UMNO's racial politics and religious piety must go away to save Malaysia

COMMENT

UMNO's leadership and governance can never put us in the developed nation status because it is motivated by race and religion. History is the witness to this premise. Whenever certain progress occurs in society at the expense of another entity in society, it more likely will cause greater detriment to the nation as a whole. UMNO was from the beginning of its inception have been motivated by race and religion. This fact alone is clearly depicted in their party constitution. This is the only talk that UMNO has remained piously consistent in walking.

It is an entity full of deception and prejudice. It is the greatest example of never walking the talk for an organization in a position of power and influence. It is an epitome of power and as the saying goes "absolute power corrupts absolutely." UMNO has become the most corrupt organization in Malaysia.

We are a sick country

In a recent speech in London, Tengku Razaleigh said to the young audience, "You are right. The present generation in power has let Malaysia down." "Our race-based party system is the key political reason why we are a sick country, declining before our own eyes, with money fleeing and people telling their children not to come home after their studies." Razaleigh was sad to see what UMNO has become today! UMNO has taught Malaysians about the type of organization never to emulate. It is fair to say that many fair minded and educated Malays are truly disgusted with what UMNO has become.

Instead of unifying and developing the Malaysian federated nations equally for the benefit of all peoples of the federation, Malaya under UMNO turned to race and religion to be the the focal ideology of its public policy . Thus came the era of deception and malicious trickery and forceful enslavement of peoples in the federation.

In Malaya, after Tengku Abdul Rahman was ousted, the ultra Malays became so adamant in playing the race card that government policies were made solely for the purpose of discriminating non-Malays. Islamist in government push for the Islamic fundamentals in everyday walks of life; thus further isolating the rural Malays and preventing them to face the realities and opportunities of a modern society. Today, even after government policies of prejudice and discrimination against non-Malays, Malays still form a majority of Malaya's impoverished.

Human selfishness and bigotry

In Sabah and Sarawak, the federal government under the leadership of people such as Mahathir Mohamed and his deputy Anwar Ibrahim pursued an invasive policy of Islamization and the attainment of Malay supremacy. They were engrossed with hatred at the mere prospect of a government led by a Christian majority in Sabah. Instead of embracing multi-racialism, multi-cultural, multi-religions and respecting our unique Malaysian flavour they embarked on a colonization scheme and the enslavement of people who they deem different than their concept of what forms a superior race and what they think God favours to inherit heaven. Although, race and religion was used to rope in the innocent, it is highly suspect that the main motive was human selfishness and bigotry. It is all a act to further the supremacist concept; a concept that beguile the perpetrators themselves.

Malaysia had all the opportunities to form a modern and bustling 1st world developed country given the fact that we were all former British colonies. We had the benefit of being catapulted out of the Medieval era that grips countries such as Indonesia and Thailand. We had a good leader in Tengku Abdul Rahman who had the foresight and vision of where Malaysia was headed until he was hijacked by the "holier than thou" medieval remnants within UMNO; thus led to the expulsion of Singapore. A decision based on racial prejudice alone.

According to Razaleigh, "Malaysia was not born in strife but in unity. Our independence was achieved through a demonstration of unity by the people in supporting a multiracial government led by Tengku Abdul Rahman. That show of unity, demonstrated first through the municipal elections of 1952 and then through the Alliance's landslide victory in the elections of 1955, showed that the people of Malaya were united in wanting their freedom."

"Holier than thou"

He further continued stating that, "Today, we are no longer as united as we were then. We are also less free. I don't think this is a coincidence. It takes free people to have the psychological strength to overcome the confines of a racialised worldview. It takes free people to overcome those politicians bent on hanging on to power gained by racialising every feature of our life including our football teams." Razaleigh is among the few Malays who shares the vision of Tengku Abdul Rahman. If only those racists and "holier than thou" pushovers had not hijacked the federal government, Malaysia would be a different country today. Malaysia is definitely way ahead of South Korea and China.

Razaleigh was right when he said, "Soon after independence we were already a highly successful developing country. We had begun the infrastructure building and diversification of our economy that would be the foundation for further growth. We carried out an import substitution programme that stimulated local productive capacity. From there we started an infrastructure build-up which enabled a diversification of the economy leading to rapid industrialisation. We carried out effective programmes to raise rural income and help the landless with programmes such as FELDA. Our achievements in achieving growth with equity were recognised around the world. We were ahead of Our peer group in economic development with South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, and we led the pack. I remember we used to send technical consultants to advise the South Koreans."

Today Malaysia is lagging behind Indonesia and Thailand. Sabah as a large country is downgraded to becoming the poorest state among the Malaya states. More than 50% of the Kadazandusun in Sabah are living below the poverty line. The fact that we are a wealthy country with rich natural resources has become a hell hole of impoverished souls is an absolute tragedy. Malaya's residents may not feel as much pain as Sabahans do, and they forget that much of the bulk of their development actually came from Sabah in the form our Sabah oil revenue. Malaya after all these years has never look at Sabah as an equal partner, but rather as conquered souls to be plundered and ravaged. Malaya could have taken the lead to unite all the federation nations into forming a formidable world economy so all Malaysians can enjoy, but because of racism and bigotry, Malaysia is now on the verge of uncertainties.

