The Only Thing We Should Fear

Sis: So you believe in the viability of multi-racial politics?

Bro: Yes, the non-malays who are here think of this country as theirs. we can’t ask them to go back to China or India. malaysia is their home.

Sis: I don’t trust the NM’s not to take advantage and grab political power. After all, that’s the Malay’s trump card – our only edge

Bro: After 50 years, we have played the race card. Where has it got the Malays? UMNO’s feudalism has resulted in an ‘feed me, it’s my right ‘ culture. Single mothers who ask for handouts from politicians to pay the electricity bill rather than look for ways to earn an independent living even as babysitters for their neighbours.

Sis: The NM’s will not do business with us. They’ll protect their own as has always been the practice. The Malays will be victimised in their own country.

Bro: As if the Malays haven’t taken advantage of Malays all this while. The credo of the UMNOputeras from their own lips in efforts to indoctrinate Uni students ” I come first, my leader/boss second, my family third and last my religion”. Malays have felt the sting of being undermined and sidelined by their own kind when others are afraid of losing influence to someone better qualified. Cream cannot rise to the top in UMNO, they are skimmed off and tossed aside to sour. We need to change this culture and ‘feed me, it’s my right’ mindset that traps us in mediocrity and sloth.

Sis: But the NM’s may use this as pay back time. Revenge of the NM’s

Bro: They are still the minority compared to Malays – hey, we are 60% overall population.

Sis: We do control both the army and the police..

Bro: Do u actually think they’ve forgotten that the race riots of ‘69 resulted in more NM’s deaths then M’s ? They haven’t but neither do they want to continue to live at a constant disadvantage to the M’s. They have to jump higher, run faster and yet still will not make the ‘meritocracy’ quota. While our children are imbued with this sense of ‘just do what u can and we’ll see where that gets u’. Worse, the govt will take care of u. Hence Malays are taught ‘no need to jump as high or run as fast’..You’ll be taken care of”.

Sis: Malay children will lose out. The NM’s even speak English better than our rural malay kids. They will ask for the scholarships and awards .. and will get it at the expense of ours.

Bro: Then we have to help our malay children to be equally proficient. And being an NM does not mean you are born speaking the Queen’s English. They have to learn like we do. So we teach them together. Once the race card stops being played, then peop[le will have to start looking beyond the skin colour .

Sis: They’ll take over the economy and the politics of our country. We even have to put up with their places of worship being too near ours. Being the majority should have some clout.

Bro: We have to learn to live together – accept and compromise. All parties have to be sensitive to the sensitivities of the other races and not bully our way through in the name of democracy. We have to stop thinking as a race and start thinking as a nation. Unlearn and discard prejudices.

Sis: But we must still be alert to the possibilities our rights will be taken away.

Bro: That’s in the constitution and I don’t see PR people voting for that constitutional amendment, not if they want to be around for the next election. We have to ask ourselves whether these fears are coming from the realisation that these are the things we would do if we were in their shoes…payback..

Sis: We did that to protect ourselves and our children’s future. If we don’t do this who will?

Bro: At the expense of others with no power or influence. And the ‘others’ include other malays who did not comply either economically or politically to the criteria set by the powers that be. Stepping on the backs of others should not be the way to progress. It doesn’t do the stepee any good in the long run. Something rots from within.

Sis: We are talking about the here and now and the outside real world, ok.  Now that they are the powers that be -  why wouldn’t they do the same to us?

Bro: Because it will end up in a vicious circle and no one gains? Plus the current stand of the PR state govts seems to be that of cooperation not confrontation. The federal govt on the other hand seems to focused on obstruction  and punitive actions. And they seem to be gaining the upper hand because they are the ruling government. They are  still the ones in control.

Sis: But the other  NM groups are becoming so much more demanding – asking for more posts, more representation.. hey, they are still the minority. Plus not every malay voted for them or even support them. I don’t think Malaysia is capable of being truly multi-racial on all fronts. We are too emotional about our own race and prejudiced about other races regardless whether we are the minority or majority.

Bro: Well, people are moved to action by ideas coupled with emotion and not by reason. Our emotions about other races must evolve from a state of selfishness and fear to that of  unselfishness and trust. To move from the low trust society that we are to being a high trust society we must link the idea of multi-racialism with harmony, gratitude, compassion and consideration.

Sis: We have to practice it, live it. I know, I know. But what if we give in so much, they’ll just see us as weak and take advantage. A one-sided relationship,, we give and they take..

Bro: We have to mix – interact on all levels, socially and professionally. And there has to be fail safes and contingencies to safeguard the interests of ALL races We need to understand that we all want the same things – fairness , equal opportunity, security and a bright future for all our children.

Sis:   Easier said than done. But as u said  change can’t come by reason alone. As long as Malaysians harbour fear and prejudice in their hearts about others different from them – the tsunami’s effect will only be temporary.

After the Storm

Many questions that are running through the minds of all Malaysians after the unexpected domino effect  that was the nation’s 12^th general election – the primary question being:

 Will the coalition parties be able to work together?

 It seemed to work on the campaign trail and in the voting booths with Chinese and Indian voters crossing PAS on the ballot sheet and Malay voters voting for DAP –  many for the first time in their voting lives. Indians carrying PAS flags and Malays cheering for DAP wins were unheard of before GE2008. The winds of change swept through the country, pushing Malaysians across the urban and rural divide and leaping past the racial chasms that have kept us apart this past fifty years.  They chose to put aside DAP’s chauvinism and PAS’s fixation on hudud to choose either one or the other instead of BN – the safe, known outcome. The one-on-one bouts spoilt only by Independents sprinkled here and there – helped Malaysians who voted to choose change and with it, hope for the future. Punishing BN was an added plus.

