RABBLE-ROUSING by rabid politicians doesn’t and shouldn’t sit well with right-thinking citizens, especially at a time when caring Malaysians are laying the groundwork for a “new Malaysia”.
It is a time when civilised conversation, dialogue and, ultimately, mutual understanding should be prioritised and prevail over naked demagoguery that is primarily aimed at tickling the basest of our emotions.
In a society where most people cherish peace, progress and democracy, those who unabashedly stoke the fire of racial and religious extremism must be frowned upon by all responsible citizens – and also reprimanded by the authorities.
To be sure, race and religion have been used and abused ad nauseum as a political game in this multi-ethnic country, especially by politicians who are often confronted by a lack of constructive ideas, ideals, self-dignity and human compassion. And it is also the mantra of the desperate.
The race and religion that are purportedly defended by these unscrupulous politicians often get dragged unnecessarily into the muck by their very own undoing.
We have seen it happening when Lim Guan Eng was appointed finance minister. And similarly, the case of Tommy Thomas when he was made the attorney-general.
Likewise, the religious background of Maszlee Malik was called into question before he was appointed education minister.
And more recently, the legal rights of Muslims were feared – by supposed defenders of the said faith community – to be compromised by the appointment of Richard Malanjum, a Christian Bumiputera, as chief justice.
Malanjum’s selection, thundered Pas information chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi, caused restlessness among Muslims in the country. This is despite the judge’s impeccable credentials as well as “protection” accorded to Islam in the federal constitution and state institutions.
Nasrudin’s apparent generosity to come to the “rescue” of fellow Muslims would have been laughable if not for the fact that he is walking on thin ice because his utterance suggests yet another attempt at forging a “siege mentality” among Malay-Muslims – and, in turn, driving a wedge between Muslims and non-Muslims. This indeed goes against the vision of the PH government and right-thinking Malaysians.
Such misdeed surely doesn’t do justice, for instance, to efforts that have been made by conscientious politicians, such as Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, now minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, to foster mutual respect and understanding and religious harmony among the various religious communities.
As if not to be outdone, Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam screamed bloody murder over the alleged Christianisation plot of DAP.
He made the spurious claim that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whose Bersatu party has only 13 parliamentary seats, is easily swarmed – and dictated – by DAP’s 42 MPs, supposedly the party with the biggest number of seats.
What was conveniently left out is the fact that PKR has 49 MPs plus 11 Amanah MPs – many of whom are Malay and Muslim, if you want to play the race and religion card, that is.
It is the hope of Malaysians who voted for real change on May 9 that the country would be run by people who have the abilities and political will to realise the former’s dream of a “new Malaysia”.
Thus, it is crucial for the PH government to stay the course insofar as appointing people of calibre and who are accountable – regardless of race and religion – so as to signal to Malaysians from all walks of life that from now onwards, this should be the standard operating procedure in order for Malaysia to move forward.
At the same time, the ruling politicians should also be quick to quell any element of racial and religious fanaticism in their midst, no matter how small, to show to the world that they are willing to walk the talk.
Race and religion should not be the concoction that would make us regress as a nation. Instead, they should be celebrated as part of our cultural diversity and richness. – July 13, 2018.
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Comments
Select the most competent among us , irrespective of race & religion & beliefs , to perform the tasks of governing.
The rest of us will then hold the appointees to the task of being accountable.
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#spiritofponnamal
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