The Malaysiakini report that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be attending the proposed Kongress Maruah Melayu on 6 October 2019 as a Malay leader and not as the Prime Minister should not happen.
The Prime Minister must be mindful that he is and should be the Prime Minister for all and at all times particularly to respect the rakyat’s endorsement of a New Malaysia with an expectation of a deracialise Malaysia and not re-radicalise a section of the Malays.
Although the Prime Minister had been identified as an “ultra”, condemned for his book “The Malay Dilemma” and criticised for his role in supporting the radical movement PERKASA headed by Ibrahim Ali at a time when the government then was promoting Malaysian unity under 1Malaysia etc , he must however be reminded that as the PM is no longer a Malay leader but a Malaysian leader first and above all. He should not be seen to be endorsing a racial divide but instead propose, support and encourage a congress of national unity and dignity for all Malaysians instead.
This is particularly so when he was supported by DAP’s 42 MPs without which he would not be the Prime Minister. Further, those who voted DAP are expecting them to walk the talk of “no race” and a Malaysian Malaysia.
Now that this spirit has been abandoned by the many actions of the Harapan government, DAP should rise to the occasion to remind the Prime Minister of his role to promote national unity and dignity for all Malaysians.
The Prime Minister’s proposed attendance of a congress to talk about “Malay Dignity” reeks of the “Ketuanan Melayu” years of which DAP had strongly condemned in the past. It is ironic to see them turning a deaf ear and a blind eye by remaining on a “mute” mode to this development. The attendance of their “top dog” would cause or aggravate the tension and caused further uneasiness to the multiracial society of Malaysia that’s now emerging prevalently under the New Malaysia government.
There should not be any new definition or differentiation of Tun Dr Mahathir as a Prime Minister for all Malaysians or a Malay leader. DAP being a senior partner in the Harapan must remind him to continue wearing the hat of a leader for all Malaysians without any distinction along racial lines.
Is this racial card played at a time when PAS and Umno are talking of inclusiveness and upholding the spirit and intent of the Federal Constitution in their Himpunan Perpaduan Ummah where the ‘National Cooperation Charter’ was inked on 14 September 2019, which upholds the principles enshrined by the Federal Constitution? It is ironic that PAS and UMNO is now talking of Muafakat Nasional without impairing the position and rights of other ethnic and religious groups, the Harapan government and BERSATU leaders are now promoting a Malay phobia of “maruah Melayu” camouflaged by public universities. This is a return of the race base politics and polemics of the 70s champion by Malay ultras then that have lead to abuses and corrupted practices using the Malay agenda or supremacy as a justification. The Harapan Prime Minister should be seen as unequivocally against any movement idea dividing the nation under the pretext of Malay unity or dignity unless this is part of a BERSATU grand political scheme to drum up Malay support in retaliation to PAS and Umno’s “Muafakat National” promoting national unity instead of Malay unity. Is BERSATU and HARAPAN trying to outdo or undo the proposed national unity inked by PAS and Umno?
The connotation of the said event seems to be suggesting that the honour and dignity of the Malays are being trampled or under threat. It seems to suggest a return of Malays first over Bangsa Malaysia propounded by DAP.
It is surprising the powerful DAP choose to remain silent, muted and nonchalant on this matter. As a major partner of the ruling coalition in HARAPAN, DAP should stop BERSATU from playing a pivotal role of this “racist chant” reminiscence of the 70s.
The Cabinet recently announced the policy of ‘shared prosperity’ and Tun Dr Mahathir’s agreement to attend the said race base event talking of Malay dignity alone and not National dignity may actually be a contradiction or undermines the “shared prosperity” policy that has been agreed by Pakatan Harapan leaders in Government.
The Pakatan Harapan government had initiated and made race-based resolutions at the Kongress Masa Depan Bumiputera held under the purview of the Minister of Economic Affairs exactly a year ago.
Why is there a need to drum up another racial tempo along the lines of “Malay Dignity”? Haven’t the Harapan government destroyed our national unity enough?
By the way, the Malay dignity in Malaysia is intact and well protected by the Constitution and the Majlis Raja-Raja Melayu. There’s no need for politicians or political parties and more so public universities to hype up or build a racial temperature as if the Malays are under threat or siege.
Senator DS Ti Lian Ker
MCA Vice President
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of New Malaysia Herald.
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