Mahathir's vision of a 'Bangsa Malaysia'

Mahathir's vision of a 'Bangsa Malaysia'

KUALA LUMPUR: The vision spelt out by Datuk Seri Mahathir
Mohamad of the Barisan Nasional coalition eventually evolving
into a single party and the call by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi to discard racial politics deserve all out support by
every Malaysian who has the future of this country at heart.

We say kudos to these two United Malays National Organization
(UMNO) leaders for speaking out so boldly when racial politics is
still very much part of the power game. Racial and religious
extremism now poses a potential threat to our national security.

The Alliance, and now the National Front (Barisan Nasional)
has provided the bedrock that gave birth to a stable, peaceful
and prosperous Malaysia, an envy to many developing nations.

But this does not mean that there is no room for improvement.

The old approach, which works well under a certain set of
political conditions, has its negative ramifications.

With a coalition of 13 component parties, mostly communal-
based, the Barisan's political formula drives the nation on a
high growth expressway in the hope that all racial differences
would fade away as the nation prospers.

But with each party trying to outdo one another in championing
the rights of its own race -- and political opportunists
exploiting the situation -- the result is just the opposite.

At annual meetings, delegates will put on their tinted glasses
and look at issues from a racial point of view. Racial sentiment
is reinforced and embodied into resolutions. They will be passed
on and, for better or worse, become part of policies. Racial
differences are often institutionalized and become a way of life.

The vision of a Bangsa Malaysia is still vague. But there
should be a national debate, so that we can start putting flesh
to it to make it real. The evolution of Bangsa Malaysia should
involving Malaysians from all walks of life, from young to old.

Political leaders must start serving all Malaysians regardless
of race or religion. All BN members of parliament, state
assemblymen and divisional and branch leaders should heed the
Prime Minister's advice to reach out to people of all races,
listen to them and solve their problems.

It was said that BN representatives only help people of their
own race and do not attend functions hosted by other races in
their own constituencies. "This is an unhealthy practice, we
don't have to always put our own race first, instead we should
focus on a Malaysian race," Mahathir said. We agree.

But we would also like to see the free mixing of our children
in our neighborhoods, kindergartens, schools and colleges.

We would like to see that our children are taught from very
young that we are one people and one nation, sharing a common
destiny despite differences in culture and religion.

We would like to see that they grow up as friends, that when
they need to cry on somebody's shoulder, when they want a best
man for their wedding, or when they need someone to team up as
business partners, it can be Ahmad for Ah Chong, Michael for Rama
or Ranjeet for Christine.

-- The Star/Asia News Network