Malay and Chinese Politics

 

Our obsession with the current politics entitles some of us to ask, who is minding the store? Our economy seems to be on auto pilot, a trait that is also becoming part of a tradition. I hope, running the country is not an extension of how our UMNO leaders are running UMNO.

The ones jumping up and down, obsess with politics are the Malays. The Chinese, less so. The ones less prosperous are the Malays. The Chinese on the other hand, are more prosperous. Is there a link here? Could it be possible that it is the politics the two races subscribed to, that explain their relative prosperity? Perhaps it is because of the obsession with politics that explained their economic performance.

I don't want to beat around the bush. In the olden days we asked, how do we explain the differences between Chinese and Malays. By that we mean, why are the Chinese more prosperous and the Malays less so?

We would probably answer, oh, it's because the two races are made up of different cultural constitution. That is reflected in things like we differ in our work values, our appreciation of wealth, our attitude towards work, etc.

The Chinese has a long tradition of commerce. It's in them. The Malays have no such tradition. They were mostly peasants and farmers. This perception ignores the fact the early Chinese who came here in substantial numbers in the 19^th century were not from the commercial class. They were displaced peasants, in other words, the same as the Malays. Yet in one generation, they have become prosperous. Many were subjects of fabled from rags to riches story.

That cultural thing, seems to me, would be the plausible conventional explanation and a starting point for discussion.

My own theory is, perhaps attachment to politics is the key to unlocking the mystery. It's the type of politics which the different races subscribe to, that explain why the two races are different. That will also explain, why the successful Malays are those willing to re-examine their relationship with the type of politics they are attached to. That sets them apart from their own brethren unwilling to re-examine their kind of politics. Those Malays who are successful are those who are willing to conduct revolutionary change in their politics.

Let me explain the politics of the Chinese and in particular their perception of government.

The Chinese it seems are less attached to the government. They are independent of the government. Being less dependent imbues the Chinese with differing world outlook. I use the term differing instead of different purposefully. The term, differing suggests a behaviour that is a product of conscious decision, while different would suggest an innate behaviour. The implication is that changing perception towards government and politics for the Malays is very possible. Changing is a doable thing.

The Chinese developed the talent of looking after themselves rather than tying up their interests in government. Perhaps it is safe to say, the Chinese has a more detached view of government.

The Chinese view government as a work of leisure and that, by definition requires people who attached greater importance to leisure. The Chinese who came here in the 19^th century wanted to work, make money and sent them back to China. Government would distract their endeavours of working hard, making money, and go away. They were not interested in anything that would distract them from opportunities for the acquisition of wealth.

The Chinese view of the government is a practical one and also businesslike. As L.A Mills the historian observed, the Chinese looked upon governments as something that are to be placated, to be evaded or to be bought when they are oppressive. Most of the times, government is to be obeyed passively. It's a practical policy of live and let live. You do your thing; don't disturb me kind of thinking.

Hence to the Chinese, independence- of- government is an arrangement and even an attitude that is actively cultivated. That outlook serves the community better in making wealth because it cultivates the very important behaviour trait of relying on one's own resources to succeed. A good by product of this kind of thinking is, it gives the government less room to impinge on you and its relevance, less in your life. This is the kind of politics more favoured by the Chinese. Government is less relevant.

In contrast, in the type of politics where dependence and attachment to government predominate, a different behavioural pattern emerges. It is one that robs the independent streak. Once attachment and dependence sets in, you allow the government greater room to impinge on you. The flipside of this kind of politics is that it allows the government to manipulate you. Because its relevance is very great in your life and the government knows this, it pays for the government to continue preserving that dependence.

I am not sure that UMNO, with its tradition of rule by patronage wants to change its politics with the Malays. As the Malays realise that it is the kind of politics which they subscribed to which inhibits better progress, they will be looking for opportunities to change the government. Unless UMNO appreciates the importance of real change, blind attachment to tradition will hasten its demise.

Malays need and demand real change masters to be at the helm.