Home TA Online Mahathir’s failure to tap this priceless asset cost Malaysia dearly

Mahathir’s failure to tap this priceless asset cost Malaysia dearly

Many progressive nations have embraced the varied cultural experiences in their lands to spur economic dynamism

Our diversity should be celebrated - DR WONG SOAK KOON/ALIRAN

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Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently tried to clarify his “chopsticks” remark as an analogy to describe the Chinese community’s failure to assimilate itself in Malaysia.

But in reality, his remarks sum up his failed dreams.

Enough, Mahathir! You had over two decades as prime minister to toy with and re-engineer the nation’s future – only to end up creating a huge chasm between ordinary people and the privileged few.

Your attempts to uplift the bumiputras have left a deep 80:20 economic divide, where some 80% of ethnic Malays wallow in the bottom 40% and middle 40% of struggling households while a handful of millionaires and billionaires enjoy the spoils of this nation’s sweat and tears.

Your dream to create a “one common culture” is not only flawed but goes against the diversity of creation and the beauty of humanity’s journey over time.

For you to suggest that the ethnic minorities must abandon their own cultures smacks of an obsession with social engineering.

It is unpalatable for a two-time prime minister to even suggest that foreigners who wished to become citizens of a particular country need to adopt the local culture and eventually abandon their own cultures.

Malaysia was and continues to be built by people of many backgrounds and cultures. The Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups regard Malaysia as their only land and home.

Throughout our post-independence history, right up to this day, the various ethnic groups, including the Malays, played and worked together. To this day, many live in the same neighbourhood or residential area. We never failed to embrace with pride Bahasa Malaysia.

READ MORE:  In diverse Malaysia, think of the consequences before you act!

The world is increasingly celebrating the beauty of human diversity. Many progressive countries are harnessing the varied cultural experiences in their lands to spur economic dynamism.

But here you are, still harping on your expired experiment of getting the minorities to abandon their cultures.

Culture is not for powerful leaders to engineer. Hitler tried but paid a huge price and failed miserably, despised to this day.

Cultural diversity knits an entire nation of people together and gives them a colourful, delightful experience of coexistence.

All the holy books state clearly the beauty of God’s ways and the need for humans to preserve, respect and accept differences. Unity in diversity is indeed a blessing, a right granted to all of humanity.

So, Mahathir, please stop your failed pipe dream. Your past attempts may explain much of the misery around us today as we grapple with so much political uncertainty and fatigue revolving around racial and religious discord and suspicion.

Accepting a diversity of cultures does not amount to being anti-national or anti-unity. This diversity is an asset to nationhood. No culture teaches us to hate those of other traditions and cultures. Reasonable ordinary people cherish our cultural differences.

It was the politicians in a hurry to accumulate more power and wealth who led this nation to a pit where extremism finds fertile ground.

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
  1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
  2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
  3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
  4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
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Marhalem Mansor
Marhalem Mansor
22 Jan 2022 5.34pm

Our present and future Malaysia has no place for the likes of Mahathir. All Malaysian regardless of their etnic background have the right to be proud of their heritage but at the same time must acknowledged and embaraced our true Malaysian die hard spirit.

Wan Ismail b Wan Annuar
Wan Ismail b Wan Annuar
18 Jan 2022 10.41am

Mahathir is a Malay Supremacist of Indian heritage. The wannabe dictator has divided us but blind to the unity of all Malaysians as seen in the recent national disaster.
LONG LIVE A UNITED MALAYSIA

Khoo Soo Hay
Khoo Soo Hay
17 Jan 2022 6.49am

I call Mahathir, the “M…. who hijacked the Malay Agenda” in this beautiful country of ours.

Phua Kai Lit
Phua Kai Lit
16 Jan 2022 12.36pm

Not forgetting his enthusiastic embrace of neoliberalism beginning in the early 1980s (Mahathir version — which includes state-sponsored crony capitalism, and rent-seeking capitalism).

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