 

Therefore as an acceptance of the  voters’ trust in them  - the coalition parties must be seen to be able to work together at all times. “ Take one step backward, in order to take two steps forward” was a suggested approach. All parties in the coalition must be aware that the media’s stance is to incite distrust and doubt among the people. With fear and doubt, mischief can be created quite easily as tempers are stoked – a perfect recipe for trouble to brew. At the first sign of which, the federal government can declare emergency and move for fresh elections or replace MB’s to be as they did  in Kelantan in 1977 and Sarawak.

 

The public was given assurances that all three parties would work together and they cannot back out now at the first test of an ex-Opposition side. By leaving the choice to the Sultan of Perak, all parties are then bound to abide by the Sultan’s decision. If they wanted to be unanimous– only one name should have been submitted by all parties.

 
The possibility of DAP boycotting the swearing in ceremony of a PAS MB causes warning bells to ring in many Malaysians across the country – some saying “ there!, I told you so”, others regretting their decision to trust in DAP. Some feel that perhaps DAP just needs to put on a show, impress their supporters that they are not anyone’s lapdog but  will revert later being honourable enough to abide by the Sultan’s decision and attend the ceremony together. Later developments showed that a compromise has been hammered out – Exco seats and acceptance of the best man for the job – the PAS rep Ahmad Nizar. While Malays, Chinese and Indians alike  heave a  collective sigh of relief – for the sake of all that we have worked so hard to achieve – let’s not be petty in taking the first step together as Barisan Rakyat – not individual parties, with individual agendas. The country cannot afford to lose faith in the coalition at any time in this coming five years especially in this first momentous step.

So shuck the baggage off, think of the rakyat’s interest and do not squander this opportunity and the momentum generated to put Malaysia back on track.

A Wet Night in USJ 12

The rain dripped down my back as I listened  to the candidate for state seat in Seri Setia, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad in Malaysia’s 2008 general election. As his words fought  to be heard amid the pouring rain, I scanned the crowd. I had heard him speak before and found him articulate, intelligent and sincere. But I wanted to see who else thought so- People of all ages huddled under umbrellas trying not to get too wet but definitely staying put and paying attention. The crowd of almost 2000 Chinese and Indians with a smattering of Malays were determined to stay and hear all the speakers especially the star of the night – the DAP head honcho Lim Kit Siang. However, an announcement requesting the audience to leave for their own safety, sent me reluctantly home. As I left the field, the majority of the crowd – mostly those with umbrellas big enough for two – decided to wait out the rain on the muddy field of USJ 12. I walked back slowly through the puddles and ducked other umbrellas and slow-moving cars to get to my car. Luckily I had parked in front of a friendly house because the whole area was packed. I was joined by people both young and old walking back to their houses or cars. We exchanged smiles and “too bad” remarks. My son managed to remind them who to vote for and they responded with smiles and thumbs up.

There was a sense of solidarity among the people standing in the rain on that wet night – we all shared a common frustration at a government that treats us like ignorant children. We were not even allowed to judge for ourselves how good or bad the Opposition as they are not allowed to be heard on mainstream media. We are not capable of judging for ourselves therefore we have to be be told repeatedly to be grateful, reminded to stay on the right track, consider individual acts of kindness as representative of overall good governance. We are asked to ignore the fact that peaceful gatherings are sprayed with tear gas and bathed in chemically-laced water even when there are children, that thousands of ringgit a year are paid by one household in tolls alone (try RM200 /month – RM2400/year, that billions in government funds – our hard-earned money are being poured down the drain to save projects like the Port Klang Free Trade Zone debacle or over-commissioned submarines. These are among the litany of grievances that will affect our future. Whether all the events and examples of corruption, gross neglect and abuse of the systems and the law is enough to form a critical mass to tip the election the other way around – only 8 March 2008 will tell. I worry though at the lack of Malay faces in the crowd – granted it was a DAP Opposition ceramah but the crowd did not reflect the demographics. Would the Malays give in to the fear that has been perpetuated the past 39 years of another 13 May? Would they ignore BN’s excesses and opt for the familiar ? Perhaps they need to be reminded of the following realities:

• Their children need to be competitive on their own merit on the global playing field -an education system that breeds future voters by encouraging conformity and restrict critical thinking and debate have resulted in graduates who are virtually unemployable.
• Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance. Learning and intellectualism have been highly prized in Islam through the ages – the current atmosphere that encourages unthinking, blind obedience rather than an internalisation and practice of the values as well as the rituals bodes ill for future Muslims who do not understand their own religion
• our safety and security cannot be assured if the integrity of the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary is compromised. We have to be able to trust our police force and feel safe when they are around instead of threatened. we must believe that we have a grievance, the courts will be fair to us regardless of our race, religion or status. When we are victims of a crime, we will be protected and the perpetrator caught.
• the land we live in must be developed in a sustainable manner, responsibly not indiscriminately. We need parks and green lungs, places of recreation where families can go without having to pay an entrance fee and condominiums that won’t crack or collapse. We need forests and hills to remain forests and hills for our children to see and enjoy – not be bulldozed or converted into plantations
• Malaysia is a country of such potential – we’ve had a difficult yet dynamic adolescence. Now’s the time for us to blossom into adulthood and handle the challenges that a truly equitable multi-racial society will face with maturity.

As I drove away from USJ 12, the rain had stopped but the cars were still there and so were the people of Subang Jaya who had braved the rain – united in spirit and in hope. Let us hope the tipping point for Malaysia would indeed be March 8 2008 – a date when Malaysia truly grows up.

Remember Jebat?

I often wonder what the Malays would be like today if Jebat had won instead of Tuah. A cynical friend said, it wouldn’t have made a difference even if Jebat did win because history would have been rewritten in favour of Tuah anyway as being more politically correct. Loyalty to a ruler, however irrational and despotic, have always been a trademark of Malaysians or is it just Malays?  Blind, unquestioning loyalty is essential in preserving the status quo of the ruling elite.

