Communal politics, not economics, will continue to sway Malay voters

Communal politics, not economics, will continue to sway Malay voters


3 hours ago
Tajuddin Rasdi


Unless there is a shift in mindset, young urban Malays will likely still vote along racial and religious lines

I was surprised to learn recently that several politicians and social science academics were of the opinion that bread‑and‑butter issues will dictate how young, urban and educated Malays cast their ballots at the next elections.

If true, this would indeed represent a great stride forward for Malaysia. Unfortunately, I myself am not convinced.


While the country’s economic performance, employment figures, and the ringgit’s strength may be the subject of much discussion at present, they are unlikely to sway the voting behaviour of this group of voters for one simple reason: communal politics.

Voting along racial and religious lines has long been entrenched in this country.


Whether we like it or not, race and religion remain central to the political landscape, passed down from one generation to the next.

Unless there is a fundamental shift in mindset, the politics of sensationalism—such as on matters related to alcohol sales, pig farming, rock/pop concerts, or Christian evangelism—will continue to dominate conversations, and be inherited by younger voters.

Naturally, these young Malay voters would say otherwise when questioned by politicians or in responding to a survey. Asked directly, they are bound to cite economic issues as their top concern, so as not to reveal the deeper instincts that shape their choices.

A more accurate gauge of how young Malays will vote probably lies in the politicians they follow and the comments they leave on social media posts published by figures such as Bersama’s Rafizi Ramli, Umno’s Dr Akmal Saleh, and PAS’s Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.

It will also be interesting to see how these youths reacted to recent controversies–like the so-called “illegal temple” issue, or incidents involving the desecration of the Quran. Were they outraged? Did they incite violence? Did they invoke the spectre of May 13?

Another overlooked factor is educational background. Many young Malays attend religious schools—both private and government-run—where they are unlikely to have classmates of different ethnic or religious backgrounds.

My own seven grandchildren and grandnephews study in such schools. If I were to ask whether they have non-Malay friends, the answer would most likely be no.

Analysts who assume Malays will vote based on economic considerations have likely never flipped through the Pengajian Islam primary school textbooks.


If they did, they would realise that not a single chapter in these books discusses the other races, faiths, or cultural heritage. Neither is there any mention of Islam’s relationship with the fine arts. These topics are simply not taught.

Neither do these themes surface in Friday sermons at mosques up and down the country. Nothing is said either about the shared values across faiths or the atrocities committed by radical groups such as the Islamic State against non‑Muslims.

Only by factoring in religious upbringing and educational background can we understand how Malays will vote. To believe otherwise is to fool ourselves.

We certainly cannot rely on face-to-face interviews for reliable data about voting patterns.

The reality is that communal politics has been programmed into our DNA for decades. Its repercussions will continue to impact future generations.

We would be foolish to think otherwise.