GE13: Muhibah (Multiethnic) ... Part 4

The direct translation for “multiethnic” is “berbilang kaum” but the word “muhibah” seem more relevant in conceptualizing Malaysians’ and Pakatan’s dream of “various ethnic groups living in harmony without racism”. All Malaysian cultures, languages and religions are protected and preserved as a unique Malaysian identity.

Unfortunately, the issue of racism will continue to haunt Malaysian as long as Barisan Nasional (BN) is in power. Indeed, they are the root, perpetual and symbol of racism.

This alliance was originally formed based on the partnership of three ethnic-based parties, namely UMNO, MCA and MIC. As urgent needs to gain independent, this is acceptable then. Sadly, despite over 55 years in partnership within the Alliance/BN coalition, these parties remain ethnic-based.

Actually, UMNO has a good opportunity to be a multiracial party. In the UMNO’s half-year General Meeting on March 1951, Onn Jaafar, the founder and first President of UMNO, proposed to open membership of UMNO to the non-Malay and renaming UMNO to “United MALAYA National Organization”. However, his proposal went unheeded resulting Onn Jaafar left the party on August 1951 but reminded the Malays that democratic rule should not protect the rights of only one group of its citizens.

In contemporary Malaysia, UMNO members have been voicing racist remarks. So does their newspaper, Utusan Malaysia. The BN government does nothing to racist extremist group of Perkasa. In a more recent surprise, UMNO/BN field Perkasa vice-chairperson Zulkifli Noordin for the Shah Alam parliamentary seat as well as make way for the chairperson Ibrahim Ali in Pasir Mas. MCA’s chairman openly supported this decision. Are these a BN’s endorsement to Perkasa and racism? Or, is it that Perkasa in the actual Boss of UMNO/BN?

As for MCA, striking fear of Islam into Chinese community seems to be their tradition. Perhaps, they thought racist politic is their life-jacket to survive or even prevent political transformation waves in Malaysia. In previous general elections, propaganda against PAS and Islam religion were plenty in Chinese newspapers. In this GE13, they even advertised in English medium newspaper and in colour! In those advertisements and their ceramah campaigns, Islam is portrayed as “scary”. Thus, who is insulting Islam? MCA is not only insulting Islam but Malaysians.

In MIC, it former President Samy Vellu seem to be more popular than the party, abide for the wrong publicity. Perhaps, the biggest wave the Indian community has made in Malaysian politic is through Hindu Rights Action Forces (Hindraf) during 12^th General Election in March 2008. Its Hindraf rally on 25^th November 2007 created the Makkal Sakhti (People Power) that trigger the political tsunami in GE12. Yet, Hindraf has split, half declaring support for BN while other half against. Hindraf is necessary and beneficially in short term but need to dismantle its ethnic-based structure and struggle if it is to be relevant in multiethnic future direction of Malaysian politics.

For Pakatan, their political struggle maturing fast. Decade ago, we could hardly see DAP and PAS grouped together. In GE12, flags of both parties were tied together, carried around town and kampung in group of Malay, Chinese and Indian supporters. This GE13, the maturity of Malaysian politics goes higher into another level. When DAP is facing risk of being denied to use its Rocket symbol, PAS and PKR offered theirs which DAP gladly accepted. This issue has become viral through social media. Thus, variety versions of the Green Ubah Birds are created, shared and being made profile pictures in Facebook as a gesture of support.

We determine our country future. Do we want to continue the colonial’s style to disunite our society according to races and ruled over us? Maybe we do prefer to enjoy nasi lemak on a same table with friends of different ethnics.

Racism or muhibah is now being put to vote.