60 years ago, Malaysia forefathers created a federal constitution to create a multi racial and religious country. It took into consideration the indigenous populations especially the impoverish Malays by having Malays Special rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution. It was a social contract where non-Malays are granted citizenship and guaranteed freedom of religion and language. It also accepted and recognised the strong economic dominance of the non-Malays to continue practising their commercial activities. The Malays on the other hand will run the country, concentrates on civil governance and administration and also include the major security agencies including the military and police. However this arrangement was short-lived when racial riots broke out in May 1969.
UMNO led government then implemented social engineering through NEP where the economic pies of the Malay was enlarged and given privileges in major economic activities including finance, communication, petroleum and plantation business. All major civil engineering contracts were also awarded to preferred Bumiputras without tenders. This action did manage to pacify the Malays but at the end only a minority composing those aligned with UMNO truly benefited. This opened the flood gate for cronyism and nepotism. As such the Malays masses in general were left out. On the contrary, the NEP was seen to marginalise even the Malays and of course the minority races. The non-Malays took it in their stride, overcoming the challenges and obstacles, sometimes through corruption to get thing done. Corruptions have grown unabated and have become endemic. Those in power exploited the opportunities and enriched themselves. Yes, from the lowest ranks of policemen to ministers could not avoid the temptations of easy money.
The vicious cycle of money politics bloomed among BN politicians. Those in power know that to ensure a place in elected office, they are obliged to spend money to buy votes, speak the language of the masses to stay relevant and popular. Racial rhetoric, at times ignoring the sensitivities of the other races and religions, as in defending Malay rights and religion becomes a key platform for their survival. Kissing and drawing the Kris, tough talks of spilling blood to defend Malays rights are standard battle cry for top UMNO leaders. This was the known winning formulas for some time.
It has also become a culture among UMNO leaders to capitalise on any opportunities to go on the streets to demonstrate. Any non-Malays who spoke against Malays rights is guaranteed to incite a retaliation. Is it a Malay psyche to display superiority or is it the fear of being overwhelmed by others? Both are plausible. It is common but unfortunate that non-Malay are stereotyping the Malays in very negative light. Naturally, Malays are compelled to defend its image in a more aggressive manner. At the same time, the Malays have been constantly scared by UMNO leadership that they are very weak and only UMNO is strong enough to protect Malays from being marginalised in their own soil. With constant bickering and reminders, many Malays have actually been conditioned and convinced.
With the court granting the Catholic Church the right to use the word “Allah”, the stage is set for UMNO to defend its Malay ground again. But this time round, many ordinary Malays took thing into their own hands by burning churches. Some quarters believed the arson could have been orchestrated. UMNO leaders responded immediately to contain the ground, but the fuse have been ignited and only drastic measure and cool minds of the non-Malays kept this volatile issues from uncontrollable fallout.
But the real issue and the crux of the problem Malaysia faced today is not about the burning of churches or the use of “Allah” by non-Muslims. The Malaysian government can assure the public and international investors that this is an isolated incident perpetrated by some individual and there is nothing to worry about. Unfortunately the government is still in a denial mode, it just not have the courage to acknowledge that deep rooted racial politics is the real culprit.
Race-based politics has been so deeply entrenched in Malaysian politics. Such politics has become so outmoded in a globalised world when instant news can no longer be buried, instead, it can be transmitted to the living room of a remotest ‘kampong’ as it happened.
BN has become a dinosaur too big to dismantle. UMNO has become a monster so greedy and overfed with corruption and finding no motivation to change its patronising system. MCA and MIC leaders have been given lucrative perks and benefits by their political patron UMNO that their entire leadership takes pains to selfishly guard their positions.
Unless there is a major political earthquake, a major reform caused by severe economic crisis or another May 13, change is unlikely. This church burning episode will just be another sub-chapter. No one ever doubt new episodes are already lined up at regular interval, just like soap operas on television.
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