“As long as there is racial privilege, racism will never end.”
– Wayne Gerard Trotman, British film maker
THIS week, my attention was drawn to the statement by Aliran which has expressed deep concern that the appointment of Datuk M. Kumar as Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department Director has been politicised by a Bersatu leader.
Badrul Hisham Shaharin (also known as Chegubard) likened the appointment to the execution of the DAP’s “Malaysian Malaysia” concept.
Aliran said the disturbing implication of Badrul’s assertion is that race, rather than merit, be factored into decisions on appointments to senior public sector positions.
Badrul even warned that if the concept was accepted by the government, “Malaysia could soon have its first non-bumiputra chief justice, armed forces chief and inspector general of police”.
A similar reservation was expressed regarding the recent promotion of Datuk Johnny Lim to Lieutenant-General of the Armed Forces.
Aliran, a Penang-based reform movement, also expressed its great disappointment that “there appears to be no end to resorting to the tired playbook of race and religion, particularly among politicians who are politically and morally bankrupt”.
Such divisive politics obviously does not reflect a long-term vision that serves the common good of a diverse Malaysia, the multi-ethnic movement added.
Let me also join Aliran’s call to politicians of all stripes to end divisive politicking. Instead, everyone should strive to build a progressive and united nation.
There are two questions here which beg answers. One, why do some of our politicians have to resort to such divisive acts on race and religion to score political points, and why such extremism has not abated?
Two, what can those in authority do to minimise, if not quell altogether, such sowing of hatred and discontent by some politicians in our multi-racial and multi-religious society?
It is not difficult to see that the constant recycling of race and religion in Malaysian politics reflects the bankruptcy of ideas among certain politicians who depend on fear, suspicion and division to stay relevant.
Just look at UMNO Youth chief Akmal Saleh. He is now in a party which has lost its clout that he probably finds it necessary to resort to extreme measures in order to attract public attention. The same goes for Badrul who is a “nobody” in Bersatu, trying too hard to be a “somebody” and making a fool of himself in the process.
Yes, Akmal, Badrul and their ilk had failed miserably to inspire the people with policies of progress, inclusivity and good governance. Now, they have to return to the old script of pitting Malaysians against each other along communal lines.
This tactic works because it taps into decades of ingrained insecurities and mistrust, making it easier to rally support by creating “us versus them” narratives rather than offering genuine solutions to the country’s problems.
Unfortunately, this also keeps the electorate distracted from issues like corruption, mismanagement, lack of accountability, and other government failures while securing short-term political mileage.
It also prevents Malaysia from maturing as a democracy and erodes trust among its diverse people, leaving the nation trapped in a cycle of fear and division.
For the government, the challenge is to break this vicious cycle by demonstrating that unity and fairness bring more tangible benefits than divisiveness.
Strong political will is required to enforce laws against hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric, regardless of who the perpetrators are.
At the same time, leaders must walk the talk. They have to avoid opportunistic use of the same racial or religious cards themselves, and instead promote a political culture based on merit, competence and shared national identity.
Needless to say, education and civic awareness also play a crucial role. When Malaysians are better informed about their rights, responsibilities and the dangers of divisive politics, they are less likely to be swayed by manipulative rhetoric.
Promoting national narratives that celebrate diversity as a strength rather than a fault line can help build resilience against communal politicking.
Ultimately, the government must move beyond slogans and token gestures. Policies that ensure equal opportunities, protect minority rights, and at the same time reassure the majority community of their place and security in the nation are necessary to build trust.
Only when institutions are strengthened, education is reshaped, and leadership refuses to indulge in communal politics can Malaysia move past the tired politics of race and religion and grow into a confident, truly multi-racial democracy.
While Badrul took exception to M. Kumar’s appointment as Bukit Aman CID Director, I’m somewhat surprised that the Bersatu misfit did not mention Sarawakian DCP Gilberd Philip Layang’s promotion as the new director of Bukit Aman Logistics and Technology Department (JLog).
M. Kumar and Gilberd are the only two non-Malay directors at Bukit Aman.
That makes me wonder whether M. Kumar, as a Malaysian Indian, is more aligned with DAP, than a Dayak from Sarawak. Hence, an Indian becomes a more suitable candidate to target than a Dayak.
And this makes Badrul Hisham Shaharin the perfect example of a politically bankrupt fellow who has to resort to racism, without an iota of remorse or shame, to gain political mileage.
Francis Paul Siah is a veteran newspaper editor and currently heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune.
