Part 1: Are politicians’ vindictive, race-based tactics weakening nation’s foundation?

KUALA LUMPUR – As a melting pot of race, religion and culture, Malaysia has come a long way since our founding fathers Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Datuk Sri Tan Cheng Lock and Tun V.T. Sambanthan led a delegation into negotiations with the British for our independence and began the process of self-governance.
 
History was made on the night of August 30, 1957, when approximately 20,000 rakyat bore witness to the handover of power at Padang Merdeka (Merdeka Square) here.
 
It is believed that Malaysia’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, arrived at exactly 11.58pm to join youth division members of the Alliance Party in observing two minutes of silence in the dark to commemorate the historic event.
 
When the lights were turned back on at the stroke of midnight, the Union Flag of Britain was lowered to the sound of the British royal anthem, God Save The Queen, and as Malaya’s flag was raised to its national anthem, Negaraku, our forefathers embraced their diversity under a singular national identity and expressed their newfound independence as Malayans with cries of “Merdeka!” a total of seven times, thereby asserting their freedom for the benefit of generations to come.
 
Even after 64 years of independence, one cannot help but ponder if the nationalistic passion of the rakyat has been cultivated or if this passion has progressively faded into the darkness caused by vicious, power-crazed, politically driven leaders. It is obvious that unwanted incidents might recur.
 
What the rakyat needs to register in their minds is that this country does not need politicians that could cause other mayhems, as can be seen clearly during the May 13, 1969 clash, which did not serve any purpose.
 
The rakyat should always look back at history on incidents that triggered hostility against each other, as that in Kelantan during the 1980s, when the Malays were separated by their extreme political beliefs leading to deeper conflict. Such disagreements resulted in a religious battle between Umno and PAS, and, hopefully, it will never occur again.
 
Today, we need to have a hand on what politicians say and how they convey certain issues because we must bear in mind that, in Malaysia, there is diversity of race and religion, which are equally sensitive.
 
In collaboration with Fat Bidin Media, which is on a campaign to counter and prevent violent extremism, The Vibes intends to answer this pertinent question by speaking to selected personalities, politicians, activists and prominent thinkers in a six-part series entitled “Are politicians the catalyst for extreme violence in Malaysia?”, which will run every Friday, beginning today. – The Vibes, June 4, 2021