But I digress – what if Jebat had won and /or was reported as such? After all history is written by the victors and if Jebat was victorious, it only stands to reason that he would make sure his victory over Tuah was known to all, far and wide to prove his point that injustice is unacceptable and the Sultan is unfit to rule. (Let’s not go into the nitty gritty of Jebat’s supposed actions and killings of court maidens which always seemed fishy to me. ..)  Better still what if they both stood up against Sultan Mahmud, and garnered the support of the Bendahara and the people? Maybe when the Sultan realised he was outgunned , outnumbered and definitely out of power  – he went  into exile. What then would the Malays be like?

Perhaps, they would have been more discriminating and stringent in  choice of leaders.  Loyalty would come only after leaders show  their readiness to be held accountable for their behavior and actions and demonstrate integrity, courage and an unstinting , unwavering commitment to the preserving the interests of the rakyat, regardless of race, religion and state of pocketbook. Such Malays would voice their disagreement and protests vociferously at policies or the lack of it to safeguard Malaysia’s interests. They would haul up the corrupt, not vote them in repeatedly. These Malays would be open-minded, tolerant and generous with all who choose to make Malaysia their home. After all the first Malays to beoame Muslim chose to do so  after witnessing the characteristics and experiencing the warmth of the Muslims from Pasai. These characteristics would then be reinforced as part of the national culture and consciousness.   Narrowmindedness and an obsessive compulsion to target women and emphasise rituals over values would not be in the vocabulary of such Malays.

A high premium  would be placed on integrity, excellence, tolerance and cooperation and Malays will be fiercely loyal to Malaysia and guard our interests and resources jealously. Malay leaders who do not make this grade, do not even get a nose through a crack, much less control or influence others. We would find Malay intellectuals,  academics, journalists , industrialists,  artists ,  writers and  directors competing comfortably on the world stage. The Malaysian education system would produce thinkers and doers that help propel Malaysia into the future,  not conformists and future supporters to maintain the status quo.

Is this stuff that dreams are made of? Can this be anything other than rhetoric and empty words?

When Tuah purportedly killed Jebat for being disloyal to the Sultan, even if Jebat’s intention was to avenge Tuah’s  unjust ‘death’, the message that reverberated for Malays in generations to come was that loyalty to the one in power must be unswerving and unquestioning, under any circumstances. They must live in hope that errant leaders will come around and correct damage wrought. They must continue to have faith in a flawed system that allows  leaders to implement policies that undercut and undermine the very institutions and people they were entrusted to preserve and protect. They should close their eyes to the root causes and main perpetrators of corruption amongst them for Malays do not rock the boat for change, even when the boat is visibly heading towards the rocks. They have to close ranks and remain loyal to their leaders especially when they receive favours and boons. ‘ We are obliged to follow and remain loyal for to be disloyal would mean jeopardising the future of the Malays and risk the loss of Malay political power’. So in the interest supposedly for the greater good, Malays remain loyal to flawed leaders and flawed systems.  Tuah made the choice that fateful day to remain loyal to a man who ordered his death on a whim and a rumour and kill his best friend as proof of that loyalty and belief in  the credibility of the Sultanate. Just as the Malays do today. Any possibility for change lies in the realization among the Malays that they are the ones who hold the balance of power in this country and therefore must exercise it responsibly – not just for themselves but for future generations.  If they persist in ignoring this responsibility ostrich-like, Malays may end in in a country depleted of resources,  weakened economically and mismanaged only to share it with the non-Malays who are too impoverished to migrate. For change to happen,  we Malays must be bold and strong enough to demand integrity and accountability of our leaders. If we don’t then  we will continue to get what we deserve  by our continued silence and loyalty to those who do not deserve it.

If anyone asks you, what can one man do, remind them of Tuah and Jebat.

A Sea of Yellow

 

I went for a walk yesterday, amid the pouring rain accompanied by my best friend and tens of thousands of Malaysians dressed in shades of yellow. A walk of less than three kilometres yet every step I took, striding determinedly side by side with fellow Malaysians  near (Petaling Jaya) and far ( Kelantan, Terengganu even Perak), able and disabled (wheelchair, on crutches  with one leg?? ) made me feel more of a Malaysian than any celebration of our Independence Day.

As we approached KL, yellow shirts tucked safely in a backpack and cover story intact in case we were questioned (” baru balik kerja kilang di Shah Alam, Datuk”),  traffic was  slow moving and only one road was closed . Then the first road block behind KTM – the police ignored us and we managed to park in Dayabumi. At the entrance facing the National Mosque, we put on our yellow shirts and looked around for compatriots – fellow yellows only to be disappointed.. It was almost 3 pm and rain poured steadily. We looked at each other and others sheltering from the rain, wondering whether this had all been hype and the anticipated crowd had dwindled when faced with FRU’s water cannons and tear gas when we caught sight of a straggly crowd in yellow  marching from Dataran Merdeka. We watched, awed as the crowd grew in strength , like an progressively fat yellow column of people of all ages, moving steadily towards the National Palace. Shouts of “Rapat, rapat” came from men dressed in maroon with the word “Unit Amal, Malaysia” written behind their shirts, as they sheparded the crowd along making sure the crowd didn’t obstruct traffic. It was this line of maroon shirts that I saw at the front line between the marchers and the police later in front of the National Palace. (I discovered that they were summoned from Terengganu).

We walked, oblivious to the rain that soaked us to the skin, and the threat of police, tear gas and what can water cannons do when we were already wet!  Ebullient and enthusiastic, we followed the chants of “Bersih, Bersih” and “Hidup, Hidup Rakyat”. I was more hesitant when it came to the takbir and “Hidup Islam” and BN or  UMNO taunts because they were out of place, I felt, in a non-partisan march representing the hopes of all Malaysians for clean elections.  I kept looking back to see how long did this column of people in yellow stretch – it seemed never ending and more seemed to be joining us. The march ended with all of us sitting on the roads that so recently we drove on – a crowd of at the very least 30,000 – not the paltry 4,000 crowd reported by the mainstream media.

