Not Wise to Scapegoat the Non-Malays

Instead of analysing the reasons for their defeat in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau, the BN has decided to point fingers at each other.

More depressingly, some in Umno and their mouthpiece, Utusan Malaysia, have come to the conclusion that non-Malay voters are “ungrateful” for all they have got in the two constituencies and by extension, in Malaysia.It is truly simplistic to scapegoat the non-Malays.

There is also a hint of desperation when these newspapers try to divide Malaysians by suggesting that the Chinese are good at manipulating a divided Malay community.It is true that non-Malay voters decided to give their votes to the opposition in the recent by-elections. It is the right of these voters to give their support to PAS and PKR.

But as Dr Mahathir Mohamad said, these opposition parties could not have won without a significant number of Malays voting for them. In Bukit Gantang, an Umno stronghold, up to 43% of Malay voters backed the opposition on a Tuesday when most younger voters could not come home to vote!

Despite Mahathir's urging for self-examination, some Umno leaders cannot accept the reality that not all Malays support them. Their claim to be the sole political representative of the Malay community is at best self-delusion. Even in the 1955 general election, the Pan-Malayan Islamic Party (PMIP), the precursor to PAS, won one seat.

Why is the party of Merdeka so reviled? Before the British clamped down on “radical” political movements in 1948 and put an end to the Malay Nationalist Party, Umno’s hold on the Malays was even more tenuous.In the run-up to the 1955 elections, there was Independence of Malaya Party (IMP), led by Onn Jaafar and later, Parti Negara.

In 1957, the Labour Party and the Malay-led People’s Party (Party Rakyat) combined to form the Socialist Front. They managed to attract Malay leadership as well. In short, Umno never had a total monopoly of Malay voters and has managed to maintain political power because of its middle-road policies. It was willing to share seats and power with non-Malay political parties. At that time, the gulf between the ethnic groups was very wide. The majority of Malaysians were poorly educated. So a multi-ethnic party like the IMP was truly ahead of time.

One reason why BN is not able to win over voters is its inability to reclaim the middle-ground. Today, the BN is seen as Umno-dominated. It is a flank party, the party of Malay nationalists, who is courting the likes of Ibrahim Ali.To the minds of younger Malaysians, the BN, whose origins are based on the Alliance model of political cohabitation, is outdated. If it cannot win votes, its days are numbered.

This was why Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said that it must win the next by-election, probably in Bukit Lanjan, Selangor. BN leaders need to try to understand why voters, particularly young Malaysians are staying away from it. How come the party of Merdeka is so reviled?Why 40% of Malays are willing to turn away from Umno, the party that was set up to protect their rights? How come 85% of Chinese voters in Bukit Gantang would rather vote for PAS?

Simply blaming the electorate is to assure the BN losing more seats in the near future.The answers lie in the emergence of an informed, financially-independent middle-class. Here is a group that does not benefit directly from all the “instant noodle projects” dished out during by-elections. They do not feel grateful for “development” but see it as the responsibility of the government of the day to deliver a constantly improving standard of living.

There is even a small group who expect Muslim leaders to live up to their religious obligations. Youth leaders driving sports cars and wives of ministers in Mercedes Benz will not draw in the votes. This time round, it is the BN who must heed its own advice: crowds do not translate into votes.BN cannot live up to Najib’s 1MalaysiaBy standing up to Umno, MCA and Gerakan hope to show the electorate that they are fighting for non-Malay rights. Instead, they are demonstrating the inability of the BN system to forge a united nation. If BN parties are fighting amongst themselves because each needs to champion the rights of their individual ethnic group, how can 1Malaysia come about?

More curiously, the MIC wants more cabinet representation to better “defend” the rights of the Indians. Samy Vellu also wants all Indians to stand under the MIC banner as a united Indian community is a stronger one. Presumably, he means a united Indian community will help the MIC apply greater pressure on the PM to give the party a more senior cabinet post.

There is a popular saying, “Fool me once, shame on you but fool me twice, shame on me!” The people are not about to be fooled a second time by the MIC or any other BN component party.The best way for the BN to win back votes is to behave reasonably. Put aside the blame game. Get down to work as the clock is already ticking.

Malaysians are waiting for a comprehensive economic plan that will not only see us through this global recession but also create sustainable growth. The BN must remember that the opposition does not run the federal government. It can afford to indulge in endless politicking. But even Pakatan is now establishing a shadow cabinet whilst the BN is fighting its own shadow.

(First published on: Apr 14, 09 12:39pm)