Even as Malaysia is bleeding, ultra unscrupulous leaders such as Mahathir still advocates force compliance to pacify an already bleeding people. Mahathir has no more business with Malaysia if Malaysia is to survive the next decade. We need a Malaysian leader like Tengku Razaleigh or any leader for that matter as long as he or she appreciates the fact that we are all equal people of Malaysia. The era of racial bigotry and religious piety must be abolished and banished from the face of the world. Malaysian must take a bold step to make a change for the goodness of humanity if it wishes to move forward in this era of globalization. Continue to sing the song of Malay supremacy and bigotry and you will find yourself singing alone in the desert.

Tengku Razaleigh summarized it correctly in his speech: "By the late nineties, however, we had fallen far behind this group and were competing with Thailand and Indonesia. Today, according to the latest World Investment Report, FDI into Malaysia is at about a twenty year low. We are entering the peer group of Cambodia, Myanmar and the Philippines as an investment destination. Thailand, despite a month long siege of the capital, attracted more FDI than we did last year. Indonesia and Vietnam far outperform us, not as a statistical blip but consistently. Soon we shall have difficulty keeping up with The Philippines. This, I believe, is called relegation. If we take into account FDI  outflow, the picture is even more interesting. Last year we received US$1.38 billion (RM4.40 billion) in investments but US$ 8.04 billion flowed out. We are the only country in Southeast Asia which has suffered nett FDI outflow. I am not against outward investment. It can be a good thing for the country. But an imbalance on this scale indicates capital flight, not mere investment overseas.

Billions looted

Without a doubt, Malaysia is slipping. Billions have been looted from this country, and billions more are being siphoned out as our entire political structure crumbles. Yet we are gathered here in comfort, in a country that still seems to 'work.' Most of the time. This is due less to good management than to the extraordinary wealth of this country. You were born into a country of immense resources both natural and cultural and social. We have been wearing down this advantage with mismanagement and corruption. With lies, tall tales and theft, we have a political class unwilling or unable to address the central issue of the day because they have grown fat and comfortable with a system built on lies and theft. It is easy to fall into the lull caused by the combination of whatever wealth has not been plundered and removed and political class that lives in a bubble of sycophancy."

Election is near, thus pompous announcement by the UMNO government to impress the people hoping the people will give them the vote again to continue their degradation of the federation of Malaysia. My hope is that Malaysian and especially Sabahans will never give them that undeserved lifeline to plunder our nation and deprived the Kadazandusun people of a chance to be free. Free from the yolk of being in a financial prison. A chance to enjoy what life has to offer in this short period of human life. The last I check people are pretty old when they get to 80 and most have died before they reach 90 years of age. So this life is short, why become racist and bigots. Why the "holier than thou" attitude? Can't we just live as kind humans in this world? Why do we need to rely on a God if it is about bias and prejudice and bondage?

Kadazandusuns need to wake up

The Kadazandusun needs to wake up and smell the roses and embrace the vision. That is why PKR is the wrong way to go. Supporting PKR is just like supporting UMNO. They are both from Malaya and care little for Sabah's autonomy. Although Sabah is within the Malaysia federation, Sabah is still a nation granted independence from the British in 1963. We must respect our autonomy as it existed lawfully. That is why supporting PKR or UMNO is wrong. It could even be treasonous!

Unfortunately, BN member parties supporting UMNO blindly is doing a great disservice to the constituency that it draws its support from. It's is like the blind leading the blind. UMNO is blind and all those following are automatically blinded. What is the use of representing the resident of your constituency if you are not listening to the pleas of the residents. I have great doubts that the people will support them again. People can be cheated once or twice, but third time is pushing it.

I can understand all the frustration of the patriotic and honourable Kadazandusun, but racial politics is no longer the best means to achieve an end. Kadazandusun must embrace a true multiracial political entity. Our Kadazandusun future lies with being non racial.

We must instead focus and fight for a just society. A government that cares for its citizens. We must nurture a government whose policy is for equality for all and the happiness and prosperity of all its people. We must nurture a government whose policy and ideology is not based on race and religion. Our future lies in the fact that our government respects all humans and separates the state from personal spiritual choice of the common man.

This applies also to all other Sabahans of different races such as the Bajaus, Suluks, Chinese and others. We must all think outside the box. We must respect our differences and let our government run an efficient public policy that treats all citizens the same. Let us keep our personal religious convictions to ourselves and respect the freedom that God has given us. Let us not become hostile in the name of God. It is not for us to punish man in the name of God. If God wants to punish man, let God do it himself.

By Wilfred Gaban (Director at PIPPA - Progressive Institute of Public Policy Analysis and President of Kadu Foundation - An NGO dedicated to the health and welfare of the KDM community)