We smiled and exchanged stories of how we managed to make it into the city – one drove from Perak, parked at Rawang and came to KL via the commuter train. Others came in buses the night before. Many came via LRT and those from out of town had to face police road blocks to get into the city. There were whole families (couples with siblings and mother in tow),  youths and children too young to vote and Makciks and Pakciks who had valiantly kept up with the crowd. Our stories were tame compared to what our fellow yellows went through in Masjid Jamek and Jalan TAR. The tear gas was fired upon them without any warning to disperse and chemical-laced water from the water cannons caught them full face. The marchers dispersed quickly, avoiding the shower and gas, only to converge again, from behind pillars and out of shops – bursts of yellows that gave heart to others until they converged again and moved towards their  goal, passing out salt among themselves to recover quickly from the gas. 

Twice  gassed and showered, thrice they came back, more determined and resolute, my sisters and brother-in-law among them.

 

Who are they, this group, this honoured few? After all, the memorandum was signed by only “a few thousand people” whose voices are unimportant to the ruling alliance. 30,000 people forming the sea of yellow are a drop in the bucket of 27 million Malaysians. Well, they are concerned citizens who want a better future for their children. Those who were there are disillusioned with the state of affairs of the country as well as those who went along riding on the wave of political rhetoric. Many were first timers – not Reformasi veterans. Many were supporters of the opposition and some were  even UMNO  members.- the middle-class silent majority have in essence spoken with their feet and their presence.  What we all share is a deep sense of urgency of the need to stop the rot that the current election system would reinforce. Even if the current government wins, at least it is by assuredly fair means rather than election results accompanied by a distinct odour of malfeasance.

 

I ended the day in hope only to discover to my dismay that those I met later were unimpressed with the sea of yellow march. What memorandum?  Malaysians are either unconcerned, apathetic or ostrich-like in their regard to swallowing the media version of the march uncritically and unthinkingly. Why should they bother? Their businesses / careers / families/lives are doing fine – in fact they benefit greatly from the current status quo. The fate of others struggling to live their lives honestly, safely and with integrity does not register on their radar. What is voting but an inconvenience to them? Malaysia is just a context for their lives – like a parasite living off their host. When times get tough – their catchword is “Let’s migrate!” I will be the first to wish them goodbye.

 

To those gassed, showered, arrested  and released – I salute your courage and I pray for your safety. Your sacrifice allowed others to see through the façade. I like to think that what matters to my fellow yellows is  the King’s commitment to us as his subjects and the hope that this has shown the powers that be that Malaysian have it within them to control their own destiny. We are not lemmings who will obediently and unquestioningly jump off a cliff just because we are told to do so. Please treat Malaysians with the respect and honour that we deserve as tax payers, citizens and patriots who have learnt the hard lessons of the past, are working to improve the present and will do what it takes for a better Malaysia. – we who choose to stay in this country of our birth..

 

 

 

Merdeka revisited

Shangri-La Putrajaya at midnight, Japanese fireworks lighting up the sky marking fifty years of Independence. Millions of ringgit to create a spectacle for the small group of Malaysians and tourists watching in the aircon comfort of the hotel and the thousands more outside sweating it out along the lake and thoroughfare. It felt strangely sterile, unlike the exuberance and pride I felt last year even as the skies lit up – perhaps because we couldn’t hear the booms – just see the flash and sparks. Almost a mirror to what I felt – Malaysia – all flash and no substance? After the brilliance – darkness  heralds? Harsh I know and I dread to see it coming true.  But all that had happened in this past year sapped the hope and promise I had felt a year ago that we could actually transcend greed and selfishness for a better Malaysia.

The hypocrisy that was latent before (in my naivete) , came into full bloom and is strutting unashamedly in full view of Malaysians and the rest of the world . But we must not criticise, comment or appear to deviate from the party line that requires blind allegience amid the platitudes and lip service to ‘open dialogue’ and ‘democracy’. NATO (No Action Talk Only) seems to be the order of the day in all aspects of Malaysian life. Meanwhile, life rolls merrily along for Malaysians who are cushioned from the harsher realities of life that price hikes, high petrol prices and shrinking purchasing power of the ringgit that others contend with. Not to mention the higher cost of doing business amid an atmosphere that doesn’t seem safe. We surround ourselves with guard dogs, gates and gentlemen paid to stay awake and alert – both my neighbours have acquired canine alarms while I place my faith in the inanimate still.

Our hearts are in our mouths when a loved one gets on an express bus. After all, we have a system that promotes profit over safety and integrity (frequency of runs is rewarded – not a summons-free drive for both bus and lorry drivers) . We reward those who work ’smart’, dress and speak well especially of the powers that be , over those who work hard and are principled. We preach teamwork , shared values and excellence but hand out rewards and accolades to ‘flash in the pan’ shooting stars while ignoring the rest of the team’s contribution ( the TV coverage for the under 23 football striker and his twin who scored one goal in the final game against Myanmar in the Merdeka tournament is a case in point). Hey, we even allow an ex IGP convicted of assaulting a hapless prisoner to give us advice on how to be united! We preach religious tolerance while silently consenting to religious rehabilitation camps. We close our eyes to persistent reports of mismanagement, bailouts, dubious projects on foreign shores and questionable exercise of authority.

Admittedly we do get jolted out of our apathy when a horrific accident occurs whether on the road or in the sky due to a persistent lack of good judgement and follow through. We’d rather not ask ourselves why money could not be allocated for new helicopters until the death toll became intolerable. (But it’s only the lives of our soldiers and airmen we risk – other govt personnel do not use Nuris to get around). Or why  buses with outstanding summonses or considered unroadworthy  are allowed on the road. How about the lack of clean up in the city even with it being Visit Malaysia Year – tourists are snapping hp pix of the garbage piled up in places like Puduraya (Since we insist on keeping a bus terminal in the middle of the city, we can at least work harder at keeping the area clean, can’t we?) But Malaysians have notoriously short memories..Bukit Gantang and the Nuri crash will fade away from our collective consciousness the same way the Highland Towers tragedy  and Karak accident did.

