WE are over 60 years into independence and the time has come to address some hard questions and assumptions of some Malaysians. The whole question of “Malaysian Malaysia” and “secularism” has to be intelligently discussed.

What is wrong with Malaysian Malaysia? How is it different from 1Malaysia? What about those who shout that they are Malay, Chinese or Indian first?

If so, what does it mean to be a Malaysian? Secularism does not today mean an absence or negation of God. There are nations like Indonesia and India that are secular in style but allow the freedom of worship.

We need to think more rather than fall victim to knee-jerk reactions or conditioned responses. The ethnic impasse created by former governments is coming to roost and we need fresh thinking that contributes to the building of a cohesive society in Malaysia. The need is for all of us to broaden our mindsets.

We in Malaysia respect Islam as the official religion of the state, but there is a need for greater sensitivity to the freedom of other faiths and for interfaith engagement. The Islamist PAS should not dictate the status of our constitution, the Rukun Negara or the status of Islam in Malaysia.

We are all bound by this and the state should be strong enough to hold them accountable. To brand other Malays “kafir” is to go beyond what is permissible, what more when used against members of other ethnic groups

The more inclusive we become, the more respectful and understanding we are with each other. By being Malaysian, I have not negated my ethnic identity but grown to become Malaysian. This mindset is much needed, lest we remain ethnic bigots.

We have for the last 60 years been challenged by several visions. All these visions were well articulated and presented, but the most critical factor was the absence of practitioners – role models who acted on what they believed.

If Malaysia Madani is to write a different chapter in the progress of Malaysia, then we have to see this in action, conduct and behaviour.

The New Economic Policy (NEP) was a 20-year experiment. No one begrudged this policy but unfortunately those who rode on the NEP could never dismount and ethnicity became the basis for its prolongation.

The failure lies not in the policy but in its implementation. There is a need if we are serious to look at this reality. With so many government-linked companies (GLCs) like Mara, Felda, Felcra and Petronas spawning policies, they should have ensured Bumiputeras’ economic gains by now, but what are the net results?

The political elite have made their beds. The disproportionate wealth held by politicians and heads of GLCs have robbed the poor. This was a “muhibbah” venture and Barisan Nasional and its leaders should be held accountable. They condoned this behaviour, and self-interest took the lead against the wishes of the vast majority of Bumiputeras for whom this policy was framed.

The time has come for another Independent National Consultative Committee to discuss and frame the future while conducting closed-door, honest conversations on our collective failures. There should be no more whitewashing and condoning the wrongs perpetuated on racial grounds.

None of this can be changed overnight and politicians alone cannot do it. There is a need for a wider consultative group. Our education system is a mess. Nowhere is it more polarised, and unless firm action is taken, we will prolong this situation.

Public and private universities are ethnically polarised. Mediocrity is replacing meritocracy. The lack of exams as a basis of evaluation severely undercuts the quality of education. The school system is so fragmented with national and vernacular schools, religious schools, private schools, church-based schools, home schools and tuition centres.

We need meritocracy, or we will compromise on the standards of our doctors, lawyers and engineers. We have for years heard of Bumiputera candidates being passed despite not meeting the required grades. We have to stop bluffing ourselves about Mara residential schools or other race-based institutions.

The Chinese and Tamil schools seem to be doing well and their enrolments are rising. The national schools, which should be the preference, is declining. Today’s parents make sacrifices to send their children to private and international schools. If we do not shift national policy, we will see an even more polarised Malaysian society in the decades to come.

There is also a need to look at our civil service. Our delivery system is poor. Instead of being a service that facilitates, the civil service has bloomed into another regulatory service. Too many employees and the need to keep them occupied has resulted in superfluous requirements, birthing little Napoleons across the service.

I have personally experienced difficulties in meeting even the education minister despite several reminders. We met another official, who then requested that we bring our challenges to the attention of the minister. We are not just critics, but also people who would like to see Malaysia Madani make a difference.

There is a need for an ombudsman to whom we can bring our concerns, and without an effective and actionable civil service, Malaysia Madani is in grave danger. – September 6, 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.