WE all recognise the mantra of Snow White’s evil stepmother. Our public apathy around certain issues brings to mind the wicked queen’s mantra. We gaze at aspects of our reflection as we think, all is more or less well, and yes, we are the greatest country with the greatest policies.

I am now asking Prime  Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to look at the magic mirror and ask themselves which nation is the fairest, as in, the most just and fair. One should look at oneself first in the mirror to identify one’s flaws and to correct them, to set them right before being too quick to jump at another nation’s immigration laws. One should refrain from making statements or emotional outbursts that hurt other nations.

Dr Mahathir’s criticism of India’s new citizenship law is not in sync with the established diplomatic practice of non-interference in any other country’s internal affairs. This was despite such principles being outlined in the Charter of the United Nations concerning the non-intervention of member states into the internal affairs of another.

If Malaysia starts to interfere with the laws of other countries, it will open up for interpretation the non-interference policy among nations.

For example, some may view democracy in Malaysia as being very limited in its true sense, compared with the practice in India. So, does India or Singapore have the right to interfere in Malaysia’s affairs? On that note, I think India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be very keen to interfere in Malaysia’s affairs using the same argument. Didn’t Malaysia tell Modi off when India asked why Zakir Naik, a wanted fugitive in India, was granted permanent residency in Malaysia?

Citizenship in Malaysia and the rights that are attached to it, as we all are well aware, are divided between Bumiputeras and non-Malays. Hence, the special privileges accorded to Bumiputeras, although accepted by non-Malays, remain a double standard in the context of equality. Against this backdrop, we should refrain from criticising other nations as it will eventually bring criticism upon ourselves.

Our nation should indeed be practicing equitable distribution of rights before we run down the policies of a foreign nation. We need to look at our magic mirror to assess if we are exercising just and fair policies for all in our own nation before pointing fingers at others.

I am astonished at the perception of the Malay world. including the remarks of Malay leaders insinuating and insulting other races and religion, which is totally unwelcome. Malay ethnicity and identity is not singular. It is not homogenous but various. It’s an undisputed fact that Malays are a multi-ethnic people, inhabiting Malaysia as a nation-state, the homeland of the Malay archipelago and the Malay world stretching from the Indian to the Pacific Oceans. History dictates that the Malay archipelago was once a Hindu world. Over history, it evolved into an Islamic stretch of nations. 

Even on the issue of introducing Khat, it must be highlighted that India has never imposed any educational policies on its non-Hindu citizens to study Sanskrit. But Malaysia had imposed the learning of Jawi in government schools back then, and we, the non-Muslims, adhered to the learning of Jawi. But why introduce Khat in vernacular schools when the issue of vernacular schools is diverse and divided between fully aided and partially aided schools? Playing up issues surrounding the implementation of a government policy to create further diversity in our multiracial society is totally unacceptable.

Using the history of the Malay archipelago to entrench the teaching of Khat in vernacular schools certainly cannot hold water. Likewise, curbing the non-Muslims from avenues to show their opposing views on the implementation of government policies on Khat is totally unacceptable and goes against democracy. All citizens should be allowed and given access to air their opinions and perceptions on a government policy. Then, it’s up to the government of the day to make a decision on whether their views will be taken into account or otherwise.

I am appalled at the uncalled for statements made by our leaders against India’s internal policies and laws. We should not make any statements when we are ill-informed of the exact terms of the policy. Neither should we make statements as emotional outburst in the name of religious solidarity. I note that our Muslim leaders have not highlighted which part of India’s new immigration laws they are against and whether they go against international law, if any? All nations have their legitimate reasons to introduce and implement a specific policy or law, and they should not be open to unfounded ridicule based on mere solidarity of emotions.

We live in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural world. Malaysia is a clear example of such pluralism. I don’t deny that, as a nation with various policies and disagreements, we have endured it all in the name of harmony. 

But that does not give us licence to point out how India should manage its nation. We cannot stand with serious cracks in our own structure of democracy and frays to the fabric of multi-religious society and call out the cracks within another nation.

Let’s look at ourselves in the mirror. If we assessed the current state of affairs of the nation, wouldn’t we be asking ourselves whether we are the fairest leader, fairest nation? Can we maintain our objectivity? Will the mirror be honest? What do you think? I believe that there is a risk that the mirror will lose its objectivity. Who to blame? The one in the mirror!

We are pushing our own religious agenda without paying attention to how our actions and perceptions affect other races and religions, as well as other nations, and we measure our beliefs and perceptions against our own illusion without emotional outburst.

Ultimately, the bluff will be called. The Evil Queen had to face the truth. Leaders should not be too quick to attack the policies of other nations. Instead, our own policies must be checked to accommodate all ethnicities in a fair and just manner. Perhaps Malaysia has to take a few lessons on unity in diversity from its bigger Muslim counterparts, like Indonesia.

Let’s concentrate on our own issues to make Malaysia a better place to live in so that one day, when as ask the mirror, it will say, “You are the fairest of them all”. – December 28, 2019.

* SA Vigneswaran is MIC and Dewan Negara president.

* The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the office he is holding.

* 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.