Will what we build now carry us into the future? The question posed in one of Yasmin Ahmad’s Petronas ads for this year’s Merdeka. It is a clever ad – a simple story of a man who wanted to stop building boats for a living and work as a security guard in the city to pay off his debts. His creditor offers a solution – build a boat for him as payment for his debt. The man builds a boat but takes shortcuts, uses inferior material and paints over the defects and old wood. The boat is completed and placed in the water to be handed over. To his surprise, the creditor gives it to him along with an outboard motor and good news of projects that would require a boatman – a gift of opportunity for a better future. He returns jubilant to the jetty, with the motor, only to discover that the boat is sinking, slowly but surely.

So we ask ourselves, have what we built – roads, buildings, financial institutions, education systems, judicial systems organisations, businesses – take us into a brave new world – into the next fifty years or will they fail us, if they haven’t already? Do we have the gumption to roll our sleeves up, drag them into the open and hold it up to scrutiny in order to fix them?

If we had a common value system, share the same goals and work towards the same objective as a nation of people who walk the talk at all stages in our lives, then perhaps I would be optimistic and jubilant on our nation’s birthday. But I sense the hesitance and the fear that the majority of Malaysians emanate – to hold people we elect accountable for how they run the country. We do not enforce any punishment, objection or displeasure at the inequities and inefficiencies. Worse still , we accept their silence and avoidance of critical decisions and actions that demonstrates that we are respected. “Kata tidak dikota” seems to be the norm. For we are afraid of what will happen to us – promotions and pensions withheld, contracts cancelled , demotions, cold storage -  all still mild compared to the ISA and Kamunting. If only the fear could be said to be unfounded.

Another question was raised by the Sun in an issue, as run up to Merdeka – Do we deserve the Independence that our founding fathers fought so hard for? Sometimes I feel as if we are monkeys being given a flower – we have absolutely no appreciation of its beauty and no conception of its fragility. Our youth must have the courage that we lack for they will inherit this country from us, warts and all. So much depends on them rising above the mediocrity and conformity devils that hobble our education system. Perhaps when it comes to their turn, they will cherish and protect it and leave no room for the monkeys .

I may not live to see Malaysia’s centennial, but I pray that I do live to see that with enough prayer, courage and strength Malaysians will reclaim this land from those who seek to colonise our spirits, beliefs and principles. It may not be perfect even then but at least it will be a journey towards the light and not from it. Perhaps, unlike the spectacular fireworks of yesterday, there shall be a sense of fulfilment and shared purpose, even after the flash has died down..

The State of Muslim Marriages

I met a friend today who was uncertain as to her options as her husband has literally been badgering her for permission to take a second wife. He would alternate between showering her with gifts, promises of fidelity then followed by a litany of how dissatisfied he is with her and why he wants a second wife. They have been married for 25 years with four children and are both employed in a GLC. Upper-middle class Muslim couple who married for love while studying, came back with degrees and a young child to a recession and no jobs. They enrolled in the government scheme for unemployed graduates and became temporary teachers working for RM660 a month. Through hard work and grit (the wife sold artificial flower arrangements among other things), they managed to move from the temporary jobs and rooms in relatives’ homes to a comfortable home and settled down to follow the normal pattern of life for middle-aged Muslim couples; go for Haj, see their children through the various exams , then university and make the gradual climb up the corporate ladder; though more for the husband then the wife of course; saving money for their children’s weddings and eventual pension. In the meantime, attending the mosque, usrahs, ceramahs regularly will be part of their routine, after all that’s preparation for the afterlife. The only spanner in the works at this point in time is the husband’s insistence on taking a second wife as its his right to do so as a Muslim man.  The sad thing about this story is that it is an all too common occurence in many Muslim families in Malaysia today. Just take a circle of friends and acquaintances and note how many marriages have faced this problem just within one’s own circle. A good monogamous marriage may be slowly becoming an anomaly.

Between 1995 and 2004, government statistics show that 13,516 polygamous marriages took place  representing 1.4 percent of all Muslim marriages. Not only are these statistics outdated , many second and third marriages go unregistered plus the absence of a national database precludes the possibility coming up with an accurate number of polygamous marriages. While some Muslim men like to quote the argument of “extraordinary” men who have the capacity to take care of multiple families, I think it takes a truly extraordinary man to nurture and sustain  the spritual, emotional and financial well-being of one family.  Muslim men who would like to ‘avoid adultery’ and experience  the variety  of “a different dish” (common rationalizations for polygamy) would do well to consider the results of a pilot study conducted by Sisters In Islam where in 2005 involving 40 members of polygamous households revealed that some children suffer emotional problems as a direct consequence of the practice, causing them to take up alcohol and smoking. The 12 year old child of the family mentioned earlier currently suffers from crying jags and depression and has spoken to the school counselor about the friction between her parents due to her father’s request as a way to cope with her father’s need to be polygamous. 

The position of polygamy in Islam has been explained in various articles including one by Dr Sharifah Munirah Alatas http://www.muslimedia.com/archives/features98/polygamy.htm     Verse 4:129, which states, “You are never able to be fair and just as between women, even if it is your ardent desire,” recognizes the impossibility of men treating all their wives equally and justly, the basis for  countries like Tunisia outlawing polygamy. But many men like to refer instead to the verse which comes after “and so, do not allow yourselves to incline towards one to the exclusion of the other, leaving her in a state of having and not having a husband…” (al-Nisa, 4: 129) as a justification for polygamy as long as they strive to be fair.

