Is it not time for the Election Commission to be armed with clearer, firmer laws to promptly deal with those who touch on race and religious sensitivities during political ceramahs?
Unquestionably, the narrative driven by some ethno-nationalists in this country often centers on safeguarding the sensitivities of the majority demographic.
But what about the sensitivities of minority groups?
Is it acceptable then to “trample” on the feelings of the local Chinese, Indians and others—even if it's done indirectly?
Well, controversial Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor seems to be facing fierce backlash now after igniting a race-related political firestorm.
During a recent ceramah for the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election, the maverick PAS leader allegedly claimed that “Chinese have China, Indians have India… while Malays only have Tanah Melayu.”
Understandably, his remarks have been taken to imply that while the two minority communities have their own ancestral homelands to fall back on, the Malays only have this land and nowhere else to go.
On the face of it, the statement does seem pretty innocuous, especially if it is directed to a Malay audience—many of whom may even nod in agreement.
However, it was mentioning the other two races in the same breath that has seemingly riled up many non-Malays and sparked a massive uproar in the country.
Moreover, those words were uttered in Negeri Sembilan, a progressive state, with a sizeable Chinese and Indian population.
Not in Kedah or Kelantan!
What's more, even BN Chairman Zahid Hamidi felt compelled to admonish the PAS election director, telling him to stick to managing his home state of Kedah.
With his party having entered into an electoral understanding with PAS for the NS state election, Zahid had little choice but to intervene if his coalition hoped to secure the crucial non-Malay votes.
Furthermore, DAP leaders—fully aware of the uphill battle Pakatan Harapan faces in retaining the state—were quick to condemn the remarks as dangerous, toxic politics designed to sow racial division.
For them it would have been an unexpected bonus after the battering they received in Johor just weeks ago!
Perhaps this is what made Zahid all the more furious, prompting him to “warn” the PAS leader to stay away from the state!
The thing is, whenever elections draw near, politicians in this country predictably resort to potentially inflammatory rhetoric questioning the loyalty of non-Malays.
Critics may even allege that such statements indirectly cast doubt on the legitimate citizenship of not just Chinese and Indians, but also Eurasians and others who have settled here for centuries and helped build this nation to what it is today.
Inevitably, this raises a serious question: are there subtle attempts by some quarters to reshape history by steadily marginalizing the legacy and contributions of the minorities?
The reality is simple: millions of non-Malays were born here, and Malaysia is their only homeland. Period.
So why continue to harp on the origin of their forefathers?
True, many Indians remain fond of Bollywood, Kollywood, and the sub-continent's rich cultural heritage. Likewise, many Chinese enjoy Hong Kong's lively entertainment scene and admire China's remarkable technological advancements.
But does appreciating cultural roots mean their allegiance lies elsewhere?
By that same flawed logic, given how many Malays have embraced Arab fashion and lifestyle trends, would it not be equally absurd to claim that their loyalty may be to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, or the UAE?
This raises another disturbing question: are opportunistic political leaders using “reverse psychology” to instigate the majority race purely for political gain?
The fact is, many Malays themselves trace their heritage to Indonesia, the Arab world, China, India, and beyond. Even several of Malaysia's most prominent leaders, past and present, share lineage from foreign lands.
Doesn't Tunku Abdul Rahman reportedly have Thai ancestry?
Is Dr. Mahathir’s Indian heritage not well documented?
And what about Najib Razak, with his Bugis roots from Sulawesi?
Was Tun Hussein Onn also not reported to have Turkish ancestry?
Yet, undoubtedly, all these national figures are true-blue Malaysians—proving that diverse ancestral roots are a norm here!
Most significantly, didn't Parameswara himself originate from Sumatra rather than Tanah Melayu—a historical fact ultra-nationalist politicians tend to ignore?
The Orang Asal communities here may also argue that historically, they were the original inhabitants of this land, effectively making everyone else "immigrants" with their actual roots elsewhere.
The truth is, the topic of ethnic origins is subjective, and almost no one can say for sure who their earliest ancestors were.
So could there be a far darker motive behind some political leaders' alleged racially-tinged inflammatory rhetoric?
In fact, by subtly planting certain notions in the Malay psyche and reinforcing the false narrative that non-Malays are perpetual pendatangs (outsiders), are these politicians laying the groundwork for dangerous, unchecked ethno-religious dominance?
Surely, all this would leave many wondering how much longer the Madani government will allow politicians and other influential public figures to freely utter potentially seditious statements without facing any punitive action.
Haven't some of them, including certain so-called freelance preachers, done enough damage to this nation already?
For sure the latest race-related episode involving PAS is bound to affect the sentiments of some Chinese and Indian voters in the state. On the other hand, the BN Chairman's open chastisement of the Islamist party may have also put off some of the latter's hardcore supporters.
But beyond politics, the reality in this country is that certain ultra-nationalist elements often demand absolute loyalty from non-Malays. So why then keep invoking their ancestral origins—unless the hidden agenda is to impress upon them that this land is not really theirs?
Main information source: Malaysiakini, Free Malaysia Today and Focus Malaysia.
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