THE early hours of May 10, 2018 would most likely be etched in the minds of many Malaysians. I can recall vividly burning the midnight oil as the election results kept coming in.

It wasn’t caffeine that kept me awake to almost 5am but sheer adrenaline that was being produced in my body through the nervous excitement of the election results of the 14th general election (GE14).

Even though I had to make an important presentation later that day, I wasn’t going to miss – together with other Malaysians – the opportunity of seeing the birth of a new government after 62 long years.

In the weeks after GE14, anywhere I went, everyone was talking about this Malaysia Baru, a phenomenon not seen or experienced before. I myself never thought I would live to see this change where Malaysians as a whole would stand up and be counted for change.

Malaysians were not only excited but also hopeful that this will be a new beginning, while at the same time realising that change cannot happen so quickly. The new government set themselves the 100 days target and many people, including myself, were looking forward to a new narrative. Malaysians as a whole wanted to set this new government in the right direction and even willingly coming forward to help towards Tabung Harapan.

One hundred days had passed, and excuses then started coming in one by one. The new hope that had set in on May 10 onwards was gradually being replaced with some disillusionment.

Despite knowing very well that it will take time to undo what had been done for over 60 years, people looked for some signs, however faint they may be, to keep the flame of hope alight. Humans being humans, we are a tough bunch to please.

There are many things that need setting right in this Malaysia Baru and among them are interreligious-interethnic harmony. The racial and religious diversity that we live in is what forms the foundation of this nation and perhaps that is why we define ourselves as “truly Asia”.

However, since the birth of this nation, we have often been classified not as citizens of a nation but by our ethnic origins.

Almost everything conceivable in Malaysia is defined along racial and religious categories. With the coming of a new government, my hope had been that we could now start the process to rid ourselves of this “racial curse” that has divided Malaysians and provided fodder for politicians for more than 60 years.

This new government had the opportunity to set the direction right from day one, but unfortunately the appointment of cabinet members succumbed to the rhetoric of political affiliation and racial composition. One can only look at that as a missed opportunity for this new government to make a bold statement that the narrative for Malaysia Baru will not be on racial lines.

Nevertheless, in the ensuing months, there were signs that this new government was willing to dialogue with various stakeholders when it comes to matters of religion and national unity. However, the reality is that dialogue loses its efficacy if there are no corresponding actions to make national unity a priority.

When “push comes to shove”, this government seems to back down, giving in to the racial and religious rhetoric and often being held hostage on such issues. Every time we think we have taken a step forward, then comes along some racial or religious issue that takes us two and even three steps backwards.

From the very first press conference that the leaders of Pakatan Harapan gave on winning GE14, the words “rule of law” have been on their lips. However, the “rule of race” still dominates the mindsets of our new leaders. If there is anything to be done in the coming years, this new government should send out a strong message that anyone who incites national disunity using racial rhetoric will not be tolerated – anyone irrespective of race or religion!

As long as we don’t see ourselves as a people of one nation, it is always going to be “us versus them”, the “privileged versus the non-privileged”. If Malaysia Baru is to have a new narrative, then this government must set the goals clear and not move the goal posts each time they are challenged.

History has shown that racial and religious integration is never going to be an easy task to work at, but if this government keeps being flippant or forked tongue in wanting to achieve national unity, then we are surely heading back to our old habits.

What is needed in the coming years of this government before GE15 is a clarion call towards racial and religious integration, and perhaps those leading this should not be politicians but concerned citizens of Malaysia with “powers” to set Malaysia in the right direction.

Politicians have failed in the past and will continue to fail because the political agenda here is too imbibed with religious sentiments that prevent us from moving forward.

As long as one race feels superior to the rest, we cannot move ahead. This government needs to fearlessly create opportunities regardless of race or religion.

It needs an agenda to foster harmony that draws from the diversity of traditions and put an end to bigots that provoke racial or religious disharmony. Until and unless this happens, we may just be able to write a new narrative for the sake of future generations. – May 6, 2019.

* Dr Clarence Devadass is a Catholic priest and director of the Catholic Research Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Moral education is an issue close to his heart. He focuses on paving resourceful ways to promote virtues for living in a multireligious society, for a significant life together.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.