 It is strange and hurtful for me to see Muslims falling over themselves to justify their right to hurt the women they love, whom they call wives, who bore their children and stayed with them through want and ease, by insisting on exercising their right to marry another woman, especially once their first wives have passed the bloom of youth and entering middle-age.  They conveniently forget the the Prophet (pbuh) married only after his first wife Siti Khadija died and insisted that his son-in-law Ali, should not take a second wife for that would hurt his daughter Fatima. This should be a clear indicator as to the Prophet’s true feelings about polygamy even though it is permitted in Islam.

Isn’t life whether you are a Muslim or not, lived for the pleasure of the One God, to be blessed and nourished in His love for us? If we hurt the ones we love in order to fulfil a selfish need, isn’t that going against our covenant with Him. Of course this line of argument would not hold water with those who are truly determined to fulfil their needs even to the point of saying that “this would help the widows, divorcees and orphans out there for there are more women than men in Malaysia, right?”. If that is so then why are the prime candidates for second and third wives , younger, financially independent or able and usually more beautiful? Rarely the middle-aged widows or divorcees in need of financial aid. Which leads us to the hypocrisy of that particular argument especially as my friend’s husband wants to marry “a childless divorcee” because he no longer wants children. The idea of milk bottles, diapers and pushing prams is no longer his cup of tea hence “childless”. So women who marry other people’s husbands must be prepared to sacrifice their own dreams of motherhood. Anyway one looks at it, women are definitely getting the short end of the stick.

 ”As the late Isma`il Ragi al-Faruqi had once said “scripture itself, as well as the example of the Prophet, are not authoritative unless the subject has himself found them so on their own intrinsic merits. Any Muslim doing otherwise would have achieved islam, but not iman (piety and wisdom), whereas Islamic excellence consists of an islam resulting from and following upon iman. In the former case, islam is intellectually passive; in the latter, it is an active search for ways and means of actualizing the truths grasped in iman. http://www.iol.ie/~afifi/BICNews/Afaiz/afaiz3.htm

Being Muslim should mean that we are able to look at the truths inherent in the teachings of the Holy Quran and the examples of the Prophet (pbuh) and internalise these truths in our daily lives and not subvert them to rationalise intrinsically selfish needs that can be achieved at the expense of wives and children. Surely there is more to being a Muslim man, father and husband than just providing material sustenance. And in the case of husbands in polygamous marriages or who have divorced their wives due to the need for multiple partners, even material sustenance is suspect and often obtained at the point of a smoking barrel in the form of court documents and rulings.

Muslim men must accept the reponsibility of being role models to their sons and daughters and true husbands to their wives. When children grow up disillusioned about their father, their first hero; it is a hard struggle for them to become mature, responsible adults who are not cynical about human relationships and are healthy not just in body, but mind and spirit. It takes a a remarkable woman to forgive the husband, accept the new woman and remain his wife in every sense of the word. But then that would be an extension of the ‘extraordinary man’ argument applied the other way round.

 When a wife consents to share her husband, a part of the love she feels for him will be lost forever, for only then will sharing be possible. Just ask any man whose wife has been unfaithful to him and ask whether he would still want her while she maintains a relationship with another man. Or would he want to kill the lover and put him in a septic tank instead? Since when does the need for exclusivity  in a relationship only apply to men? Since when was kindness to one’s wife an unneccessary feature for a husband? Why don’t men realise that asking for permission for a second or subsequent wife negates all that they have shared together and renders the wife valueless?

Polygamy is not the choice of a Thinking Muslim man.

13 May Revisited

  

In the rarefied air and balmy breezes off the

island of
Borneo, it’s hard to think about or write about politics, education or religion. Even though the previous week was filled with serious discussions and hard work, this weekend seems particularly lazy especially as the noonday heat is deceptively gentle from the shade of the balcony and the bird calls more of a reminder that KL is far away. The white stretches of sand mark the beaches of the not-so-far-away islands and the muted engines of speedboats and motorboats hum in the air as tourists are carried across the azure waters to the small islands , close enough to the resort for me to see the distinctive canopy of one tree on a slope – like a bird perched on a hill, looking out protectively over the island, its back to the sea. 

Malaysia can be stunningly beautiful. We are so lucky yet do we value what we have? It’s the eve of 13^th May and I’m surrounded by tourists both local and foreign who have no idea of the significance of that date in Malaysian history. My grown-up children, one who is engrossed in the NBA playoffs, are included in the generations of Malaysians who have no inkling of what it was like thirty-eight years ago, when the fuse blew on the bomb of racial tensions that had been ticking especially after the elections of 1969. 

I was seven years old when I first heard the word “curfew” for the first time and my mother told me my father won’t be coming home from his office in KL because of it. I didn’t realise until later what that meant. We were a young Malay family living in the middle of a sea of Chinese neighbours in SEA Park during the darkest period of Malaysian history. In KL that day, mobs of Malays and Chinese were killing each other. My father had bought a cheap single-storey terrace house in the area as the house faced the junction and was considered not “ong” or lucky.  

My cousin and her son were in a cinema in downtown KL when the riots broke out. They ran into a shop as people were dragged out by mobs. They lived through that night because the Chinese shopkeeper hid them behind his counter when the mob came looking for Malays. They in turn protected the Chinese taxi driver who drove them out of KL from the Malay mob. A young Malay girl swallowed her fear and accompanied her Chinese friend the morning after to the morgue. Her friend’s brother didn’t make it home that night. They found him there. That night, while there were mobs roving the streets, harming those based on their ethnicity, there were others who saved fellow Malaysians regardless of their ethnicity. 

Interracial couples bore the brunt of the mobs’ rage that night. Horrific stories about what happened to them emerged only to quietly sink into the murky pool of best-forgotten incidents. Much of what happened in KL that night remains as stories shared in hushed voices among survivors of a traumatic event – not to be printed even much less discussed openly for fear of opening old wounds or have new ones erupt. So we practice a “see no evil, say no evil, hear no evil” policy when it comes to this dark period. Young Malaysians are only presented a ‘bogey man’ view of 13^th May as is convenient to roll out now and again amid exhortations for racial integration and to reinforce the importance of conformity. 

