Let’s dismantle racial politics

Malaysia should be for all Malaysians

I refer to “Non-Malays need not fear congress, says Muhyiddin” (Star,May 6).

Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s statement that non-Malays should not feel threatened that their rights are being taken away may be reassuring but there is a lingering suspicion why Umno must resort to such measures like the recent to Kongres Permuafakatan Melayu.

Why is there a need for Umno, or any other ethnic party, to organize such a congress to demand for their rights when those are clearly spelt out in the Federal Constitution? There is no reason whatsoever for Umno to fear that the Malay privileges are being taken away. They should not fear their rights are slowly eroded just because of some losses in the recent elections. The rights and special privileges are clearly enshrined in the Federal Constitution and accepted by all races and there is no way they can be taken away.

We have come a long way to build the nation together, not as Malays, Chinese or Indians, but as Malaysians and the people have demonstrated this unprecedented unity by rising above their racial divide to vote for multiracial system of governance. It is the duty of the political parties to ensure that these aspirations of the people are achieved.

It is time to discard the politicking along racial lines of the past and move forward to a state where we are identified as Malaysians not by our ethnic origins. Why should a leader only champion the cause of his own community? Isn’t it time to do away with such a mindset and create leaders who can represent the interests of all the races? All politicians from ruling and Opposition parties, the ministers, and government officers should be trained to cater for all races not just their own.

We should discourage the practice of organizing all forms of rallies and congresses for a particular race but instead have such activities to include all. In a multiracial and multi-religious country if we encourage each community to organize events to demand for their own rights we will never achieve a state of harmonious co-existence. Instead it will only be a sure way to chaos and inter-ethnic animosity in the long run.

The only way to eradicate this race-based politics is to open up all race-based parties to all races and become truly multiracial where everyone’s rights are guaranteed as provided for by the constitution. There should not be a need for any particular community to ‘fight’ for their basic rights as they should be granted automatically without any impediment.

Umno should not regard fellow non-Malay Malaysians as a threat to their well being. It should not succumb to some imaginary external threat that is non-existent. It should instead get its acts together, regain its power and influence to get back the support of the people of all races.Umno may have its duty towards the Malays but being the dominant party in the ruling coalition, it also has the responsibility to ensure the minorities are treated fairly and allay their fears and anxieties.

Umno might have been formed by Malay nationalistic spirit but the time has come for it to adopt a true Malaysian nationalism that incorporates all the races of peninsula and east Malaysia. In short the old United Malay National Organisation must become the new United Malaysian National Organisation.

The world is moving away racial politics which is becoming obsolete and it is time for us to do the same. In this respect it may be timely for Umno to revisit the era of its founder, Onn Jaafar and look for ways and means to fulfill his aspirations by opening its doors to all Malaysians regardless of race or creed.

Dr.Chris Anthony