Build trust to build peace

FOR Pope Francis’s message for World Day of Peace next year, he chose the theme “good politics is at the service of peace”. The world will not be at peace without people having mutual trust and respecting each others’ words, the Vatican reported ahead of the day on Jan 1.

“This mission consists of safeguarding law and in encouraging dialogue among stakeholders in society, between generations and among cultures.”

The message will also discuss political involvement, which, the Pope says, is one of the loftiest expressions of charity, and it brings with it a concern for “the future of life and the planet, of the young and the least, in their thirst for fulfilment”.

Reflecting on this message in the context of Malaysia and the behaviour of some politicians and activists within the ruling coalition and the Opposition, I feel that there aren’t enough authentic politicians who are seeking peace in the real sense of the word.

Peace is not merely about political stability, it is also about a continuous effort to build trust among communities. It requires an inner conviction of justice that is not ethnic or partisan but rather, takes the rights of all into consideration.

Since the Pakatan Harapan government came to power, it seems to find making peace within its own coalition an uphill battle what with all the statements of disagreement on various issues. The political statements of some of its leaders indicate self-righteous behaviour that takes precedence over the integrity of the coalition.

These politicians should avoid petty politicking and hold dialogues with their coalition partners to resolve the underlying socioeconomic issues the nation is facing. Politicians should help devise good policies for the people instead of playing power games and party politics just for their own survival.

Among the Opposition, ethno-religious-centric politicians and activists with tainted pasts are looking for relevance by stirring ethno-religious demonstrations that have all the characteristics of tribalism. This goes against the peace that promotes the common good in a multiethnic and multi-religious society.

It is also sad that some politicians in the ruling coalition seem to be trying to accommodate the narrow views of opportunistic politicians instead of engaging them on what constitutes a new Malaysia.

And than there are human rights groups that are concerned with issues like Icerd (the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) without understanding the complexities of Malaysian society.

They should take more responsibility for talking to and educating people in a society that has a strong feudal history and has always been wary of international conventions. A dialogue with empathy would neutralise fear and create a context for understanding and integration in our evolving society.

There is another dimension that needs to be taken into account, one that goes unnoticed. This is the presence of foreign elements who want to see a polarised Malaysia so they can take sides when there is civil strife for hegemonic purposes. We should note what happened in countries like Syria and Iraq, when a chasm between government and Opposition led to foreign powers with geopolitical agendas being invited into the country.

Unity among all Malaysians is fundamental in ensuring Malaysia’s sovereignty. Extremist politicians and activists should keep in mind that by sowing the seeds of disunity they are actually putting the sovereignty of the nation on the line. And that sovereignty is not about the power of one race, it is about multiethnic and multireligious peace and solidarity that transcends tribalism.

There is a trust deficit in the nation that requires dialogues and understanding instead of extremist exploitation. Building up the trust levels of all ethnic groups is fundamental for new Malaysia, as the nation meets the challenges of globalisation and technological innovation.

I hope that politicians and activists, be they from the government or the Opposition, internalise peace in their approach to politics. The message by Pope Francis, which will be delivered worldwide on Jan 1, will have great relevance to this country.