It has become a tiring, if not annoying, fact that race and religion (the “two Rs”) have increasingly intervened in our collective life in a polarising fashion over the years, especially at a time when what the nation desperately needs are things that can unite people of diverse backgrounds.
Divisiveness must be pushed aside if the country is to really move forward in important areas such as the economy, education, technology, justice and human dignity.
And yet, certain quarters in our society have a curious yearning for harping on race and religion as if life is incomplete if these things are not politicised and consequently, they become a stubborn wedge between the ethnic and religious communities.
Politicians with hidden agendas have made the abuse of the two Rs into an art, much to the chagrin of ordinary people who just want peace and progress for the nation.
What is also worrying is that politicians are not the only category of people bitten by the two Rs bug.
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There are other influential people, such as educators and religious leaders, who unfortunately also see life through racial lenses, which in turn has repercussions for wider society.
This is why some social media users were upset when Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin reportedly questioned the lack of ethnic Malay representation in a so-called panel of experts formed recently by the Ministry of Local Government Development.
Social media users rightly pointed out that the expertise of the 28 “experts” – a few of whom are Malays – should instead be the key concern of Asri and other inquisitive people.
What is important is people must be assured that these chosen people, irrespective of their ethnicities and creeds, are well equipped to take on the task they are entrusted to do, which is to help craft policies and programmes for the ministry.
If fairness is the purported concern of the likes of Asri, why were they not found publicly expressing worry about, say, the lack of ethnic minority representation in the top management of public universities, particularly the position of vice-chancellor? Were they convinced no ethnic minority academics have the right qualifications and aptitude for the office of vice-chancellor?
Or for that matter, what about the lack of ethnic minority personnel in key positions in government ministries and government-linked companies? Has the number of capable people from the ethnic minority communities dwindled over the years?
Incidentally, this may be a consolation to people who are troubled by the tiresome mantra of race and religion: a few Muslim civil society groups recently crossed the religious divide to meet the Dalai Lama in an effort to strengthen Muslim-Buddhist ties. This has ethno-religious significance in a divided Malaysia.
It should be clear to us all that professionalism and expertise are vital in academia, public service, industry and business – sectors with a big impact on the rest of society.
Having said that, it however makes you wonder whether race is still relevant when the race-consumed people, who are mere mortals, are at their weakest. Would they, for example, ask from which ethnic or religious background donated blood come before they undertake much-needed blood transfusion? Or would they engage in a verbal protest at the operating table with a surgeon well-known for his skilfulness and professionalism, but whose ethnic and religious background does not jive with theirs?
Our beloved country cannot afford to be held back from harmony and advancement by people who play the race-and-religion card. – The Malaysian Insight
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
