YOURSAY | ’The country has become more polarised and less tolerant.’

COMMENT | Is M’sia fast becoming nation for religious fanaticism?

Apanama is back: Co-editor of Aliran Sukeshini Nair, the foundation was laid back in the 1970s by the late prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein, who was also a mentor to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who in turn mentored the current prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Therefore, did you notice the root cause for your above question and my answer? Bingo! Yes, it is that simple.

Mind you, the non-Malay parties have not undertaken any actions to stop it for the last 50 years. They just highlighted some issues and talked.

You mentioned, “We need bold, dynamic policies that will empower the Malays and make them not only genuinely enabled, skilled, and competitive but also more inclusive in their understanding of the role and contributions of ethnic minorities.”

Who will make those policies? Many policies since the 1970s have been skewed towards one community as handouts.

At the moment, even Jakim is empowered by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to draft policies.

By the way, do not fear, as you kept on mentioning “I fear”. There is nothing to fear about. Of course, this is Malaysia and most of us like to stay here.

We people need to fight. We should not be silent. But sorry to disappoint you there may not be a change to my answer to the above question.

Please look at the demographic changes that are taking place. It is all about vote banks and elections. And because of the elections, we are in such a predicament today.

In Malaysia, the majority live in fear of the minority. The politicians and the policymakers will leave that as it is. They will not do anything because they can use it for their selfish agenda.

Nevertheless, we still have our secular Federal Constitution to protect the non-Malays, up to this point in time. Therefore, do not live in fear.

Malaysia will only improve once the majority open their eyes and ears. We need a situation like what happened in Sri Lanka.

Sometimes when you tell people, they may not listen. They need to experience hardship to get a knock on their head.

You and I cannot stop it. While the current prime minister is fighting against corruption, he has failed to fight corrupted minds. Majulah Malaysiaku!

For a Better World: The rot set in with the New Economic Policy (NEP) and from 1982, when Mahathir took over as prime minister.

Open discrimination favouring the Malay-Muslims became the standard practice and anyone criticising or opposing it was dealt with severely.

This led to the non-Malays being silent, supplicant, or accommodating. This country has been ruled or governed as though there are no minorities.

It is no wonder that the non-Malays in Sabah and Sarawak are intent on opposing several national policies and constantly bringing up the MA63.

I salute this writer for her brilliant piece in laying bare the critical issues faced by non-Malays in this country.

Another common practice adopted by several Malay academics who rewrite the history of the nation. It is all skewered to highlight only one racial group.

Yap Ah Loy’s name as the founder of Kuala Lumpur, has almost vanished.

The economic boom brought about by the Chinese tin miners and the Indian rubber tappers, as well as the Indians who toiled in building our roads and rail links, are hardly mentioned.

Another bad trend is the substandard education being dished out in national schools and public universities.

Just look across the ditch in the south at the tiny dot which has achieved super-state status.

I agree that one’s belief system or faith ought to be safeguarded, but the faith of others should not be pushed down or belittled.

Look at last week’s gains by the far-right party of Geert Wilders in the Netherlands’ election. Other European nations may follow this trend.

Thor: It is a very sad state of affairs. In over six decades of life, I have seen the country in a downward spiral from being a multicultural and multi-religious Malaysia to one where religion is taking centre stage in sentiment and policy making.

The country has become more polarised and less tolerant. Each race today is thinking in silos, and there is a much less sense of belonging to a nation.

Being a Malaysian means much less than being a Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, or Kadazan.

There has also been a much greater expression of religious piety.

Unfortunately, corruption has also dramatically increased despite the so-called shift to religiosity. Coupled with economic headwinds, this doesn’t bode well for the nation’s future.

MS: The fact that articles like this bemoaning the rising tide of racism, bigotry, and the institutionalising of discrimination are invariably written by non-Malays and never by politicians like Anwar or Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil or even Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli of the Madani government says everything about where this country is heading.

The writing is not just graffiti on the wall, It is set in neon lights and continually blinking its message: get out while you can, divest, sell, liquidate, and move on.

If you can’t, be prepared to be ghettoised, be treated as lesser beings, and be consigned to spaces out of sight and out of mind.

Patriot Malaya: Every one of these Islamist politicians, including the prime minister, wants to harp on communism (China is our largest trade partner), Tamil Tigers (defunct since at least 2009) or Zionist supporters (repeated claims of Mossad recruiting people in Malaysia).

No one wants to tackle the real threat and danger which is Islamist extremism that is festering in various parts of the country and is close to becoming an actual conflict.

Pondering won’t keep them at bay. They must be taken down the way the Communist Party of Malaya was taken down before Malaysia was torn apart.

Start by criminalising the word pendatang (immigrant) when it is used against Malaysians. That’s a good start.

Gasinggeorge: How about segregation in housing, shopping, eating, entertainment, work, and commerce?

Malays and minorities hardly mix anymore - as they live in different neighbourhoods, go to different malls, are excited by different entertainment, and often don’t even work in the same offices.

You could also say that in the bigger cities there exist two separate economies.

RedMarlin1833: One segment of society, that is emerging in bringing fanatical views and ideas, seems to be winning slowly but surely.

Anwar is making it easier for them by giving in for the sake of staying in power.

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