The need for more confidence

The annual UMNO general assembly ended yesterday. It is a time when fiery communal speeches on Malay rights and privileges were made by UMNO leaders. The call for the 'ketuanan Melayu' were aired live over television and not made behind closed doors. The general assembly was concluded with a call by the Prime Minister to return to moderation and tolerance. He attempted to justify such racial rhetorics by saying that "... the other component parties – just like Umno too – had to serve their own communities which had their own set of demands."

I find this annual affair of fiery communal speeches followed by calls for reconciliation and tolerance rather absurd. No doubt, any leaders or aspiring leaders has to maintain some support and what better way than to play the race card. However, by doing so, this will only serve to destroy what had been done to try to bring the various races together. Why undo what had or seemed to have been achieved in the last 360 days, just for a 5-day session which will only serve the self-interest of the leaders? Why create an atmosphere of tension only to be reminded again that UMNO also serves a country with different ethnic background? Luckily, the 'rules' of the country does not allow the other ethnic component parties to use the same yardstick when it comes to make 'fiery' racial speeches. I cannot imagine what would happen if MCA, MIC or the PBS make the same-styled fiery communal speeches in their general assemblies.

Probably there is a better way than this. Instead of destroying a healthy racial climate, why not abstained from making such speeches that "is always hot but under control. It is hot but does not burn, angry but without coming to blows." After all, heat and anger are very subjective. Heat maybe intolerable to some but not to others. Some can contain anger better than the others. In short, no matter how controlled the heat or the anger is, there is always a risk that some in the community might not be able to handle them. The end result is that some will get burned or come to blows. I am sure nobody in Malaysia wants to see this tragic incident.

Next year we will be celebrating the 50th year of independence. Most of the people in the country has accepted that UMNO will always form the backbone of the governement and that Islam will be the official religion in the country. And in Malaysia, Islam is constitutionally synonymous with Malay and hence UMNO. The coalition of ethnic-based political party that is the Barisan Nasional, is the only way to maintain a stable government and any thoughts of an ethnic-based coalition without a Malay-based party being able to form a stable government is just wishful thinking. Given these facts it sometimes it surprises me how insecure UMNO is.

UMNO's insecurity is reflected by the speeches made. There are many instances but the few important ones are the followings:

1. The questioning by Johor UMNO on the creation of Bangsa Malaysia. I have blogged on this previously. By rejecting the notion of Bangsa Malaysia, he had essentially rejected the possibility where race becomes subservient to the country. The concept of Bangsa Malaysia can also provide the starting point where communal politics becomes irrelevant and the catch phrase shifts from racial tolerance to racial integration. This would surely reduce a potential flash point. To be sure, even without the communal component party, the true power will still be in the hands of the Malays, being the largest majority in the country with their interest protected by the constitution.

2. The call for extension of NEP beyond 2020. This was revealed by the Deputy Prime Minister in his speech when he said that there is no time limit to the Malay agenda. Unfortunately this will surely reinforce the 'crutch' mentality that UMNO leaders had been saying from time to time. It is surprising that after nearly 50 years of independence and 30 years of affirmative actions, the Malays are still not confident enough to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with the other ethnic groups. There are many entrepreneural Malays and multimillionaire Malays in Malaysia and I am sure they definitely would like to be perceived as equals among their peers; that their success is from their own ability and not from the perennial help that they get from the government. The NEP, if to be extended, should be tweaked so that the poor majority and not just the privileged few will benefit.

3. The refusal on the setting up of Inter-Faith Council. The call by non-Muslims to set up the IFC is not to question the status of Islam but create a channel where sensitive issues of religion can be discussed, something akin to the spirit of Barisan National. By having such a council, it removes the risk of confusions that may arise from negative reportings and rumours. This will reduce potential conflicts in the country. I am sure Islam is strong enough to withstand any perceived threat from the setting up of the IFC. After all Islam had been through worse times in its history and is currently experiencing a revival. With IFC, touchy issues like those controversy involving conversion to Islam among non-Muslim family can be addressed without any emotional rhethorics and help further reducing potential flashpoints. With Muslims leaders sitting together with leaders of other faiths, will not diminished the status of Islam, but on the contrary enhance its status as a modern tolerant religion. This is especiall pertinent in the current political climate when Islam is viewed in the negative light by most Western governments.

Malays and UMNO has come a long way since independence. They had proven that they can be as advanced as the other races. Given such impressive track record, they should be more confident in trying to remove the crutch mentality that had been directed at them because of the affirmative policy of the government. To truly achieve the status of Ketuanan Melayu, it is imperative that UMNO show more confidence and magnanimity and accept other races as equals. By so doing, the defensive postures the other races take will be reduced and the magnanimity reciprocated. This can only serve to enhance the status of the Malays and UMNO.