IDENTITY politics plays on emotion and blurs rational perspectives. The exploitation of issues of colour, class, language, religion and race often camouflages the more serious problems that need addressing in any society.  

This strategy is used by politicians the world over, because it is easier to mobilise numbers with such identity-based slogans to secure power. Democracy is vulnerable in this context and soon majoritarianism justifies excesses and persecution.

When an issue is perceived as eroding Malay rights or supremacy, then the fact that serious wrong has been done is often overlooked.  

Unthinking zealots scream out selective prosecution, political vendetta, an agenda against their party, or a DAP conspiracy.

This blatant misuse of power and suspicions of corruption have led to serious charges being filed against leaders. The law has finally caught up with such imposters.

The fact that a politician has violated his oath of office and is now subject to legal scrutiny is clouded over by emotions.

This is the result of years of conditioning that politicians can get past such challenges, as they did in the past by manipulating institutions and the judiciary.

In Malaysia there are several politicians in high positions today, whose history is coloured by scandals.

In some cases, they have even been promoted to become leaders or ministers.

Consider the following realities: in South Africa the scandal surrounding former President Jacob Zuma, his Indian connection, and their skullduggery and embezzlement has landed the former in prison.

Meanwhile, the current South African president is also facing a financial scandal.

The supposed great saviours of Sri Lanka and devout Buddhists, who brought to an end an ethnic conflict have now sold their nation out, leaving it a begging state.

In Pakistan, the elites – including senior army officers – have ransacked the nation and the people are suffering.

To a lesser extend the same is true also for Bangladesh and the Maldives. Corruption scandals have also rocked South Korean politics.

The issue is not race, but a lack of character.

The mix of power and money stimulates greed in many a leader, regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation. That is why term limits are a necessity.

To handle both power and money requires a standard of character that has to be earned. Race is not the defining issue.

Our capacity to manage human nature and respond to the best is often challenged by our own inability to balance need and greed.

Yet identity issues provide a lot of smoke to hide the reality and ignite the blame culture so evident today’s society. We are all vulnerable in this context.

We launched the New Economic Policy in the early 1970s and this, together with the Rukunegara national ideology, aimed at creating a just and equitable nation through national unity, harmony and integrity. We can all judge for ourselves the outcome.

Today, 50 years hence, this policy has been hijacked by political elites whose wealth is beyond imagination, while the poverty of the B40 group remains.

Consider institutions like Felda, Felcra, Mara, Khazanah and PNB, and you wonder why poor Malays are in this condition. Selective preference has given them benefits in more ways than one.

There are very few examples of a majority community given benefits in the context of positive discrimination.

A policy that was to engender justice and fairness is now the cause of much polarisation, with rent seeking motivation and sheer greed crippling the NEP.

Yes, it has created many Malay millionaires and billionaires, political warlords and many who have manipulated politics to remain in power for decades. They have milked the policy at the expense of the larger community.

The monies provided to Malay-based Institutions like Jakim; the annual collection of billions of ringgit in zakat; and the scandals uncovered by the Auditor-General’s Report have all been mind boggling.

Where is the notion of character, of honesty and integrity? Does race and religion justify the lack of these qualities? Do the ends justify the means? Religiosity is never a sign of character, be it statements from PAS or the BJP in India.

So many have under the guise of race and religion amassed wealth of undue proportions and the political leaders of the past decade have either closed one eye or were unable to act because their own hands were dirty.

This includes people of other ethnic and religious backgrounds who continue to be part of the political spectrum.

If our religious persuasion does not inspire us to become better people, then religion is reduced to mere adoration and worship.

Then what comes our way is ‘rezeki’ to be amassed for self-adulation and status.

It takes courage to stand up for transparency and good governance, and to speak about these with conviction. You cannot do so if your life is compromised.

We now have a leader who attempts to walk the talk, however imperfectly this may be perceived. That he does so is refreshing. However, as he does this for the larger good he stands in need of everyone’s support.

Our leaders should be more concerned about their character than their reputation. Now many stand to lose both. – March 16, 2023.

* K. Haridas 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.