Same old players, same old stories

Jahabar Sadiq Jahabar Sadiq Updated 4 years ago · Published on 6 Oct 2019 6:30PM · 15 Comments

Is Malay dignity affected if the federal government works for all Malaysians? – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, October 6, 2019.

IT’S getting tiresome and unproductive to recycle and revive these tropes. That Malaysia belongs to the Malays, that there are those out there challenging the dignity of the Malays and taking advantage of their kindness.

It only happens when the Malay polity has been upended. It happened in both Penang and Selangor after Barisan Nasional (BN) lost in the 2008 general election in both states. It is happening now after BN lost the federal government in 2018.

For BN, read Umno.

Let’s just correct a few misconceptions. Malaya got its independence from its British colonial masters in August 1957 after agreeing that the one million or so Chinese and Indian residents, as of Merdeka, would be given citizenship. No citizenship for them, no Merdeka. 

No kindness there really but a political calculation. Fast forward to 1963 and Malaysia is formed with four territories – Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak – the latter two with significant native populations grouped as Bumiputeras. Singapore is kicked out in 1965. 

So, Malaysia does not belong to the Malays. And the Malays, who form the majority in the country, have been enjoying favourable policies and fortunes by successive BN governments; to say that these are now under threat is a huge lie.

From the National Economic Policy to the National Development Policy and Vision 2020, to Najib Razak’s Economic Transformation Programme, Bumiputeras have seen a number of agencies and provisions set aside for them.

Even the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 launched yesterday has Bumiputera policies. How has that all affected the Malays’ dignity? 

Why do Malay academics follow the well-trodden path of race champions in Umno and PAS to continuously delude and distract the Malays into thinking others are jealous of their success and position in Malaysia? Why do these academics now insist the community’s dignity, the Malay rulers, too, are threatened?

Did these academics make any noise when government agencies were being looted, the treasury and debts stolen, and politicians, such as Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin and Mohd Shafie Apdal, were either sacked or mocked by fellow Malay politicians in the past few decades?

Is Malay dignity affected if the federal government works for all Malaysians? 

Would it be fine with haj pilgrimages being sponsored by a government company, which has not shown profit but can pay its chief executive some RM100,000 a month and give him an 18-month bonus?

Malaysia is in dire straits due to the excesses of the past governments. The new government has its work cut out for it – to reduce disparities in class, race and regions. 

It requires all Malaysians to work together to solve these issues, not for the same bunch of old players with the same old stories still demanding respect and a bigger share of a shrinking economic pie that is for all Malaysians.

If you want your respect and dignity, go earn it. 

Because Malaysia belongs to all Malaysians – from Perlis down to Johor and across to Sabah and Sarawak. We are equal, since September 16, 1963. No Malaysian owes anyone else to be a Malaysian. – October 6, 2019. 

* Jahabar Sadiq runs The Malaysian Insight.

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Comments

  • DAP should make a police report on this kangkong professor.

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • I never failed to renew the subscription of TMI because I have confident in its editorial policy.

    Posted 4 years ago by Anak Malaysia · Reply

  • Jahabar Sadiq, thank you for a brave and great editorial.

    Posted 4 years ago by Hock Aun Teoh · Reply

  • I absolutely agree

    Posted 4 years ago by Zabidi Hussin · Reply

  • Good facts, real and true. Thank you.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Well said, Jahabar.

    Posted 4 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • Very well, and accurately put.

    Posted 4 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Well articulated as usual.

    Posted 4 years ago by Jema Khan · Reply

  • In full agreement and strong emphasis that respect and dignity must be earned.

    Posted 4 years ago by G.Selva Ganeson · Reply

  • Very well said. Malaysia is indeed in 'dire straits'. All the good policies by past leaders have been high jacked because of self interest and corruption. The sad thing is the corrupt have projected themselves as heroes while the majority good ones are silent. Take the fake degree issue as an example. They are still holding on to their positions, Historical records show, when they were accepting the hadith or Prophets(saw). examples as related by His companions, a person who cheated by showing hay to the horse to harness it had his contributions rejected.

    Posted 4 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply

  • Billions of tax payers money was used to bail out malay entities like Tabung Haji and Felda when all the money was stolen by Malay leaders. The bail out money were hard earned money from the majority of the Chinese and non Malays. We didnt demand any gratitude or recognition.But now to hear these kind of selfish demands and racist bashings from the Malays is very unfair and hurtful.

    Posted 4 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Is it their preference (and their definition of dignity) to be screwed for another 60 years by bringing back the unqualified, self serving, corrupted and dirty crooks? These crooks have hundreds of millions of unexplained wealth that could have helped the Malays. Why? Still refused to accept reality- who were mostly the thieves and want to blame others.

    Posted 4 years ago by Concerned Citizen · Reply

  • Perhaps dignity is when they have a bigger share of the loot?

    Posted 4 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • Bravo sdr Jahabar

    Posted 4 years ago by Ang Peng Wong · Reply

  • Bravo sdr Jahabar

    Posted 4 years ago by Ang Peng Wong · Reply