AT least three royal addresses or decrees in the past month – from the sultans of Perak, Johor, and Selangor, have touched on the need for politicians to tone down their 3R rhetoric, highlighting the consequences for the nation in failing to do so. 

With the elections behind us and power-grabbing rhetoric fading away, the emphasis should be on mending frayed ties and fostering togetherness. 

Instead, we have states wanting their own national day logo and celebration, which is ironic for a day celebrating our collective independence.  

It was ridiculous then when Pakatan Rakyat (PR) did it and it is ridiculous now that Perikatan Nasional (PN) wants to follow suit. 

If anything, it is even more so, given PR then consisted of one mixed state, one (then) Chinese majority state, and three Malay supermajority states, while PN today only consists of the last. To make matters worse, not even all PN-led states want this. 

With the situation now of one multiracial coalition and one overwhelmingly Muslim-Malay coalition, in an environment as highly charged as ours, even matters that are not racial in nature will somehow take that tone and be read as such.  

Consequently, movements, policies, statements, and rhetoric need to be carefully crafted to minimise that effect.  

“Safe” activities of common interest that reach across the aisle and cut across all strata of society should be the focus, and themes of national events could feature these to cool down the political temperature and create a more conducive environment for meaningful discussions without dissolving into politically charged exchanges meant to score cheap brownie points. 

Poverty eradication and the boosting of benefits for the B40 group are two important things the Madani government seems to be doing right. 

These transcend race and religion and are difficult to find fault with.  

Mutual suspicion needs to be cast aside.   

While both sides may be wary of the other “breaching” their own political base, it can be viewed as an opportunity to win over the other side. 

This will undoubtedly propel a positive agenda forward, while repelling the need for politicking. 

Both sides will then be able to vie for credit for “doing” something rather than accusing their opponents of “not doing” anything.  

Merdeka offers us this chance: to look beyond petty politics for a change, and to look at ways to uplift ourselves and our neighbours.   

Malaysians need to realise that our states do not live in a vacuum.  

Selangor is doing well as it serves as a gateway for people and products for the entire country. Penang does well on the back of labour provided by neighbouring states.  

Conversely, Kelantan and Terengganu do well because their labour workforce is out in other parts of the country.  

Malacca counts local tourists as a key economic contributor. Sabah’s and Sarawak’s contribution to our oil and gas, timber and natural resources pays for many of our national bills – defence, policing, and national infrastructure.  

Calls for boycotts against each other are appalling and denote how low we have sunk as a country, divided to the point of wishing our neighbours ill because of political differences.  

There is great wisdom in our royal decrees on stopping the political spiral. Ignoring them would be perilous. – August 23, 2023.  

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* 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.