We are All in the Same Boat staying in different cabins. Put our Trust in a Good Captain of a Government.

When the world seems to be converging, UMNO leadership does the opposite. UMNO promotes divisiveness. Now it’s promoting a special brand of fear- that Malays are doomed if others take over the country. Malay monarchy is threatened and Islam is imperilled.

Of course all these things can happen if all Malays subscribe to what UMNO promotes. (1) Malays are a hapless lot (2) The Monarchy needs UMNO to be its spokesman (3) the faith of the Malays is so fragile.

Do we see Malays dropping dead like flies during 5 years of Pakatan rule in Selangor? Do we see Malays dying on the streets during all the years PAS ruled Kelantan?  Do we even see Malays dying under Guan Eng’s Penang Administration?

If Lim Kit Siang wins for example, there will be racial clashes. If DAP wins it will dominate Malaysian politics. UMNO is attributing too much credit to old warhorse Kit Sang. How can one person throw UMNO off balance?

Because, kit Siang is not fighting UMNO/BN alone. There are many millions walking with him, giving each other courage and strength. That is scaring the Mahathir-type Malays in this country. Mahathir of course assumes the Malays in PAS, in PKR and the Malays at large are sissies. Others can’t articulate for their interest, hopes and aspirations as well as Mahathir-type Malays can?

For whom does Mahathir speak? Mahathir is speaking for the select few- those who connived to get RM52billion of the RM54 billion shares issued by the government under the NEP. Mahathir is of course the spokesman of and for the select few who get tenders after tenders, wealth generating resources time after time. Mahathir is the chief spokesperson for the rich and powerful- nothing in common with the 8.7 million Malays living on a monthly income of RM1500 below.

And Mahathir has the gall to say that after 55 years of UMNO rule, Malays are beggars in the country? Who failed to uplift them?

You have had 55 years of opportunity to rectify the situation and you have failed miserably. What can you do in 5 years, what you can’t do in 55? Please don’t insult our intelligence and dismiss our resolve to throw out the one who has failed us.

 UMNO places our country in perpetual racial tension and continuing divergence.

When I campaigned  to villagers in Sungai Kelau and Sungai Ruan in Raub, I had to speak in pidgin Malay or Bahasa Pasar. As long as we continue living perpetually divided, feeding off prejudices and differences, we cannot progress. We are of course different in many ways but we are also similar in many ways. We share the resolve to establish a good government based on the rule of law where the relations between all stake holders, government and people, people and people are configured on rules-based relationship. Rights are protected by the rule of law. Hopes are underlined by the rule of law. Fears reduced by the operation of the rule of law.  

We are all in the same boat. When this boat sinks, we sink together. The sorry state doesn’t distinguish its drowning victims; it knows not whether the drowning person is Malay, Chinese or Indian.

Malays form 55% of the population in Malaysia. It has only 55% support base. Can UMNO get all 55%? It can’t. The only way it can continue to be relevant, is to widen its support base. That can be achieved by being an inclusive party not in name but in practice and deed. The Chinese is 24% of our population. Can they live like an Island? They can’t. The have only 24% support base.

If DAP wins all, it gets only 24% support. What will it become? It will become an island promoting chauvinism and its own insular thinking.  It cannot be relevant for all Malaysia unless it adapts to the environment. It too must be inclusive. That is the way of the future.

Can anyone rule without factoring in the fact that the majority of the population is Malay? Can anyone rule without factoring in the fact that Malays have had longer historical and cultural affinity with this country? No one can.

What has Guan Eng done in Penang? He has gone to great lengths to demonstrate that Malays can live better under a good and honest government. Islamic interests are looked after reasonably well and better than in most of the UMNO led states. Mat Hassan of N9 allocates Rm10 million to Islamic Council, Guan Eng gives RM 60 million. That has been possible because Penang has an honest government free from corruption and financial leakages from the state treasury.

Any party that refuses to adapt will perish. UMNO will not remain relevant if it continues to live off its policies of racial hegemony. No one wants to be dominated by another. UMNO can only retain hegemony as long as it can convince Malays the way forward is to be bellicose and belligerent. The majority of right thinking Malays do not subscribe to UMNO’s brand of bigotry and belligerence. 3.7 million of the 5.7 million Malays did so in the 2008 elections when they refused to vote for UMNO candidates. UMNO candidates got only 2 million Malay votes.

The Majority must now come together and believe all can be better off under and honest and good government.