SABAH’S state elections have once again placed it under the national limelight. From its politics, state economy, right through to even their culture and peculiarities. 

Some recurring themes that surface when discussing Sabah (and Sarawak) include that of autonomy, identity and mutual harmony, usually fiercer compared to other peninsular states. The underlying glue that binds this all together, is grounded in the Borneo state’s proud sense of respect. 

Such is that respect, even peninsular politicians tread carefully when traversing the tricky trail.

Sabahans often view Semenanjung leaders with some degree of suspicion, preferring to keep politics local, both with regards to national issues, as well as issues of livelihood – jobs, educational opportunities and infrastructure.

While they are well-informed on national issues, they tend to keep an eye out only for things that affect them more.

For example, PAS’ criticism against Christianity is more relevant to them, as opposed to 1MDB. 

It isn’t too much of a stretch of the imagination to surmise that this was why PAS was persuaded to sit out of the state elections – their firebrand type of Islam, and image as champion of the rights of the religion, implied to be at the cost of the other minorities, is not generally well-accepted in a state where the racial composition comprises a healthy mix of various indigenous groups, Malays, Chinese, all belonging to Christianity, Islam, animism and indifference to religion, all harmoniously coexisting as naturally as their second nature. 

To their peninsular counterparts, this may seem pleasantly surprising or even anathema, but this is only because identity politics evolved differently in this part of Malaysia.

Here in Semenanjung, it became the toxic blend between a struggle of dominance and one of policies designed around restitution and compensation, meant to balance the economic gap, but more often misused as a means of personal enrichment or political largesse. 

It ended up pitting friend against friend and sowing such suspicion between peninsular folk, that the quintessential power-sharing equation between the races and religions – the formula used to balance everything from political power to the economy, itself, is no longer the popular silver bullet it once was.

So toxic is this racial politics, that what should be an ordinary campaign billboard by the incumbent chief minister has become something celebrated by Semenanjung politicians as the “way forward” or “progressive”.

Credit should be given where it is due – Shafie is increasingly proving to be the kind of leader Malaysia, including the peninsula, needs.  

What is sad, however, is that this should have been the kind of leader Malaysia should always have had, since Merdeka.

Leaders who can and will always place national interests above their own. Leaders who lead all communities, together, to greater heights as one Malaysian family, rather than championing their own or any one race. Leaders who are able to differentiate their personal, party and alliance’s leadership, with that of the country.

Too often we have “settled” for empty rhetoric and slogans, only to be disappointed later on. 

Malaysians too should realise, as a nation, of the need of having this sort of leadership. 

It is easy to fall into the traps of race and religion, but in order to thrive as a nation, we need to forge ahead in building national identity, an inclusive one that does not seek to alienate and divide but unite and coalesce.

If we lose our cohesion as a united Malaysia, the country would unravel. 

Instead of trying to bring Sabah down to the Semenanjung level of politics, we should emulate it and learn from it, and we can hopefully even make Malaysia great again. – September 23, 2020.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* 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.