WHAT is bigotry? The dictionary defines it as “intolerance towards those who hold different opinions from oneself”. Yes, most Malaysians experience bigotry when preacher Zakir Naik speaks in Malaysia.

Is it irrational to feel hurt? Or, is it a justifiable level of prejudice, which is normal and very human, that we must tolerate? For example, is not the public angst at alleged 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal mastermind Low Taek Jho, popularly known as Jho Low, also bigotry? And Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s rantings against Dong Zong, too?

Can Malaysians Version 2.0 transcend all such implicit bigotry? I have argued that Malaysia Version 2.0 must become the Pakatan Harapan government’s agenda. This goes beyond “Malaysia Baharu” or “Lama”, whose definitions are too subjective. Such words have no fixed meanings because they are juxtaposed against their antonyms and relative meanings.

Malaysia 2.0 is framed much like gadgets. Just look at modern cellphones. The newer versions always feature upgrades and can “read downwards”, but the older versions cannot “read upwards”. How they are numbered defines whether a model is old or new.

Malayan bigotry, not Malaysian

In the mid-1990s, when I first met my Kadazan friends from Sabah who were cabinet members, I understood for the first time the difference between their mindset and my Malayan outlook.

I was arguing that a Malaysian mindset must transcend the debate on the social contract and all its implications. I will never forget one of the aforementioned ministers’ reply: “We have no social contract with you Malayans, we only have a legal Malaysia Agreement”. As a Malayan who had been to Sabah and Sarawak since the 1970s, the matter had never been communicated to me so forcefully.

Therefore, my question today is, are all Malaysians, especially the ministers in the current government, aware of the depth of this sentiment among the first generation of Sabahans, and maybe Sarawakians, too?

Is any blinded Malay-Muslim agenda, whether it has to do with Zakir, or khat, or any visible reluctance to fully search for truths, not part of Malayan bigotry? Is that truly Malaysian and Asian?

Truth has an objective existence

All truths have an objective existence, independent of the listener or observer. Like how objective science helped establish that the sun is the centre of our solar system, we may need new “Renaissance scientists” to define the objective realities of Malaysia 2.0.

Malaysia 2.0 needs a new mentality, a fresh way of thinking about what is really new regarding the country post-14th general election. The world needs to know.

The following is a list of things that have happened for the first time:

1. The opposition wrested power and formed the federal government after 61 years

2. There are so many non-Malays in the cabinet

3. The PM had to wait three hours to be sworn in

4. There are many women cabinet members

5. The Dewan Rakyat speaker is not an MP, but a retired judge

6. There are two deputy speakers, both MPs

7. A government bill was shot down in the Dewan Negara

8. A former PM and his deputy were charged in court with a slew of offences

9. The attorney-general is from the private sector

10. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief is from civil society

With so many changes and new challenges ahead, do we really need to go back to the issues of race, religion and royalty? Can’t we just focus on the 18-year-olds who will vote in the next elections, and prepare the country for when they take over? Can’t the above-60s learn to forget the past, forgive the mistakes made, and move on with the “new hope” called for by the PH government?

That is simply my prayer. – August 18, 2019.

* KJ John worked in public service for 32 years, retired, and started a civil group for which he is chairman of the board. He writes to inform and educate, arguing for integration with integrity in Malaysia. He believes such a transformation has to start with the mind before it sinks into the heart!

* 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.