I VIVIDLY recall reading, while in primary school, about the struggle for Malaysian independence. One name that caught my attention at that time was Onn Jaafar. His struggle against the proposed Malaysian Union probably sparked off the intense struggle for independence from the clutches of the British empire. He then went on to form the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) and left much later, because he had wanted what he had formed to be open to all races.

Of him, the Encyclopedia Britannica says: “Although known as an advocate of specifically Malay interests, Onn in 1951 resigned from Umno because it rejected his proposal that membership be open to persons of all races. He was replaced by Tunku Abdul Rahman, later prime minister of Malaysia.” And the rest is history.

Looking back today, one could quite easily call Onn’s intention to be inclusive as prophetic, visionary, far-sighted, and even imaginative. In many ways, his struggle for inclusivity is what many Malaysians idealise for the future of this country. If we had taken that path, we probably would not be where we are today with regards to politics and religion.

One could be led to think that at the birth of Malaya (and Malaysia), we were not ready for such inclusivity in the political domain, but nevertheless, many of us have nostalgic memories of our childhood where inclusivity was not talked about but lived; we did not see our differences but walked in and out of each other’s homes with great ease.

Race or ethnic consciousness can often be an advantage, but given our 61-year history, it has become a pain in the rear in recent decades, especially when it has been used to divide and polarise society to the extent that we identify ourselves within the country by our ethnic origins, and not merely as Malaysians as how we do when abroad.

The last two general elections, at least in peninsular Malaysia, have shown that race-based politics are no longer the future of Malaysia. Many of the people that I come across in daily life have more or less given up on and rejected race-based political parties like MCA, MIC, and even Gerakan and PPP, which are sometimes defined along racial lines.

Given this new scenario which has the writing on the wall crystal-clear, I was appalled to read that early last month, we now have another “new political party” that wants to protect, promote, and advance the interests of the Indian community. Haven’t we learnt our lesson? Haven’t we had enough of this political rhetoric? Haven’t we learnt, since May 9, to be a united Malaysia? This really does not augur well for the rest of us when it is being led by the minister entrusted with the task of national unity. I wonder how something like this could bring forth a united Malaysia?

As I mentioned earlier, being conscious of one’s racial or ethnic identity is not always a bad thing, because the diversity and inclusivity that we bring to the table for nation-building can indeed be our strength. However, when those whom we have chosen to govern a multiracial and multiethnic Malaysia begin to speak the language of exclusivity, what different is this new government from the previous?

Personally, I have had enough of this racial and ethnic rhetoric, which will surely not take us anywhere great in the future. I am sympathetic towards those in government for the enormous task that lies ahead in making Malaysia great again, but if they want me and many others to support them in this endeavour, we need to do it as Malaysians – one nation, one people. Will we ever get to the point when we can take care of each other irrespective of race, religion, or ethnicity?

As long as politicians, whether old or new, Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan, keep replaying the racial card in different forms, I am confident that we can never be united no matter who the government of the day is. It is a sensitive subject to raise, but do we have someone who can be prophetic, visionary, far-sighted, and even imaginative to piece together our fragmented nation? At this time of our history, where we have a great opportunity to reset Malaysia, the petty squabbles about leadership, language, and even sexual orientation might just detract us from becoming one nation, one people. – October 1, 2018.

* Clarence Devadass is a Catholic priest and the director of the Catholic Research Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Moral education is an issue close to his heart, in which he focuses on paving resourceful ways of promoting the virtues for living in a multireligious society for a significant life together.

* Dr Clarence Devadass is a Catholic priest and director of the Catholic Research Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Moral education is an issue close to his heart. He focuses on paving resourceful ways to promote virtues for living in a multireligious society, for a significant life together.

* 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.