame and condemnation which they could now put to ease.
The resultant cause of decades of race-based affirmative action has backfired and it looks now that it is time to forget both Mahathir and The Malay Dilemma and look into solving the equation before us now which is the The Malaysian Dilemma.
Malaysians as a singular human race
If Malaysians hope for a single moment that they can arrive as a First World Nation, they would, first and foremost, have to have the mindset of being a singular human race though they live in a plural society.
What this means is that all Malaysians must come together as one, a singular race, and embrace the concept of unity in diversity while factors such as nationality, race and religion must just be considered as accidents of birth.
The priority of Malaysians should change to embrace all the tenets and obligations of a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy while using the Rukun Negara as the guide to accept unity.
By adhering to the concepts of democracy such as fairplay, justice and meritocracy the dream of a New Malaysia can become a reality and cast in stone for generations of Malaysians to enjoy in a truly free state
**Christopher Fernandez is a social critic and commentator and wishes for nothing more than for every Malaysian citizen to be happy, healthy, wise and well and living in an atmosphere of sharing and caring
-THE MALAYSIA VOICE
(The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher)
