Race relations: Zaid raises 'uncomfortable truths'

Race relations: Zaid raises 'uncomfortable truths'


Published: Mar 8, 2024 8:00 PM


As the debate on race relations continues to dominate headlines and distracts the focus from more pressing matters, Zaid Ibrahim, who is known for not mincing words on sensitive topics, felt compelled to point out certain “uncomfortable truths”.

The former law minister was responding to the enduring argument, which reared its head again earlier this week, that vernacular schools were an obstruction to racial ties and that non-Malays resisted assimilation.

“I don’t want to split hairs - assimilation or integration. All I know is that love by its nature has to be unconditional,” Zaid told Malaysiakini.

However, he said there happened to be an “elephant in the room” in the form of the special privileges accorded to the bumiputera.

“If assimilation happened, would the Malays agree to the dismantling of these privileges to create a level playing field?

“Or would the non-Malays still be treated as the ‘children of a lesser God?’” he asked.


Non-Malay loyalty

As for those who equate assimilation with patriotism and cast aspersions on the loyalty of non-Malays, Zaid cited another “uncomfortable truth”.

“The non-Malays are told to be patriotic and to love their motherland. But from an early age, they learn that their ‘mother’ does not love all her children equally.

“They are perceived and treated more like unwanted adopted children. They are often reminded that while their presence in the ‘Malaysian family’ is tolerated, they however must know their place.

“So how would you feel?” he asked.

Arguing that love takes time to grow and must be reciprocated, Zaid said this feeling should not be rushed or demanded.

“Don’t rush the non-Malays to love the motherland. I am sure they do.

“Some may not know how to show it. Some may feel there is no point in showing it since he or she would never be accepted as a Malaysian in every sense of the word,” he added.


‘Put brain cells to better use’

Therefore, Zaid advised politicians and their sycophants not to “exhaust their brain cells” on these issues but to put them to better use instead such as addressing the economic situation.

“There is no point in chest-beating about race and religion or attempting to outdo each other on these topics when the people are struggling to make ends meet.

“It is always the Malays who struggle the most, and this is not the fault of the non-Malays.

“So if you cannot be part of the solution, stop being part of the problem,” he added.

Academic Teo Kok Seong and DAP lawmaker Teresa Kok


Chinese vernacular schools landed in the spotlight again after DAP lawmaker Teresa Kok urged the authorities to investigate academic Teo Kok Seong for claiming that the schools sowed the seeds of racism.

In January, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is no stranger to race-based vitriol, had claimed that the Indian and Chinese communities do not identify themselves as Malaysians because they still have loyalty to “their countries of origin”.