WATCHING THE recent interview between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and an Indian TV station with my daughter and son, I was shocked and floored by his comments. This was the man whom I had served for several years when he was our nation’s prime minister, with whom I have had several photographs taken in the course of my work.
I had always spoken highly of this man, held him in high regard, and admired him with the utmost respect. This interview left me heartbroken and my children speechless.
Our regular family discussion that day was indeed a different topic. I told them that I believed the reason that the ex-premier views us in that sad and demeaning manner is that the nation lacks holistic leaders in managing it.
We lack good leaders. Every leader is in for their selfish reasons.
We are divided politically and weakened economically. We have shifted from a progressive nation to a regressive one. We are busy being religious or pious and no longer aggressively working towards building the nation which we once were.
The country was also too dependent on one leader. The leader who was in power for 22 years, did not develop young technocrats as leaders. He was only focusing on the brick-and-mortar, mostly ignoring human development.
The Malays, Chinese and Indians are now perceptibly divided. This may be thanks to Dr Mahathir’s ruling system whereby he seems to have believed in divide and rule. We were then further tormented by corruption, poor enforcement, a weak education system, and perpetual leakages in the administration system, where one young Jho Low could allegedly pilfer billions from our national kitty and then go into hiding ever since.
Malaysia is multi-religious and multi-cultural, requiring a nuanced approach that respects diversity and fosters inclusivity. We must take some hard decisions and emulate the following best practices to become the best and not remain in the sad condition that we are now.
Diversity and equal treatment
Acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of religions, cultures, and ethnicities within the country. Promote an inclusive national identity that embraces every community, especially the minorities. Teaching begins at home – educate children about the different kinds of races and religions in our country; educate them from young about respecting one another. There are more than 5,015 types of ethnicities in Sabah and Sarawak alone. How rich we are, but how ignorant the current generation seems to be about this.
Needless to say, no efforts have been made to highlight or educate our young ones about this.
Ensure that all citizens, regardless of their religious or cultural background, have equal rights and opportunities. Do not ever heed Dr Mahathir’s words as he is not building our nation but instead appears to be dividing us further.
Let’s implement policies that address historical inequalities created by our colonial masters and promote social and economic justice. This is echoed in every textbook or management book.
We can do this if we start from the top. We must see every Malaysian as a valuable individual and not merely a voter; every voter; every community is vital.
All the statesmen-like speeches by the various political leaders during the elections should be implemented to ensure that no community is ignored after the elections. We must start now as Dr Mahathir has “opened our eyes”.
Religious freedom and interfaith dialogue
Uphold and protect the right to freedom of religion for all citizens, especially the minorities, not forgetting the special rights of Islam, as enshrined in our constitution.
Reduce hatred towards any religion, and ensure equal protection and treatment for all religious communities.
Though we have no major issues in this area, certain political parties are wedging this issue repeatedly to gain popularity while forgetting that minorities are never in any way the cause of any such issues.
Encourage and facilitate inter-faith dialogues to foster understanding, tolerance, and harmony among religious communities. Promote initiatives that bring people from various backgrounds together to share their perspectives. Every religion espouses peace, love, compassion and tolerance. We are mature enough to sit together, discuss and resolve any issues that arise to maintain respect and harmony in the nation.
I had a unique opportunity to moderate an interfaith session in September 2023 and indeed found it very beneficial for all the participants of mixed races and religions.
Let not politics or any selfish politicians come in between this concept of discussing issues in a cordial, peaceful and harmonious way. Ordinary Malaysians are very kind, courteous and respectful to one another.
It is always certain politicians or religious leaders that make negative and detrimental comments or criticisms of this benevolent idea of coming together and discussing issues with utmost respect and understanding for all. This idea was mooted nationally during Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s era but was negated by the then leaders.
Cultural preservation and education for unity
Support and preserve the cultural heritage of various communities within the country. Malaysia is the “melting pot” of cultures, where Malays, Orang Asli, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans, Bidayuh and Dayaks live together.
Yet, we are reluctant to encourage these multiple cultures or publicise them, nor are the young properly educated on the richness of these coteries of cultures that add colour, variety, fragrance and enchantment among us.
Let’s implement policies that safeguard and promote the cultural practices, languages, and traditions of all the ethnic groups in our country. Let RTM, TV3, social media, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, educationists, NGOs and political leaders all take the lead in this cultural preservation programme.
Integrate multicultural education into the national curriculum to promote understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and religions. Encourage schools to embrace diversity and teach students about the history and contributions of various communities.
For example, if Dr Mahathir says that those who contributed to our nation’s well-being and growth were compensated, it is a very irrational and unfair comment as rubber tappers and tin mine workers were not compensated in any other way except their meagre wages.
The bridges, roads, and railways were all built by the Indians and they had a big physical and physiological role in nation-building. Their contributions should never be forgotten or erased.
However, till today, their efforts and toil and sweat have never been properly acknowledged by our leaders. This is a lesson to never allow politicians to hijack this multicultural education for their gain or bane.
Politics and community
Encourage political representation from diverse communities to ensure that different perspectives are considered in decision-making processes.
Promote inclusive policies that address the needs and concerns of all citizens.
The current government which was formed on the premises of a multi-racial representation, must further pursue this inclusivity.
Foster community engagement by involving religious and cultural leaders in dialogues and decision-making sessions.
Encourage grassroot grassroots initiatives that promote understanding and cooperation among different communities.
Economy and media
Implement inclusive economic policies that benefit all communities, addressing disparities in income and development.
The New Economic Policy (NEP), implemented in 1970, had two focuses: the ‘Eradication of poverty regardless of race' and the 'Restructuring of society to eliminate the identification of race with economic function'.
In theory, the NEP was to create the conditions for national unity by reducing inter-ethnic resentment due to socioeconomic disparities. A lot more can be done to encourage entrepreneurship and economic initiatives that involve people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities.
Our media is responsible for reporting news that avoids sensationalism and promotes positive narratives about different communities. This will help monitor and address any instances of media biasness bias or discrimination.
The Malaysian Media Council, set up in 2023, must play a proactive role in helping Malaysia find its true footing and rooting. Media has a tremendous role in shaping the perception of our nation as “Malaysia Truly Asia”.
International relations
Malaysia must continuously engage in diplomatic efforts that showcase Malaysia's commitment to diversity, tolerance and harmony. Participate in international forums and collaborations that promote intercultural understanding and peace.
We have done well in promoting Malaysia as “truly Asia”. This will boost our reputation and image on the world stage and also help bring in more tourists and investors, while shaping our impending Asian Tiger dream.
By adopting these best practices, Malaysia can work towards building a cohesive and inclusive society that respects and values its rich diversity.
Let’s prevent our Malaysia from quicksand, as certain politicians, under the guise of leadership are causing too much damage to this beautiful nation.
Malaysia must rise. We must move away from all the instabilities caused by the politicians. We have had Sheraton Move and Dubai Move, that’s enough.
In conclusion, the way forward is clear and promising. We have reached a point where further manoeuvres or moves may not be as impactful as new actions.
The time is ripe for us to embrace positive change and make a tangible difference in our endeavours. Let us collectively commit to taking decisive steps that propel our nation towards our goals, fostering progress, unity, and success.
With a spirit of determination and collaboration of every Malaysian, we can transform aspirations into reality, leaving no room for doubt that new fresh actions are the catalysts for a brighter and more fulfilling future. – The Vibes, January 21, 2024
Ravindran Raman Kutty is a public relations practitioner and a reader of The Vibes
