THE call to support the politics of harmony and ‘ketuanan Malaysia’ by Rafidah Aziz is timely. Meeting her the first time a month before GE14 to discuss irregularities in the Defence Ministry, and diving as her newfound joy, she struck me as someone you do not want to mess with if you do not know the facts.

Other leaders made similar calls, in different manners and tones. Lim Kit Siang has been consistent in calling for a reset in nation-building policies and never again to allow the politics of race, hate, lies and falsehood dominate our society.

Dr Wan Azizah, when commenting on Lim Guan Eng’s appointment as finance minister, said: “The country has to move towards ‘ketuanan rakyat’. We want to move on to meritocracy…. and that Malaysians feels that this is our home and our nation, and we want to build it together”. 

Dr Maszlee Malik, our new education minister, expressed hope to teach happiness, love, and mutual recognition as core values to every student, teacher and school. These are noble aspirations of politicians in our new government. Whether they are genuine or mere rhetoric, much depends on the people.

The aftermath of the 14thgeneral election has been hailed as a new dawn and rebirth of our nation, but it would be foolish to expect changes to come quickly. One can expect resistance from those asked to leave their positions or deprived of their comforts. Politicians may provide leadership through ideas, speeches, campaigns and persuasion, often moving a step or two ahead of the masses. Moving too fast ahead is political suicide.

The quest of Hindraf 2.0 for Universiti Teknologi Mara to be opened to other ethnic groups was immediately shot down by an ultra Malay group. Tommy Thomas’s appointment as the attorney-general was first scrutinised through his ethnicity and religious affiliation, and not his capabilities by certain groups. 

Unable to move fast ahead of the masses, politicians who claimed to be ‘colour blind’ in the run up to the election could only watch. Critics of Kadir Jasin were quickly up arms against the spokesman for the Council of Eminent Persons over his blog post about the expenses of the royalty.

And since criticisms from all sides ought to be respected if we value free speech, we should brace for racial politics and bigotry for the long haul.

With so much resistance, how do we move forward?

A deconstruction phase is necessary if we are to have meaningful change. Soul-searching and an honest reappraisal of the pre-independence years and the different phases of race-based development policies, from the New Economic Policy, privatisation, affirmative action, to the National Development Policy; these actions secured votes for the Umno-led government.

Abuses and mismanagement during this era led to several scandals – Maminco, Makuwasa, BMF, Bank Rakyat, Perwaja Steel, Bank Negara Forex, Port Klang Free Zone, MARA, Tabung Haji, Felda Global Ventures, and 1MDB. Accountability and good governance were absent. Dissent was silenced through arrests, detention without trial, close surveillance, and threats by outsourced hooliganism and gangsters. Media publication licenses were withdrawn and government institutions established for checks and balance were neutered.

How then could a predominant ethnic group stomach all these scandals? The interpretation of special position for the Malays in Article 153 of the constitution could be a reason. Politics and politicking shifted interpretation to mean special rights, and thence evolved to ‘social contract’, to ‘bumiputraism’ and finally to ‘ketuanan Melayu’.

Politicians aspiring to higher positions and support conveniently employ racial sentiments. Subsequently ,religion was also used and together, both were weaponised to attack the opposition, silence dissent and consolidate voters’ support. Played to the hilt, all these led to the repulsive decadence in society today.

We now pause at the fork in the road to reflect. To continue along the same path means to talk about rights and privileges and see further alienation. This inevitably leads us to ruin, further straining our little remaining racial unity. 

The other path is of inclusiveness and working towards improving our shared destiny, while patiently allowing time to sort out the mess of the past. Meanwhile continuing to help those seriously in need, especially the less fortunate Malays and other indigenous groups to enter the mainstream of development, is necessary.

What awaits us at the end of this path is a people living in harmony. The first few steps on this new path may be unfamiliar. Prejudice, distrust, and hatred are old baggage we need to discard.

Personally, I choose this new path, which means participating in building a new society of loving and caring people, and continuing to search for inner calm. After being grounded from a near fatal paragliding accident years ago, perhaps I should also follow Rafidah and indulge in diving. – June 14, 2018.

* Captain Dr Wong Ang Peng is a researcher with an interest in economics, politics, and health issues. He has a burning desire to do anything within his means to promote national harmony. Captain Wong is also a member of the National Patriots Association.

* 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.