My father came home when the curfew was lifted. Although we ran out of rice and the shops were closed, our neighbours gave us both rice, sugar and most valuable of all – their protection and kindness. So I guess living there was lucky after all. 

I remember going to school in the aftermath of  13^th May, singing Negaraku , watching the flag go up during assembly and seeing the serious faces of the teachers and older students – wondering whether the grownups of that time knew what they were doing. My father spoke of his friends – those who died in the street that night  and those who lived, of leaders who fell from grace and new ones who rose to the occasion. There was a collective, unspoken horror at the depths Malaysians descended to as well as awe at the heroism and courage true Malaysians displayed. It was a testament to the professionalism and speed of the security forces and hard decisions made by the authorities  that the riots did not spread to all states or last longer.  

We could have been bitter and revengeful – instead we made a conscious choice to do the opposite or did we? The National Economic Policy and Barisan Nasional rose from the ashes of the flames that burnt that day. Muhibbah was the rallying cry for racial integration but at the same time formalised affirmative action helped provide the push for the development of the educated Malay middle class and Malay entrepeneurs today. It was hoped that these measures would balance the country’s population, spread the economic pie more evenly and even eradicate poverty. A tall order indeed. 

I benefited from those policies, defended them to talented non-Malay students who watched as others less talented receive scholarships, breathed a sigh of relief as meritocracy came into the equation and now my children compete with others based on their own merit and the depth of their father’s pocket. And
Malaysia fifty years on is an even playing field for all races? That was the intention of those policies.  

So, have we come up to the mark? Those heroes and victims who died that night believed that
Malaysia was a country worth living and dying for. What do we believe? Have our politicians and entrepeneurs forgotten what
Malaysia is all about in this race towards developed nation status by so busily ensuring their own status?  Is quality in education, health care and local services merely lip service? Is racial integration and religious tolerance merely rhetoric – sounds good on paper but let’s not see it in action? Must we still base our judgement, our decisions, our identities, our alliances on race and religion in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society that is
Malaysia? Do we dare to change or must we wait for another fifty years or worse still, another 13^th May. 

I have mixed ancestry – Sumatran Malay with a touch of Chinese and Burmese blood somewhere in the mix. My children are one quarter Chinese as is my best friend (and they look it too). I have Chinese and Indian neighbours whom I’ve lived next to the past fifteen years in a multi-racial neighbourhood. I have Chinese friends I’m close to as well as Malay and non-Malay co-workers I respect greatly. I’m seriously considering an inter-racial relationship and hail from a predominantly Malay state and a traditional and conservative Muslim family (Yes, I know, I’m heading for trouble!)   I speak and write in both Malay and English. My daughter is learning Chinese and Malaysian law. I love P. Ramlee, Sudirman and Yasmin Ahmad’s movies as well as the latest
Hollywood blockbusters. Am I a typical Malaysian? Is any Malaysian today typical of a specific race or religion? Or are we on the whole “mongrels” – a mixed breed in terms of ancestry and social interactions?  

As long as we continue to make decisions and take actions based upon the privilege due to ethnic background, the bogey man of 13 May will continue to hover in the background. Turning one’s back on the need for concrete measures for racial integration, religious tolerance and equitable treatment does not not negate the urgency for such measures.   

If another race riot were to erupt tomorrow, how will the mobs differentiate between my children and I? By appearance, by identity or it wouldn’t matter as long blood is spilt in the name of ethnic pride? If ever it comes down to this, then it would have all been to no avail. We would have learnt nothing from the darkest period of our history. Rationalizing our actions right down to the last body for it is so difficult to change, to risk losing our status, our power. So if you are a minority , it may be better to leave
Malaysia now for greener pastures than continue fighting for tolerance, understanding and harmony among races. If you are a ‘bumi’ ,  reconsider current thinking  on ’sensitive’ issues related to race, special privileges and religion for if we continue the policies of the three monkeys or insisting on putting our foot down as a majority, things may come to pass in a manner most unpleasant. But that’s only my opnion. As for me, I will slog on in my own small way for a better
Malaysia and Malaysians.

Of ‘True’, Semi and Should-be Muslims

Being a mother of four children, a practicing born Muslim and a Malay, the case of Revathi or Siti Fatimah just strikes me as a symptom that something is drastically wrong in how Islam is understood in
Malaysia today. While Islam preaches tolerance and no compulsion, authorities gave approval for families to be separated and for bodies to be reclaimed in the name of Islam. There is a toddler out there who misses her parents and will not understand why she was taken away. In the case of the husband who converted to Islam, the non-Muslim mother may lose custody of both her children, a three-year old and a two-year old, if their custody is decided by a Syariah court., even though she is not a Muslim.  The authorities advocating these actions seem to be ignorant of the Prophet Muhammad’s stand on tolerance  (/www.islamreligion.com/category/73/) and non-Muslim rights as stated clearly in his Saying :   “Beware!  Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim minority, or curtails their rights, or burdens them with more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will; I (Prophet Muhammad) will complain against the person on the Day of Judgment.” (Abu Dawud) 

