STOP USING THE RACE CARD

TA Doctor in the House, wrote: “Most Malays have come to think that the affirmative action instituted by the government in the New Economic Policy is a recognition of their ‘superior’ position as the indigenous people of this country.”

With position comes rights, and we all claim our rights because we are at the position to get the rights. It is the myth of position that tricked us, not only the Malays but all of us Malaysians who equate position with rights.

Politically, our country has been transformed into a new Malaysia with new hopes and a brighter future. Albeit, many of the ministers are greenhorns, but they are optimistic leaders, with refreshing visions and missions.

Unfortunately, we are still embezzling our “race relations account”. We praised our multiracial society and yearn for a united, free and democratic Malaysia, but some political leaders — some out of power — are still singing racial melodies.

For decades, position and rights have been manipulated by political leaders to buy votes and positions, as if Malaysians are more race than human. Perhaps, the May 13, 1969 racial riots have not taught us enough.

The protest by certain parties against the government’s decision not to ratify the United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and the recent riot at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya are examples of Malaysians embezzling our race relations account.

Malaysia’s race relations account is a safe-keeping account that we established before independence through the social contract of our founding fathers from all major races.

It’s an analogy of the money that we keep safe in the bank account. In the race relations account, we keep safe the rights of all races. All rights are guaranteed by specific articles of the Federal Constitution. The rights belong to everyone at their disposal, to use them properly and wisely; not to be embezzled by certain quarters, especially politicians who like to play the race card.

History proves that in the heart of every racial conflict in Malaysia there is a message — people of different races are defending or claiming their own rights. By no means should Malay rights depress the rights of the nonMalays. There should not be the Malay “superiority” or understood as the superiority of the Malay rights over the rights of other races.

Malay superiority is only a position, acclaimed since the precolonial era and pre-independence. The position of the Malay superiority is a historical reality. Later, in our social contract the Malay superiority was transformed into the Malay constitutional rights, the rights that should also be read together with the rights of others.

It’s about time that we Malaysians looked no more to the rights as a sole definition of our position. Let us take the rights as an indication of our responsibilities and duties.

We are accountable to our own rights. The more rights we own, the more responsibilities that we must carry and have to accomplish. We are bound to ensure that all rights invested are for the betterment of our nation.

Malay rights should be invested in contributing to strengthen national unity. The same thing goes for the rights of non-Malays in this country. They should be invested in contributing to the country’s benefits.

Leaders of all races and political inclinations should take a strong stand and stop using the race card to draw support and gain votes. Leaders should also look at leadership as a disposition and not as “position”.

It’s the inherent qualities of mind and character that attract supporters and influence the people, not the obsession of “racial rights” of the people.

Let us take the rights as an indication of our responsibilities and duties.