A RACE FOR THE PRIZE

By : A MALAYSIAN-CHINESE

 

“Ini kali lah! Ubah!”

Propaganda slogan turned synonymous chant, that’s now accepted as slang in everyday speech. Powerful stuff; Charles Manson would be proud if he understood Bahasa Malaysia

But the questions beckons, what has really changed this time round?

You’d think that DAP were the biggest winners this election, with 89 seats won by Pakatan Rakyat and 53 being held by non-Malays.  Yet it’s ironic that our country faces a very real threat of racial harmony being destroyed.

Even more sardonic is that in light of such successful election results for the opposition, DAP (backed by PKR of course) is still barking up the tree on Chinese representation – case in point being the recent remarks on Musa Aman’s  less than Chinese choice of Sabahan cabinet ministers.


A Bigot Tsunami

A Prime minister’s Freudian slip, Anti-Malay sentiment spread by the social media, Utusan’s poor choice of headlines and even racially cannibalistic attacks on Chinese celebrities purportedly betraying their race by supporting the “wrong” parties.

Emotions are running wild, and are either side to blame when it comes to ethnic issues? A taboo subject if ever there was one.

Regardless of what ground of the political divide you stand on, let’s take a step back and see the big picture.

MCA and Gerakan (not that they have a choice really), do not take up any posts at state or federal levels. So who do the Chinese have to represent their voice if not for DAP?

At the same time, what about all the money and support that the BN government has given to the Chinese community? Licensing for businesses, merit based contract hand outs, Malay companies actively subcontracting to Chinese companies and even funding to Dong Jiao Zong for Chinese education.

Sure, there are FACE VALUE arguments and grievances on the topics of Bumi-equity, scholarship hand outs and home discounts favouring the Malays.

But realistically, there’s no Apartheid here! Malays and Non-Malays synergistically work everyday hand in hand to both “cari makan” and build our nation.

Look at our Chinese neighbours in the Philippines and Indonesia, forced to abandon their culture, living in community based fortresses and having their kids attend underground language tuition.

In Malaysia, our Chinese control a major influence on the economy and even the richest of tycoons can walk around to kedai kopis, mamak stalls and gerais to grab a meal with no real fear for their lives (or wallets).

See the contrast of worlds?

Democracy Bah

The 1Malaysia concept: ethnic harmony, national unity and efficient governance. Nothing new to Sabah as its Sabahans will tell you, until now perhaps.

In a democratic election process, members of parliament are nominated through a majority of votes and are therefore a representation of the interest of their respective constituencies.

They do NOT represent their kin based on race.

All this noise about democracy and racism, yet DAP still holds the interest of the Chinese above all. Can’t blame them for hanging on to their Ace of Spades, but how is this fair to everybody? How do the non-Chinese feel?

Sabah CM Musa Aman is moving AWAY from race based politics.

Not to make this article appear biased, but it’s only true.

For the less informed, his cabinet has historically consisted of various Non-Malays (Chinese included), both Muslims and non-Muslims: Chinese, Kadazan-Dusuns and Muruts; Christians, Catholics, Buddhists and Muslims.

So how then does a one off reduction in Chinese ministers represent, to quote DAP Sabah’s publicity secretary Chan Foong Hin, a “punishment for the Chinese Tsunami”?

If the people voted for fewer Chinese ministers in BN, than that’s the decision of the public!

True Patriotism

The Election is over. The milk has been spilt.

Do we wait and cry until it starts to rot: leaving a mouldy spot on the floor? Or do we clean it up and get another carton?

If we love our country, we need to contribute to nation building, regardless of who our leaders are.

A government’s administration can only do so much, but the true direction of this country is steered by the rakyat’s collective hand.

Malaysia has survived ghastly and violent race riots as well as near economic collapse, yet here we are still standing.

It’s one thing to be passionate about policies, budgets and welfare of the people, but being lead to hate our own brothers and sisters over raced based propaganda is absolutely heresy.

Let’s put differences aside and not fall for politicians’ tricks.

Remember, we’re all black when the lights go out (pardon the pun).