"Malay unity" of late is on the verge of collapse because there's so much disharmony that has been inflicted on, and it has consumed, the Malay community. Well, at least that's the sense one could get out of weeks of intense coverage of Malaysia's mainstream media, particularly the Malay newspapers, pertaining to this matter.

And, so goes the story, to avoid the Malay community from being torn asunder, Umno, in particular its president Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had called on opposition parties that it perceives as Malay-based, especially PAS and Parti Keadilan Nasional, to come forward and have a dialogue to "save our race" from calamity.

Soon after the Mahathir overture was announced, the mainstream press went to town to record the supposedly positive response from the opposition. Utusan Malaysia (Dec 26, 2000), for instance, claimed that Keadilan welcomed the move, while New Straits Times suggested in its report that there was a discord between PAS and Keadilan over their respective responses to the big pow-wow. The [#1] Free Anwar Campaign (FAC)[/#] website, however, warned readers on Dec 27 that the above reports were all lies spun by the mainstream press concerned.

Indefatigable GPMS

Prior to this, as if to help add to the apparent urgency for this inter-party meeting, the mainstream newspapers, particularly the Malay dailies, had been carrying a lot of news about Suqiu (Malaysian Chinese Organisations' Election Appeals Committee) and its election appeals to the point of painting it - taking the cue from Dr Mahathir's earlier public statements on Suqiu - as being a group whose action or initiative could lead to social unrest. The group's appeals - which, by the way, were endorsed by the BN component parties as well as the opposition before the last general elections - were alleged to have serious implications upon Malay rights and privileges and, by extension, ethnic relations in the country.

The latest development, according to the media reports, is that the so-called contentious components of the Suqui appeals had been "set aside" after the Chinese group met with Umno Youth. The Suqui-Umno Youth meeting may be held up by certain sections of the mainstream media as a good example which Malay-based political parties such as PAS and Keadilan should appreciate and emulate.

In the meantime, the indefatigable Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) has been portrayed by the media as possessing iron resolve to demand Suqiu to "back off" from its so-called extreme demands, and also to hold rallies nationwide with the purported intention of promoting "Malay unity". Incidentally, it would be interesting to observe how far this group would be able to hold rallies in view of the otherwise strict issuance of police permit if past experiences are anything to go by.

The last few days witnessed the mainstream media scurrying for views and statements from Umno and BN bigwigs as well as other groups (especially those that are politically or ideologically aligned to the ruling party) that professed concern for the political and economic well being of, and unity within, the Malay community.

Questions media must ask

What we've seen so far is a picture of Malaysian media that had been rushing to press for the "Malay unity" dialogue just because some government leaders claim that the "Malay unity" is in jeopardy. Of course, this is not to say that unity, as a social factor, is not important in our multiethnic society. All peace-loving Malaysians, I am sure, would appreciate the social and political significance of unity and harmony in our daily lives.

But surely, journalists in the mainstream media must have at least a sense of curiosity to ask some basic questions: To start with, is there really a problem of "Malay unity"? What are the social indicators of this "Malay disunity"? Does the alleged exodus of some Umno members to the opposition parties constitute "Malay disunity"? Should political alignment, or split, along party lines within the Malay community be necessarily regarded as dangerous "disunity"? If there is indeed "Malay disunity", who or what is the underlying cause for this disunity? Isn't, as some suggested, the unceremonious sacking of former deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim the principal factor that precipitated uneasiness and disquiet in the Malay community for it was generally perceived as unjust?

And, if it is true, as reported in the mainstream media, that PAS had agreed to attend the meeting (with the proviso that the theme of the meeting be enlarged to address the vital issue of national unity), one of the pertinent questions to ask by the journalists is: what is the philosophical or ideological basis for this proposed unity talk? For surely a community, or the larger Malaysian nation for that matter, should be united around some sound principles such as justice, democracy and freedom - and not around merely primordial instincts or sentiments. What are the political implications of this "Malay unity" meet on the larger question of national unity and inter-ethnic relations?

Apart from raising such questions, a socially responsible press should also pose searching questions to the opposition parties concerned pertaining to the question of unity. Perhaps PAS leaders, for instance, could be asked questions such as, what role can PAS play in promoting national unity in Malaysia given the fact that it is an Islamic party which is supposed to reject narrow ethnic nationalism, tribalism or assabiyah ? How would the party go about handling the welfare of the larger ummah , and also the crucial matters of justice, transparency and democracy? PAS' interpretation and application of the Islamic notion of justice, freedom and democracy will be closely examined in the context of Malaysia's ethnic relations.

Serious implications

The same goes with Keadilan, Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM): In light of the country's present political problems, how would they individually, and collectively, address, for instance, the issues of social justice, distribution of wealth, transparency, accountability, freedom and democracy, all of which have serious implications for ethnic relations and national unity? How do Keadilan and DAP strive for multiethnic politics despite their respective ethnic bases?

No less urgent a question is, should the opposition respond positively to the Umno initiative at a time when the whole nation should be working towards the creation of a Bangsa Malaysia , a concept that was initiated by Mahathir himself. Given the import of this larger question, journalists may want to take the cue from certain views expressed by the opposition leaders and, at the time of writing, former deputy prime minister Ghafar Baba to seek the possibility of a larger unity meeting that takes into account representations from all ethnic groups and political hues.

The mainstream media, like any other social institutions, should approach issues relating to ethnic consciousness and loyalty with much care, and concern for the larger good of the Malaysian people. To do so is not only to be conscientious and morally responsible, but also in the long run to protect and promote the credibility and social standing of the media concerned.