- This is truly the age of fitaan. And the worse thing for Malays is that the precedence for overcoming the dilemma is to embrace pragmatism that perverts truth.
- Over the past 50 years since the federalism was established, the fractured Malay factionalism was only truly united over the period of 1989-1998, when UMNO as a party consolidated behind the great overlord, and Malaysians gave undivided loyalty to the ruling party that dominates the alliance. Before that period, you could trace the factionalisms within UMNO itself, when there were competing warlords. Thereafter, many Malays questioned the benefits of giving their undivided loyalty such that rule of law was abused with such impunity. That 'reluctance' grew such the same questions were asked of other communities and the agenda for truth then took on its own engine, such that the agenda has taken on its own life, even to the extent of it spiralling beyond the comfort zones of the malay-muslim community, a situation unheard of 20-30 years ago. For Malaysians, this is as living on the edge as it gets, as the situation of 1969 is raised whenever 'sensitivities' are raised.
- Malay royalties presiding over a relatively less educated, less priviledged Malay majority never had to contend with an uprising. Malays are tolerant, the recipients of perhaps the ultimate backhanded compliment of 'nature's greatest gentlemen'. So, these times are a novelty.
- We should ultimately be thankful for the leadership over the last 50 years that the Malays are in such a priviledged position as they are now, the DEB being a pragmatic device and a diplomatic victory that was secured on the back of a critical failure of the racial riots of 1969. At the same time, the same concessions that was secured then created a race that had become dependent on the handouts. Amendments are required yet this conversation on a social contract has not yet opened up within the Malay community, and how could it when raising issues of this is considered a criminal offence?
- Malays- forever afraid of rocking the boat, forever afraid of leaving their comfort zone, forever conventional and traditional - and what other mindset can explain the fact that Abdullah Munshi, a well-travelled journalist (blogger?), a government translator, could be so well received in the history books when someone of this profile are a-dime-a-dozen in many other cultures. Now dont get me wrong that there is an inherent inferiority complex and I have the greatest of respect for someone who spoke out of what is a common cultural milieu of its time, all I'm doing is pointing out this deficient mentality that prevents us from trying out new things for the fear of it being.... new!
- We need something new, we need a new voice, and we need it now. And we need people with the gumption of going against the flow to achieve greater good, with the critical ability to speak for the rest to diplomatically negotiate for support and concessions whilst withstanding all kinds of 'excrement' and untruths being thrown at their deepest core. And all the while being unflinching slave of truth and sound principles. An unemotional malay.. fancy that.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The unemotional malay
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment