I FIND myself feeling rather dumbfounded with the way the August 12 six states elections turned out.
I am neither a politician nor an active participant in the elections, but I was among the many who had voted and urged fellow Malaysians to go out and vote.
Little did I know that the votes that were cast were based on caste!
This is such a sad thing, as we never had any issues with regard to race and religion during my school days. My teachers included the likes of Mother Mangalam, Mrs Fernandez, Puan Sabariah, and Mr Chua Ah Tee – all of different ethnicity and beliefs, but who taught the same lessons and good values to a classroom full of students also of different races and religions.
This would have been the same scenario in any classroom at any time. We were and are still taught to never distrust anyone based on race and religion. However, the recent voting patterns beg to differ.
For those of you, dear Malaysians, who have forgotten our Rukun Negara, I would like to remind everyone of them… these words of gold were the basic tenets of national unity. These are not mere school exercise back page cover nor a mural for any wall. This is our charter and unifier.
● Achieving a greater unity
● Maintaining a democratic way of life
● Creating a just society
● Ensuring the growth of a liberal society
● Building a progressive society
WE, citizens of Malaysia, pledge our united efforts to attain these ends guided by these principles:
1. Belief in God
2. Loyalty to King and country
3. Supremacy of the Constitution
4. The rule of law
5. Good behaviour and morality
We were instilled with the Rukun Negara from our school days. Several leaders and almost every civil servant have gone through Tata Negara programmes, of which the Rukun Negara is the base.
Yet, if we continue to move on racial lines to vote for our leader, then we are only guiding ourselves towards doom.
Politicians are the major cause of this shift in voting manner, and next in line is our education system whereby our younger generation was also misguided to follow suit towards the wrong path.
Malaysia is a multi-racial and multi-religious nation. This means our country comprises different races practising different religions under one roof. Tolerance and respect are the main basis that we must uphold to support this way of life.
Any ordinary citizen in Malaysia will be arrested if he/she were to say anything against the 3Rs – race, religion and royalty. However, there seems to be a different set of rules for politicians and political leaders.
Several opposition leaders have openly criticised several ethnic groups and widely chastised several religions, and even insulted our royals, yet no action has been taken against them.
The recent elections even enabled one of these individuals to become the menteri besar despite him having challenged the royalty not too long ago.
Why are such leniencies accorded to such individuals? They fan racial elements to divide our nation.
Our real conditions include no proper drinking water, a lack of investment, a lack of jobs, a high amount of single mothers, the highest number of drug addicts, the highest mat rempits, the highest number of pornography viewers, and a high amount of smuggling – yet the people are blinded by the political heroes who promise heaven for those who vote for a particular party.
These paint nothing but a very sad picture of our people and also our intelligence.
While I was working with the East Coast Economic Corridor (Ecer), I remember how the federal government was aggressively promoting the three states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, despite two of them being under opposition rule.
The main intention of the Ecer was to bring equal development to the east coast as the other states in the country, and today the Ecer is still continuing to do its best to bring investors to these states.
It also continues to build the East Coast Highway, and several roads, and focus on the coastline beautification of Terengganu; encourage goat and cow farming with acres of unused lands well utilised in these three states.
The East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) too is the brainchild of Ecer, these were and are the great efforts of the federal government, irrespective of their political alliance. With this in mind, a vote cast for caste should not be the way elections are run at all.
Malaysians are tired of these politicians. Their personal interests take precedence over the people’s interests. Thus, they use politics and the existing Westminster system to their advantage and divide the 33 million Malaysians, causing great unrest and chaos.
Malaysians are peace-loving and caring. We are always abiding by the Rukun Negara. We want to stand united and never divide our beautiful nation.
We need unified support and cooperation from every sector of our society to bring Malaysia to the golden era of being the Asian Tiger. We have able bodies and educated minds; all we need is a strong government to do this.
Ayuh, Malaysia! Let’s move forward to move our nation away from these insular, intemperate; glib callous, discriminatory corrupt leaders. Let the Rukunegara be our guide. – August 21, 2023
The writer is a prominent public relations practitioner and community leader