“My dear Tun M, the common enemy of Malays are Malay themselves; never the Chinese”
By James Chin
Editor’s note: This is an interesting rebuttal to a recent article in Free Malaysia Today entitled “Dr M, PN Leaders Band Together to Face ‘Common Enemy of Malays” by Prof James Chin, the renowned political commentator and inaugural director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania.
TWICE former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had a tenure spanning 22 years (first stint) and 22 months (second stint)
If the Malays are weak now, isn’t it because he failed to establish the groundwork and foundation for them? Why is he blaming the enemy of the Malays (even if he did not state so, history suggests he meant the Chinese)?
Malays completely dominate all of the state’s important institutions, including the royals, police, armed forces, civil service and the Parliament.
Since Merdeka, no non-Malay/non-Muslim Prime Minister (PM) or Deputy Prime Minister (DPM0 has been appointed.
Since Merdeka, the Malays have held an absolute cabinet majority. So, if Malays are losing power, isn’t it because the Malays appointed to all these institutions did not perform their part in upholding ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy)?
How can the Chinese who were never near power be a threat? In fact, MCA is now unable to win Chinese support because they were seen as the ‘running dog’ of UMNO and unable to promote Chinese interest during your BN/UMNO time.
If the most important Chinese party, MCA is unable to promote Chinese interest, then what are you talking
Editor’s note: This is an interesting rebuttal to a recent article in Free Malaysia Today entitled “Dr M, PN Leaders Band Together to Face ‘Common Enemy of Malays” by Prof James Chin, the renowned political commentator and inaugural director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania.
TWICE former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had a tenure spanning 22 years (first stint) and 22 months (second stint)
If the Malays are weak now, isn’t it because he failed to establish the groundwork and foundation for them? Why is he blaming the enemy of the Malays (even if he did not state so, history suggests he meant the Chinese)?
Malays completely dominate all of the state’s important institutions, including the royals, police, armed forces, civil service and the Parliament.
Since Merdeka, no non-Malay/non-Muslim Prime Minister (PM) or Deputy Prime Minister (DPM0 has been appointed.
Since Merdeka, the Malays have held an absolute cabinet majority. So, if Malays are losing power, isn’t it because the Malays appointed to all these institutions did not perform their part in upholding ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy)?
How can the Chinese who were never near power be a threat? In fact, MCA is now unable to win Chinese support because they were seen as the ‘running dog’ of UMNO and unable to promote Chinese interest during your BN/UMNO time.
If the most important Chinese party, MCA is unable to promote Chinese interest, then what are you talking
about?
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
‘Muslim Malay supremacy’
Government linked companies (GLCs) control the Malaysian economy and stock exchange. The only area where the Chinese remain dominant is in SMEs (small medium enterprises) while the rest are dominated by GLCs which is a proxy for Malay interests.
The New Economy Policy (NEP) and its successors aimed at economic re-distribution have created an uneven playing field where Malay businesses are given preferential treatment in terms of government contracts, licenses and financial assistance.
While Chinese businesses have been successful, this is despite the institutional barriers. How many Chinese companies are forced to appoint Malay directors? Any Malay companies forced to employ Chinese directors?
Malays have privileged access to higher education, their own university as well as variety of other advantages like housing discount. Is this under threat, too?
‘Muslim Malay supremacy’
Government linked companies (GLCs) control the Malaysian economy and stock exchange. The only area where the Chinese remain dominant is in SMEs (small medium enterprises) while the rest are dominated by GLCs which is a proxy for Malay interests.
The New Economy Policy (NEP) and its successors aimed at economic re-distribution have created an uneven playing field where Malay businesses are given preferential treatment in terms of government contracts, licenses and financial assistance.
While Chinese businesses have been successful, this is despite the institutional barriers. How many Chinese companies are forced to appoint Malay directors? Any Malay companies forced to employ Chinese directors?
Malays have privileged access to higher education, their own university as well as variety of other advantages like housing discount. Is this under threat, too?
Prof James Chin
As can be observed Ketuanan Melayu is being replaced with Ketuanan Melayu Islam (Muslim Malay supremacy). There is now a religious layer on top of the ethnic barrier.
On the other hand, the Chinese population is declining. This is open knowledge. It will reach around 20% soon. It was about 40% at 1957. In other words, the population will be halved in less than a century.
Never a threat as perceived to
The Chinese in Malaysia are not inherently a threat to Malay political power but are seen as such within a political framework where ethnicity and race are central to power dynamics.
The perception of threat often arises from the fear of diluting Malay political and cultural dominance rather than from an actual capability to overthrow or significantly alter the established political order.
The real challenge lies in navigating towards a political system where all ethnic groups feel represented and empowered without stoking racial tensions or diminishing the cultural identity of any group, including the Malays.
This involves re-thinking the political narrative around ethnicity and embracing a more inclusive form of governance. – Dec 13, 2024
On the other hand, the Chinese population is declining. This is open knowledge. It will reach around 20% soon. It was about 40% at 1957. In other words, the population will be halved in less than a century.
Never a threat as perceived to
The Chinese in Malaysia are not inherently a threat to Malay political power but are seen as such within a political framework where ethnicity and race are central to power dynamics.
The perception of threat often arises from the fear of diluting Malay political and cultural dominance rather than from an actual capability to overthrow or significantly alter the established political order.
The real challenge lies in navigating towards a political system where all ethnic groups feel represented and empowered without stoking racial tensions or diminishing the cultural identity of any group, including the Malays.
This involves re-thinking the political narrative around ethnicity and embracing a more inclusive form of governance. – Dec 13, 2024
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