FANNING THE FLAMES

- Yin Ee Kiong

Two flames burn in the hearts of Malaysians:

1. Anger Against Injustice.
2. Hope For A Better Malaysia.

The Malay masses are angry that the NEP which is supposed to lift them have been hijacked so that those who are politically connected are the major beneficiaries. These UMNOputras have benefited disproportionately from those who voted for them. How else do you explain that despite 39 years of robust affirmative action they still lag behind. The system has been abused; their leaders have cheated them. While there is now a large Malay middle class there are also many who still struggle to make ends meet. Many live in slums or low cost housing in the shadows of the palatial residences of the people they put in power. Many rural Malays still do not have the amenities and infrastructures that are found in urban areas. The only time they get anything quickly is when there are by-elections. They know it’s not because the country is poor. The glaring and increasing economic disparity within the community has raised the ire of ordinary Malays.

The non-Malays are angry that despite being second or third generation Malaysians they are still treated as second class citizens and with all that it entails. They too feel that affirmative action has been abused to benefit the select few – including those from their own communities. The thinking of many is that if the NEP (as it was intended) had been implemented efficiently and honestly the Malays would be on par, or thereabout, with the rest and there would be no need for race bias discriminatory policies. To support poor Malays is one thing, but to feed the greed of the rich Malay elite sticks in the craw of most people.

The natives whose land this is, remain at the bottom of the socio-economic heap. They are angry but unfortunately they are the least organised. They depend on the rest of us to give them a fair deal. But the majority have other priorities and so they are largely ignored.

Malaysians across the board are angry with the pervasive corruption in the ruling party and our institutions.

They are also angry with unjust and draconian laws like the ISA; with institutions that have no integrity and have sold their independence to their political masters. They are supposed to safeguard public interests but often serve only the party in power. Malaysians are angry with a justice system which is flawed; with the lack of press freedom; with the inefficiencies of its institutions and the low standards of its schools and universities.

THERE IS A LOT OF ANGER IN MALAYSIA!

BUT THERE IS ALSO HOPE!

Malaysians are no longer prepared to tolerate corruption, racial discrimination and injustice. They spoke out in the election of 2008 and at every by-election since.

Recently Malaysians have demonstrated against the Constitutional Crisis in Perak, the ISA, the death of Teoh Beng Hock an opposition political operative, and many others who have died in police custody.

This kind of open outrage would have been unheard of even 15 years ago when Malaysians seemed so docile and subservient. Then, many did not believe that an individual can make a difference. Worse, anyone who rocks the boat is labeled a recalcitrant, a misfit, a malcontent, a troublemaker.

That all seems a lifetime away, but was only yesterday.

This change in public attitude is a measure of their anger.

The silent majority is no longer silent.

This is cause for optimism.

There is hope when Malaysians today are increasingly focused on issues rather than race. Even five years ago it would have been political suicide for any politician, more so a Malay, to say that he will abolish the NEP and replace it with a colour-blind affirmative action programme which is based on needs and not race. Or to debunk the idea of “Ketuanan Melayu” and instead talk of “Ketuanan Rakyat”. And to say this in Malay constituencies is a measure of how much the political climate has changed.

Malay leaders like Zaid Ibrahim and Tunku Abdul Aziz, disgusted with what is going on have decided to join the opposition. It won’t be long before UMNO veteran Tengku Razaleigh follow suit.

Justice and fair play is colour blind, no matter what our race, we all want it.

But it’s not only opposition politicians who are making waves.

In their own quiet ways ordinary Malaysians have been doing their bit to make Malaysia a better country.

Aliran has been championing the cause of social justice for decades and still does, without wavering.

Yasmin Ahmad’s ‘Sepet’ has done more for race relations than all the rantings of politicians. She has also pushed the boundaries of religious freedom and tolerance in her films. In her own way she was a first class activist.

Then there are those volunteers in the National House Buyers Association who fight against an unjust and unfair system that exploits house buyers. This may not grab the headlines but it affects every house-buyer or aspiring house-buyer.

And then there are people like Steven Gan whose Malaysiakini offers an alternative news source to the government owned and controlled media.

Or Nadeswaran who is not afraid to take on the vested interests.

Colin Nicholas with his NGO (COOAC) who champions the cause of the natives which most of us ignore.

Raja Petra risks his freedom every time he takes on the establishment. He and the thousands of bloggers do it because they are angry – they want justice and fair play.

There are many more – businessmen, housewives, workers and students - who are not afraid to protest against injustice in one way or another. These are ordinary Malaysians who owe no party allegiance but who just want to do their part to make the country better.

They are part of the civil society that has finally woken up.

All this happened in the space of fifteen years – a blink of an eye in historical terms.

So despite the corruption, the oppression, and shenanigans of the ruling party, I remain optimistic. I see a half full glass.

But we are not there yet. Although we have come a long way, Malaysians are in general, still reluctant to stand up and be counted. It’s still the minority who are at the coal face of instigating changes.

Until we have a transparent, accountable government (by any party) with institutions that serve the people rather than the ruling parties; until we have a more equitable society and until racial discrimination is buried; our work is not done.

There’s still a lot of fanning to do if we are to keep the flames burning.