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Upcoming by-elections: Time’s up for old politics of race and religion

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Those who use divisive issues of race and religion have no place in Malaysia baru, writes Tota.

The 2018 general election was a defining and historic moment for Malaysia.

For more than 60 years, the Umno-dominated BN had used divisive policies using race, religion and colour to remain in power. But on 9 May 2018, a largely brainwashed population woke up and booted the BN government out for a more inclusive political culture in which race, religion and colour are not part of the equation.

The Pakatan Harapan government under Dr Mahathir Mohamad has established rule of law as the bedrock of the Constitution and clear guidelines to put the country on the right track going in the right direction. There is a new Malaysian spirit of cooperation and helping one another.

To undo the damage of the defeated BN government will take time. The people are responding positively to the government as seen by the generous contributions made to Tabung Harapan to help wipe out some one trillion ringgit in national debt.

After Umno’s defeat in the Pulau Kandis by-election, two more by-elections are coming up at Seri Setia and Balakong. Keep the general election spirit alive and ensure that the momentum for change continues.

Those who use divisive issues of race and religion have no place in Malaysia baru. National unity and meritocraacy will be impossible to achieve as long as race-based parties are not wiped out in elections. Otherwise, it will always be Ketuanan Melayu, Malay agenda, Chinese agenda and Indian agenda. These are the aspirations of the race-based political parties.

READ MORE:  Malaysia's identity crisis: Navigating the choppy waters of race and religion

What is badly needed is a Malaysian agenda based on needs-based policies. If candidates representing race-based parties lose their deposits, it would send a powerful message that Malaysians do not want them any more. That is my hope.

The 13-member Barisan Nasional coalition is now left with only three parties: Umno, the MCA and the MIC. The MCA with one parlilamentary and one state seat and the MIC with two parliamentary seats should just disband and spare us.

I hope Umno supporters realise what their party leaders have done to them: they have camouflaged the Umnoputra agenda as the Malay Agenda, hijacked the NEP to enrich themselves and amassed great wealth.

See how wealthy some Umno ministers, supreme council members, division chiefs and liaison chiefs are. Look at their lifestyles and those of their family members, the palatial houses they live in, the fleet of posh cars they own and the expensive clothes and jewellery their family members wear.

All these have created wide income differentials within the community; so please don’t accept poverty within the community and its plight as ‘takdir’ (fate).

Tota, short for Theatre Of The Absurd, is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to our Thinking Allowed section.

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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Perumal Kali
14 Aug 2018 5.33pm

Time to roll the carpet of hope but not being hopeless when the opposition party still harping on uncivilised norm of yesteryears of race & reijgious bigifoicc

Frankie Lim
13 Aug 2018 11.40pm

mca should save their deposit and kept from disgrace. as long as the same old boys like wee gong gong still holding ….there will be no changes in party and the people perception on the current mca.

Christine Xavier-gordon
14 Aug 2018 8.52am
Reply to  Frankie Lim

There’s been no reflection, no taking stock and no sense of a change in direction. They can’t even decide if they are in BN or out. They are going to be wiped out

Inderjit Singh
13 Aug 2018 11.25pm

Just wondering What PAS will say … n what the Reaction will be at Balakong … DAP just has to Show ‘ Recordings ‘ of PAS /Umno statements … MCA can Bungkus … Or am I mistaken ?

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