Ku Li defends relevance of racial politics

Chan Kok Leong SM Amin Chan Kok Leong, SM Amin Updated 6 years ago · Published on 7 Jun 2019 7:00AM · 8 Comments

Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah says racial politics is still relevant as shown by the rise of the far-right throughout the world. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, June 7, 2019.

ETHNOPOLITICS is still relevant in multiracial Malaysia, said Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, adding that it was not racial in nature but to ensure that a certain group benefits from the struggle.

However, he expressed his fears that the minorities in the country will be emboldened by the economic prowess of China and India and that could lead to trouble.

“With China and India coming up very fast, the minorities in the country are going to feel very inspired and there will be clashes with the bigger number of Malays. That’s what I’m afraid of,” he said recently.

“To reflect what is happening in the United States and many countries in Europe, such as France, people are becoming very nationalistic along ethnic lines. And, therefore, it’s still relevant and the feeling is the same here.

“It’s not racial but it’s to ensure that a certain group will benefit from the struggle. It’s not about challenging others in a fight but it’s about trying to better oneself. I think that’s what (Donald) Trump is doing in America,” said the 82-year-old Gua Musang MP.

The world’s longest serving MP (51 years) also said PAS and Umno – both vying for the Malay support – must get the objectives of their partnership in order.

“It came out of the blue and Umno and PAS were embracing each other and said they were going to cooperate. But PAS leaders said they weren’t going to cooperate but were going piece by piece.

“We know that PAS is going along the Islamic path based on their approach to it, which is not wholly Islamic. But are we going to subscribe to that? Are they going with our nationalistic approach?”

Below are excerpts from the interview:

Q: Is ethnopolitics still the way to go in a multiracial country? Could we not try to be like other multiracial countries, such as France or US, which are based on nation-state identity?

TR: We can aspire to that but it’s not going to be easy. We have 10% Indians and 25% Chinese and it’s good for diversity and provides completion for progress.

The core problem is how do we ensure our wealth is shared fairly. With money in the pockets, nobody will want to fight.

With China and India coming up very fast, the minorities in the country are going to feel very inspired and there will be clashes with the bigger number of Malays. That’s what I’m afraid of.

Hence, politics must be accepted by all and not in extremes. It won’t work.

Demonstrators at the anti-ICERD rally last December. Umno played a prominent role to oppose the international treaty but PAS got the kudos, says an Umno veteran. – EPA pic, June 7, 2019.

Q: What kind of cooperation is feasible with PAS?

TR: It came out of the blue, and Umno and PAS were embracing each other and said they were going to cooperate. But PAS leaders said they weren’t going to cooperate but were going piece by piece.

They said they will consider on the cooperation for the next elections. They have set up a technical committee but what technical committee?

We know that PAS is going along the Islamic path based on their approach to it, which is not wholly Islamic. But are we going to subscribe to that? Are they going with our nationalistic approach?

Q: Can it work?

TR: It has worked before but probably everyone is going in their own direction and try to meet somewhere in the middle to win elections.

Q: Can Umno and PAS share power in the Malay-majority states (Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu)?

TR: We did it very well during the time of Abdul Razak (Hussein – the second prime minister) and won elections and implemented programmes everywhere.

And we were received very well. But then there was a divergence and some wanted to emphasise on the party side and not the national wellbeing. This caused the split and the conflict started from there.

I would like to know where we are going now. It’s not a very difficult question.

If you think clearly and think it through, what do you want? Umno is (a) reject. It can say it has the most number of people in Parliament but it was rejected at the state and national level.

Q: BN has been successful as a political party serving different communal interests. Can BN win again if it partners PAS on a conservative platform?

TR: To reflect what is happening in the United States and in many countries in Europe, such as France, people are becoming very nationalistic along ethnic lines. And, therefore, it’s still relevant and the feeling is the same here.

It’s not racial but it’s to ensure that a certain group will benefit from the struggle. It’s not about challenging others in a fight but it is about trying to better oneself. I think that’s what (Donald) Trump is doing in America.

