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Opposition unites as Malay ethnic card is played By Anil Netto Signs are growing that certain groups in Malaysia are attempting to stir up Malay-Chinese ethnic sentiments - an old ploy that the ruling United Malay's National Organization likes to adopt when it feels threatened. But if the latest playing of the ethnic card is aimed at splitting the opposition front, it is having the opposite effect as opposition leaders vow to set aside differences and work toward restoring justice in the country. The ethnic posturing follows a Far Eastern Economic Review report which quoted National Economic Consultative Council deputy chairman David Chua as saying that Malaysia's quota system, which favors ethnic Malays, should eventually make way for one based on merit. The comments and a 17-point list of demands calling for various reforms, from a group calling itself the Malaysian Chinese Election Appeals Committee (Suqiu) prompted a memorandum of protest from the youth wing of Malaysia's dominant United Malays National Organization (Umno). In the memorandum, Umno Youth called on Suqiu to apologize for questioning indigenous and Malay rights and privileges. A 200-strong pro-Umno crowd protested outside the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall after the memorandum was handed over. The independent Internet newspaper Malaysiakini said that reporters covering the event described the crowd as aggressive, and some reporters were harassed and at least one photographer assaulted. The mainstream Sun newspaper, however, said it was a "peaceful demonstration". The controversy arose solely due to certain media having incorrectly reported my statement and/or sensationalized it,'' said Chua in a statement issued through the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia. A Suqiu spokesman meanwhile was reported as saying that Suqiu "had not raised the issue of special rights but they [the protesters] were not willing to listen. They said no to a dialogue session as well. They only wanted to hear our apologies." He also said Suqiu's stand had been misrepresented in a Malay daily but the protesters insisted on an apology. Analysts say certain quarters have started manipulating ethnic sentiments following the loss of Malay support for Umno. The party has been under pressure lately, with ethnic Malays, who make up about half the population, deeply divided over the treatment meted out to ousted deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar has been jailed for a total of 15 years on charges of sodomy and abuse of power. The loss in support for Umno led to gains for the opposition Barisan Alternatif (Alternative Front) in last November's general election, with the Islamic Party (PAS) emerging as the biggest winner. Over its history, Umno has championed Malay nationalism. "Without being exclusive in its definition of a Malay, Umno manufactured an encompassing Malay identity which it successfully used to establish the Malay as 'first among equals' in this nation, to redistribute wealth through the [20-year New Economic Policy], and to co-opt resurgent Islamic movements," said political analyst Maznah Mohamad in a commentary. But the Anwar Ibrahim episode changed all that, the humiliation that he suffered leaving an indelible scar in the Malay cultural psyche. Umno has now reached the limits of its monopoly of Malayness, pointed out Maznah. "The party has finally reached a quandary as to how to keep on reinventing this Malayness," she observed. The latest controversy brings back memories of 1987. That year ethnic Malay-Chinese sentiments were fanned after a factional struggle within Umno led to a strong challenge against the leadership of party president Mahathir Mohamad. The country was brought to the brink of unrest, and then held back by a major crackdown against dissent under the Internal Security Act. With Umno finding its back against the wall again, it appears to be falling back on its roots as a champion of the Malay position in a bid to win back Malay support. Critics say that it could be at the expense of preserving inter-ethnic harmony. They point out no opposition figure had questioned the special position of Malays enshrined in the constitution, which came about in recognition of their economic plight at the time of independence in 1957. As the latest controversy flared, the opposition coalition closed ranks. Until recently, the multi-ethnic, Chinese-based Democratic Action Party (DAP) had been asking for feedback from its members over the the party's continued participation in the Barisan Alternatif, which also includes the Islamic Party (PAS), Anwar's keADILan (National Justice Party), and the Parti Rakyat Malaysia (Malaysian People's Party). The DAP had earlier voiced concern over several conservative rulings in the PAS-led east coast states of Kelantan and Terengganu. These included the introduction of separate male-female queues at supermarket checkout counters, the closure of unisex hair salons and a requirement that women should wear headscarves. But at a packed opposition front forum in Penang on Thursday, in front of PAS president Fadzil Noor, DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang quashed speculation that his party might pull out of the front. In candid remarks, Lim said DAP saw its future within the Barisan Alternatif, a remark the 4,000-strong crowd greeted with resounding applause. As the PAS president and other opposition front leaders looked on in rapt attention, Lim said that any differences between the DAP and PAS paled into insignificance beside the larger goal of restoring justice, democracy and good governance. Earlier the largely Malay crowd had applauded keADILan's deputy president, Chandra Muzaffar, when he said that policies among the various ethnic groups should be based on the underlying principle of justice and that the poor and the dispossessed should be aided irrespective of ethnicity. For now, ruling coalition leaders have called for "calm and maturity" on the issue of the Malay special position. Urging all quarters to cool off, they warned of the grave consequences of unfettered debate and uncompromising attitudes. But walking the streets of Malaysia today, there is no sign of any tension or public disquiet. If anything, many Malaysians hope that the elites playing the ethnic card simply desist. (Special to Asia Times Online) |
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