Time for all of us to ‘bangkit’, not just the Malays

I would love to have attended the “Melayu Bangkit” (Malays Arise) rally on Saturday night. But it was held in Pasir Salak, not in or around Kuala Lumpur, and so I didn’t go.

I must congratulate the organisers and attendees for holding the rally peacefully. I hope the organisers have “bangkit” to the realisation that under the old Barisan Nasional (BN) regime, opposition politicians would not have been allowed to hold such a rally, or that the very next day the leaders might have been arrested.

Such political gatherings are always interesting. They tell you so much about the mood of some sections of the people, and about the political situation in the nation, the organisers, the speakers and the people who attend.

They also tell you about how politicians play with words. And words are my area of interest.

Thousands of Malays, it was reported, attended the rally. Umno supreme council member and Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, who organised it, said it was held to protect Malay rights, the Malay rulers, and Islam.

Tajuddin is reported to have said the rally was held to show that the Malays would unite when their rights, Islam and Malay institutions were under threat.

Another Umno supreme council member, Lokman Noor Adam, also claimed the Malays and Islam were under threat. Reports say he went on to demonise Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, calling him names.

Lokman asked why the Pakatan Harapan government had appointed non-Muslims as chief justice and attorney-general, referring to Richard Malanjum and Tommy Thomas respectively. Insinuating that being non-Muslims they might work against Muslim interests, he is reported to have called on the Malays to rise up and “correct” this situation.

Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa was reported as telling attendees that when the BN formed the government, the Malays never had to worry about having their rights or interests threatened.

Interesting.

If, as Annuar says, Malay rights were never under threat when the BN ruled, why did Umno leaders such as Jamal Yunos and others such as the NGO Perkasa keep agitating and warning that Malay rights were under threat long before the May 9 general election?

Some, like Lokman, fear that decisions of a non-Muslim chief justice and a non-Muslim AG may be biased against Muslims. Have they ever wondered why non-Muslims have never expressed fear that a Muslim chief justice or a Muslim AG may rule against non-Muslim interests?

Non-Muslims and many Muslims, I believe, do not see judges or the AG as Muslim or non-Muslim – just judges or the AG who carry out their duties guided by their conscience.

Tajuddin says Malay rights, Malay rulers and Islam are under threat. Since PH took over, I have noticed that the Malay rulers are still ruling, Islam is still the official religion, and Malays continue to enjoy the rights and privileges they have been enjoying.

I haven’t heard of anyone, including the DAP, calling for Malay rights to be abolished, or the rulers to be removed or Islam to be replaced as the official religion. Have you?

But, I agree with Tajuddin, and Lokman and Annuar that the Malays should arise, should awaken. They should “bangkit” to make full use of the opportunities provided by the government for their socio-economic improvement.

Every year, the government spends millions of ringgit to help the Malays in various areas, especially in improving their economic position.

Dr Mahathir has for years been encouraging, cajoling, urging, pleading, pushing even scolding Malays to “bangkit” and make efficient use of the privileges provided by the government.

Just last Saturday, he lamented that the government had been giving Bumiputeras lots of opportunities and allocations over the years but that they had failed to make good, resulting in the the New Economic Policy (NEP) not achieving its target.

Yet again he recounted how many Bumiputeras who had been given contracts and licences had “sold” them instead of building their businesses. He lambasted the attitude of Malays who wanted things the easy way, who did not want to work hard but wanted money to come to them.

If you ask me, this is where the real “Melayu Bankit” must come. Malays must make full and good use of the opportunities provided so that their community progresses, so that their children are better off than them.

This is what Dr Mahathir and enlightened Malay leaders have been calling for over the years.

Rather than cry “our rights are under threat” ever so frequently, Umno leaders should hold rallies and gatherings to galvanise the Malays into making good use of the government’s affirmative action policy. They should coax and urge Malays to work hard and succeed; to stand tall.

In fact, if Umno – whose intended aim is the welfare of the Malays – had done a good job since the NEP began in 1971, the Malays would be in a better state today. That they are not simply speaks volumes about the failure of Umno, which continues to be the backbone of the BN.

In the past, not all Malays benefitted, as available opportunities were parcelled out to certain groups such as Umno members or associates. There was cronyism. Some Malays have become super rich because of this but many others remain poor or relatively poor.

But this government says it is different and that it wants to help everyone. So, this is the time for Umno and other Malay groups to assist the ordinary Malay, not just the party member, to rise up in life.

Melayu Bankit is also relevant in other areas to move the community forward. This includes the awareness that their children should have a well-rounded education; the awareness that Islam calls for justice, and this must include justice for non-Muslim citizens; and the awareness that the world is progressing at a furious pace and they, like everyone else, must learn and adapt fast.

I hope that Malaysians who have yet to realise that not everything their leaders – whether religious or political – say is true or that there may be self-interest hidden in their actions, will “bangkit” to this possibility.

I hope that Malaysians who have yet to realise that those who rouse their emotions by claiming that their rights or the rights of their community are under threat may be doing so for political gain, will “bangkit” to this possibility.

I hope, too, that Malaysians who have yet to realise that cooperation, goodwill and the “live and let live” attitude are essential in any society, more so a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, will “bangkit” to this fact of life.

So, yes. Let’s all “bankit”, let’s all arise and awake, my fellow Malaysians.

A Kathirasen is an executive editor at FMT

✍ Sumber Pautan : ☕ Malaysians Must Know the TRUTH

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