Is it true that racial politics is on the way out post-308 political tsunami?
Similarly, do you sincerely believe that multi-racial politics will be the order of the day following the political tsunami?
These are the two questions that have been heatedly discussed and debated by the politicians from both political divide as well as so many political observers out there since the 12th general election
Even Dato’ Ong Tee Keat, one of the vice presidents of MCA, the self-proclaimed the 3rd biggest Chinese party in the world, for the first time spoke his mind on this subject and urging it is time for MCA to embrace multi-racialism. His progressive view on the way forward for MCA understandably did not go down well with other more conservative MCA’s leaders, like Datuk Ong Ka Chuan, the powerful Secretary General of MCA and the elder brother to Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, the current President of MCA. Ong Tee Keat’s view was quickly shot down by Ong Ka Chuan by brushing it aside as mere “personal opinion of Tee Keat”. With his typical wits, it was reported that Tee Keat sarcastically shot back by saying “of course every one is entitled to his own view. Just like some may still think dinosaur could survive in this world!” . Hopefully, this year MCA’s party election we can expect the battle of substantive political ideologies and not the usual fight over powers that devoid of any idealism.
No doubt, compare to BN, apparently Pakatan Rakyat has certainly created the excitement and has also been seen as taking the lead in pioneering the emergence of multi-racial politics in the just concluded general election. Out of the three component parties of Pakatan Rakyat, PKR stands out to be the major proponent of multi-racial politics. Not only, they have successfully sent multi-racial MPs and ADUNs into the national and states’ legislatures, they have also crafted Malaysian New Economic Agenda and Ketuanan Rakyat to rival the BN’s old rhetoric like NEP and Ketuanan Malayu. Of course, some may say all these are mere beautiful talks to woo the people’s support. Yet, no one can deny the fact that by floating these refreshing concepts to a multi-racial crowds over and over again, PKR has indisputably captured the hearts and minds of so many Rakyat that longs for a multi-racial and not racial political culture.
Personally, multi-racial politics though is something to be welcome and indeed promoted, I can’t help getting worry that multi-racial politics will soon become another farce, i.e. the form prevails over the substance. Then, all political parties will be competing to put up a multi-racial face and not their substantive public policies. Already some political analysts have started to question DAP as the mirror version of MCA +MIC in Pakatan Rakyat. Ultimately, be it racial or multi-racial, all political parties must anchor their political struggle on solid political ideologies, i.e. socialism, liberalism and etc ,for without these guiding political principles, the danger of all political parties continue to fight over who is more multi-racial and not who has battle reform agenda is real.
So, the show has just begun.
Meanwhile, all are welcome to explore this rather interesting and yet highly controversial subject at PENANG TEH TARIK FORUM.
槟 城 拉 茶 讲 座
Topic:
‘Post 308 Political Tsunami:
The Emergence of
Multi-racial Politics & the Decline of Racial Politics?’
Forum in MANDARIN
‘后308政治海啸:多元种族主义政治的兴起与单元动种族主义政治的衰退?‘
Based on the results of the last General Elections, is racial politics on the way out in Malaysia? The correct analysis of this question has far-reaching significance for all the political parties, especially for Gerakan.
Speaker :
Mr. Ding Lee Leong
London Univercity External Law Graduate
Senior Journalist
Oriental Daily, Asst. Editor-In-Chief
Date : 14th May 2008, Wednesday
Time : 8:00 pm
(Teh Tarik and snacks will be served at 7.30pm)
Venue: SATU ACADEMY Training Room
2nd Floor, PGRM Headquarters at No. 139, Jalan Macalister, P. Pinang
Tel. : 04-229 4577 or 012-429 2377
OPEN TO PUBLIC 公开讲座
Penang Teh Tarik Forum is organised by PENANG GERAKAN TRAINING BUREAU and NATIONAL POLITICAL TRAINING BUREAU and supported by SATU ACADEMY,
Tel: 04 229 4577
4 Comments
May 12, 2008 at 7:33 am
i am always amazed that you guys are still using the term “multi-racial” and not trying to promote the concept of “non-racial”. when we continue to associate with the term “multi-racial” we will unconsciously continue to divide ourselves along the colour of our skin. i am offended whenever filling in any application form to find a column on “race” when we should just be calling ourselves Malaysians. Ethnic origins no doubt must be preserved but do you find the black americans calling themselves african-americans just like how we still call ourselves chinese-malaysians? i will try to attend your party’s teh tarik forum (don’t expect me to unmask my identity at that place and don’t try to guess through the questions to be raised!) adieu.
May 12, 2008 at 9:13 am
Reply to mask of zorro:
Thanks for your comment.
To me, “multi-racial” or “non-racial” still sounds very racial! I would prefer to simply use the term Malaysian approach. We are after all a Malaysian, regardless of our race, religions, languages & etc.
In short, Gerakan should start to regard itself as the Malaysian Party for Malaysian, by Malaysian and of Malaysian.
May 12, 2008 at 10:22 am
Just throw a few points for discussion:
1) Nobody can deny that Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country working towards a Malaysian nationhood. We are far from being a nation of Bangsa Malaysia.
2) Malaysia’s multiethnic polity is very unique because of the following facts: a) At the time of Merdeka, not one single ethnic grp dominated both economically and politically; b) The historical reality of the Malay polity existed then; c) The poor economic situation of the Malays; d) The rise of the Malay Nationalism which had to be interrupted with the formation of Malaya; e) Owing to the last three factors, the Special Position of the Malays has been safeguarded in the Constitution.
3) Therefore, right from the beginning Malayans (later Malaysians)had been divided into 3 ethnic groups with three distinctive political parties. Even the socialist-based opposition, the Socialist Front, was made up of predominantly Chinese Labour Party and the Malay-based Parti Rakyat. Has this changed very much even after the 308 GE? BN and PR?
4) I’m not euphoric over the point that our voters are no longer racial in their votings,etc. Of course I secretly wish that this non-racial voting pattern will last but it is too early to treat this as a sociological conclusion. My own contention is that people voted against BN, rather than wanted to vote in the Opposition. Of course, now that it had happened voters have seen an alternative which they might want to keep. Therefore it all depends on the PR to convince them that non-racial is better. (This doesn’t mean that PAS, DAP and PKR have not been and are not racial.)
5) My reading is that the Malay votes will return to BN unless BN continues to be rotten and PR’s rule provides a viable alternative.
6) Race-based parties should be done away with. But by our country’s misfortune they have to remain, ie remaining race-based in structure, they should have a multi-racial approach in their politics and they should openly work for the interests of the people as a whole. Otherwise they will perish. This is especially true for UMNO. This, I’m sure. Not only racial politics are not workable but will be rejected by the people.
7) As long as the “Special Position” is still in the Constitution (that is, if the Malays still want it or other ethnic groups shouldn’t work for its abolition), Malaysia will remain as multi-ethnic as it is. As long as our young still go to schools of their ethnic origins without interaction, not even in the Universities, our people will still be divided. In short, there is not much time left for us to stop this segregation, whether designed or not.
May 12, 2008 at 12:33 pm
you’ve got it! now go change mindsets! you will go far in your aspirations. adieu