“Hidup Melayu” - Stating the obvious?
Stating the Obvious!
Latest news on Malaysiakini states that Ahmad Ismail’s supporters are shouting ‘Hidup Melayu‘ (Long Live the Malays) as Umno leaders arrived at the tower block which housed the party HQ. I don’t know about you but is it just me who notices only the Malays (or selected few Malays) shout “Hidup Melayu” during protests? I can’t seem to remember the Chinese shouting “Hua Ren Wan Sui” (love live the Chinese) or the Indians shouting likewise.
Somehow, I can’t help but be amused (rather than alarmed or feel threatened) by these expressions of longetivity being shouted by these small groups of people whenever they perceive that their race is being threatened. To me, such shouts are made when the demonstrators feel that there is a need to prove that their race is still strong and can withstand any onslaught. It’s my personal opinion anyway. But are they just stating the obvious?
The rights of the every citizen of Malaysia are enshrined in the Federal Constitution and the special privileges accorded to the Malays are also indicated there. So, I can’t keep wondering why there is a perception that a whole race is being threatened and there is a need to shout the obvious “Hidup Melayu”. The Melayus will always live and they will live long enough like everyone else. And unless there is ethnic cleansing, shouting “Hidup Melayu” is only stating the obvious and does nothing else.
It is quite obvious that these small band of people still could not shake their racial way of thinking - that the Malays are the superior race in this multi-racial country and that being superior gives them the right to trample and ridicule on others. Somehow, they fail to realise that their actions reflect back on themselves as so-called “defenders of Malays”. They fail to realise that by unashamedly declaring that they are voicing out on behalf of all Malays in this country, they are representing to the world how Malays act and react. Of course, to those who are more familiar with these actions and reactions, we will dismiss their theatrics as nothing but plain politics. To the outside world, however, such actions and reactions would be attributed as a characteristic of the Malay race. And really, is that the real character of a Malay or a person, for that matter? Is the Malay one who tears down the photo of someone he dislikes or one who barges into a peaceful meeting demanding an end to the meeting failing which there will be a storming in?
No. I don’t think the Malays are like what these small bands of demonstrators and I refuse to think that they are like these small bands of demonstrators who get heated up into a primal character whenever they are unable to have a civil discourse. I refuse to think that the Malays, who are Muslims - the people of the religion of peace, are unable to exercise restrain whenever they perceive that their rights are under threat.
It is quite obvious that there is a strong display of political power play as demonstrated in recent events and this is nothing more than a prelude to the UMNO General Elections which is looming near. It’s not really about “Hidup Melayu” for that is stating the obvious. It is about “Hidup Kuasa” and showing who is more powerful politically.
September 11th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I got that wonderment too but I dare not say it. Great thoughts here.