Except for Germany, which is very open, everyone seems to be doing that.

I think the approach is not wrong and it’s not racism but about looking after the group that one is serving.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah says the cooperation between PAS and Umno is far from certain as everything is being done in an ad hoc manner. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, June 7, 2019.

Q: But can BN succeed from this approach?

TR: That’s what the world is feeling at the moment. And it’s not just peculiar to Malaysia. Even in China, people are growing more nationalistic and they are asserting themselves.

Q: In your opinion, who should Umno work with?

TR: I don’t know how to advise as there is no certainty. When there’s a by-election, they work together with PAS. But we don’t know what are the principles governing this working relationship.

Is this relationship only meant to win elections or is PAS going to be a component of Barisan Nasional like in the past under Abdul Razak to reduce politicking and focus on developing the country?

There doesn’t seem to be any certainty to the current partnership.

There’s no depth in the thinking and I cannot subscribe to this kind of way of thinking. Everything’s ad hoc.

How far should we work with PAS? Should we adopt their ideology or should PAS accept our ideology or is there a meeting point where we can work together?

There’s no indication at all. We partnered PAS to reject ICERD and held a rally but people say that was a PAS rally and we were mere followers.

So where is Umno in all this as a party that has a considerable number of followers and MPs? – June 7, 2019.

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Comments

  • You dont better oneself by walking with tongkats for over 60 years, and yet asking for more tongkats.

    Posted 6 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • Lets see how they will end up in the next 20-30 years. The first 60 years almost bankrupt majority of them academically, financially, morally ( extremely esp those with power) and many other areas which will result in them redundant globally. The others will only be a small majority of 20% or less. Sad. Now we are ready seeking significant help from other countries.

    Posted 6 years ago by Concerned Citizen · Reply

  • Small *minority of 20% or less

    Posted 6 years ago by Concerned Citizen · Reply

  • Racial politic is keeping one's own race unintelligent so that a few of their own kind can sucker them with racism as a matter of "rights."

    Posted 6 years ago by KC Yip · Reply

  • Apparently, Kuli is still not brave enough to embrace a New Malaysia. Only a new Malaysia requires one to kick the old mindset away and move forward.. it was the lack of this courage to quit the old mindset that made the group regressive instead of progressive, and to the extent of embracing racism and extremism.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • He is a reflection of years damage from inbreeding of thoughts .!!!!!!

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Old tradition must be discarded as the new generation of Malaysians would want to see a true integrated Malaysia based on equal platform to compete and equal opportunity for jobs and positions. There are talented Malays, is so are talents Chinese, Indians and talented others. Don't categorically blanket Malays as poor, lazy and unmotivated. Also don't look at all Chinese as rich, hardworking and business minded. Open our mind set and look at what is good for the country in terms of per capita income growth, GDP growth , currency strength, high income jobs, graduates competency and investment inflow. These are important issues we must address well in order for the country to perform well economically, socially and politically. Everytime political party stress on race and religion, surely the country will go down further. Every body suffers except those leaders advocating race and religion. All leaders must build the country based on right and good focus. How to grow GDP? how to increase per capita income fairly distributed? How to attract good and high value foreign investments? How to strengthen RM currency?

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Malays been the largest number would naturally choose to pinch on race factor to gain political mileage. With ernomuos political power in Malay hands for past 60 years until BN Umno, we eventually topple the old coalition. For what? After 60 years, Malay are still poor and incompetent? Still need 90% allocation in matriculation? Really shameful characters from the current Malay PH leaders. If u don't change the Malay attitude, to drop your bias dependency on govt quota system and unfair treatment, don't blame Non-Malays as opportunists, less patriotic, non participative, selfish and migrating lot. If govt choose to divide and rule, limited room for meritocracy and excellency, brain drains is unavoidable, low quality grads are intentionally produced and rich and smart citizens parking their weather overseas are growing from all races and demography. The country goes down economically. It has happened and will get worse if we don't change the policies to be inclusive, fair and compete.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply