THE Malay Dignity Congress can be likened to a never-ending drama as long as the producer has plots to exploit and enough audience to keep it going.

Rational Malaysians should not be bothered by the congress. It is just a political event that leads nowhere but could divide the people, leading to further deterioration of race relations in this country.

What do the congress hope to achieve?

The Malays regaining their dignity by asking and demanding for more privileges without earning them?

Having apartheid rules where posts and positions are awarded based on race rather than meritocracy?

Haven’t we had enough of that for the last 60 years?

What have that kind of governance done for this country? Do we want more of the same?

Let us see some of our latest “achievements” by these Malays so far.

1. They cannot even get the hotly publicised Malay IT mall that is supposed to kill off Low Yat Plaza going. It was an IT mall to end all IT malls. Instead it is now in a dying state. This happened even without its rival having to lift a finger.
2. How about the fate of Utusan Melayu? It is also dying and on life support. Can we save them? Remember, this was among the most nationalistic (read “racist”) of all Malay institutions and the biggest champion of Ketuanan Melayu. Can we save them? I bet if the chance is given to the non-Malays to buy out the company, they will be able to turn it around in no time.
3. The boycott of non-Muslim products campaign. Apart from giving others a chance to laugh at us, how many non-Malay businesses have folded so far as a result of this boycott?

If the Malays cannot get all these done right, forget about the rhetoric of dignity, ownership, or “ketuanan”. The congress was a waste of time. It will not get the Malays anywhere. 

We Malays have many interesting hilarious parables such as Pak Kadok, Pak Pandir and Lebai Malang.

All share almost similar storylines and lessons depicting the folly and ignorance of its characters – reflecting the minds of the Malays of the olden days.

Unfortunately some of the Malays of the 21st century are no different. Could they be the descendants or followers of these characters?

The Malays will remain to be what they are now if they continue to think and act like these characters.

They can only get out of this rut if they start to think and act like Hang Nadim of Singapura Dilanggar Todak. (Unfortunately Hang Nadim was sentenced to death by the king, on the insinuation and slander by the incompetent and dull palace officials who felt threatened by his genius).

To the Malays, we need to think and act like Hang Nadim.

To all my non-Malay friends, until the Malays start to think and behave like Hang Nadim, you may have to put up with more episodes of this never-ending drama.

But do not feel threatened or agitated. Sit down, relax, and enjoy the show. Watch out, there will be more episodes to come. – October 8, 2019.

* Ahmad Ghazali Abu Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.