Issues involving a hint of apostasy and religion are latched on as a hero-making device for the self-righteous everywhere. After all, solving it is easier and more sensational than a critical review of the Islamic Religious Education curriculum being taught in schools which piles on rules, rituals and exhortation at the expense of understanding and internalisation. Now, sending a Should-Be Muslim into a rehabilitation centre, that currency, in this world and the Hereafter, right? Support from Muslims whether urban or rural, educated or uneducated can definitely be counted on, unless of course, one is a liberal Muslim. They should be discounted after all they are can be categorized as Semi-Muslims who seem to pick and choose which part of Islam they are willing to practice and dare to to question Islamic practices of polygamy and wearing the veil.  The liberal sounding Mufti of Perlis should not be really taken seriously, after all he seems to have political affiliations. (Of course, we must keep a lookout for Straying Muslims even if infringes on their privacy, so what if Caliph Umar was reprimanded for doing so and he humbly admitted his mistake, we are better Muslims??)   The ‘True’ Muslim, the born, practicing Muslim on the other hand are of course conservative and practice the Islamic Way of Life. They would never question such key practices as polygamy, the veil, women’s chastity and the necessity of an Islamic State. After all, a multi-religious approach towards managing social ills would never be as effective as an Islamic approach to anything ( never mind that Muslims were exhorted to search for knowledge wherever it can be found even as far as China – ironic that it still hold true till today !) Those Should-Be Muslims are an affront to their sensibilities and must be brought back to the Right Path. Their blinkered view seems to prevent them from considering the treatment of apostates in other Muslim communities as the Malaysian way is undoubtedly correct – we are not talking about effectiveness only correctness. 

If what happened to Revathi was reversed i.e Siti Fatimah was brought up as Muslim but was asked to convert to another religion to marry and then separated from her husband and child to relearn the teachings of another religion – well, that’s another Natrah case in the making (http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natrah).  The irony of the ‘true’ Muslim is that they too select which parts of Islamic thought and teachings of Muhammad that they want to adhere to and internalize. That in my book also makes them Semi-Muslims though I’m sure many would object most vociferously. What if the non-Muslim parents who gave their children up for adoption to Muslim families now want to claim them and their grandchildren and make them convert? What will we do then? Go to court? Hide them? Or just shrug our shoulders and say, “They can’t do anything, they have no power – no court, no authority in
Malaysia will send a Muslim adult and her child back to a non-Muslim family”. 

Therein lies the rub. How is it we can do unto others what we would never allow onto ourselves? A continuing double standard will erode public faith in our systems and may encourage more and more religious spats which may result in an atmosphere of deep suspicion and paranoia among Muslims and non-Muslims. Hardly the best way to foster unity and integration on the 50^th  year of
Malaysia’s independence. Muslims must stop this constant need to look outwards as  to why there are people leaving Islam, but to look inside critically at that is done to help themselves as Muslims and their non-Muslim brethren understand what Islam is truly all about – its Spirit, not only its rituals. In truth, no one wants to be judged how religious or unreligious they are for that in truth is between the person and his God. So what makes a True Muslim? Perhaps he or she is someone who believes that funeral rites of whatever religion, would not part a soul from His Maker. How a soul is received by His Maker, depends on what sort of person he was like in his lifetime, not whether he was buried or cremated. For God is All-Forgiving, All-Knowing and All-Compassionate… Or someone who believes that living in harmony with their fellow man is more important than “whose religion is better?” arguments… Maybe someone who internalizes the meaning of  “Bismillahirahmannirahim – In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful” and translate that in how they live their life, how they raise their families, carry out their responsibilities and interact harmoniously with their fellow man and environment. Would that be a “True’ Muslim? 

Let us listen to voices of reason among us and step back from the pulpit of emotionalism and tunnel vision to a common platform of tolerance, mutual understanding and respect. A deeper knowledge of what each other’s beliefs and a stand to stop using religion as an instrument of control and conformity. Arrogance and religions do not mix well and should be mutually exclusive. Look and learn from Muslim minorities and majorities all over the world.  Let us stop chasing and judging and start working and learning from each other – the True, the Semi, the Should-Be and the Non! Better still, throw away the labels and see each other as people with hopes, fears, loves and beliefs..

The Malaysian Cluster Schools – My Two Sen Worth

It’s always interesting to note how Malaysians love coming up with their own definitions of what others are doing in the world and put their own spin on it. Cluster schools in other countries are characterised by a common factor or factors such as a common educational philosophy, geographical location, shared infrastructure, management system among others. Malaysian cluster schools are said to be models of excellence for other schools in terms of academic performance, curriculum delivery, assessment strategies and co-curricular activities at state, national and international level. Plus they have a niche speciality that makes each school unique.

As a parent and an interested observer in all things Malaysian especially education, I feel that all cluster schools should have the following pre-requisite conditions before they can make the quantum leap into model schools for aspiring principals and educationists from across the globe:

• Principals with a  vision for the type of students they want to produce, the knowledge of how they will do it and the leadership (in curriculum, assessment and ICT)  to motivate both teachers and students to pull it off
• A nurturing and stimulating school ethos where students love learning,  experience success and learn from failures in an enviromenent that rewards effort, positive values and good interpersonal skills more than  academic grades
• A learning environment that integrates ICT and the English language in rich learning activities so that the mastery of technology and language is built up step by step within the framework of cross-curricular learning tasks
• An enthusiastic, competent, knowledgeable, compassionate teaching force that equips their students with the knowledge, skills, values and discipline required to become  independent learners who take responsibility for their own learning
• A management system characterised by the use of ICT applications for managing the school and demand for data by the MoE, library and financial management, tracking curriculum and assessment activities therby relieving the teachtres’ administrative burden and collecting valuable data regarding student learning for objective decison making
• A networked school with full utilisation of all computer and communication technology appropriate for both teaching and learning and management
• Collaboration with other classes, schools or classrooms from across the country and the globe to share resources, knowledge and experiences within a global and pluralistic context
• Partnership with the local community, industry partners both national and international for authentic resources and learning opportunities

These factors must be in place along with the niche speciality of all cluster schools before schools can consider themselves a model for others. The autonomy, extra funds and special teachers are the means towards achieving these goals. The product from these cluster schools would then be confident, capable, creative and compassionate individuals who are self-starters, thinkers and doers,  worthy of a place in any university, local or abroad. The soft skills they developed from school will stand them in good stead when coupled with the hard skills required to compete in the global marketplace.