COMMENT Many Malaysians seem very apprehensive of the 16th September red shirt Malay rally. This is understandably so. Many are disappointed that their fellow Malaysians would do such a thing after almost six decades of independence and the country seem to be pulled back into ‘square one’.

Then there are those who are most disappointed with the leadership that seems to be looking for cheap publicity and a distraction of present day issue of corruption and a fledging economy and have stooped to the use of the racial card just to secure positions. It is very sad and a dark day for Malaysia. With the thick haze…dark, hazy days seem to be ahead.

But I wish to write about many silver linings. Not because I support the red shirt rally (I am wishing the rally will not take place), but because my self-learning from many faiths and motivational expert tells me that ‘when things seem to be at its worst, know that the end is near’. Which end?

Will the red shirt rally be the end of Malaysia? Or will it be the end of the leaders who seem to support this rally? Could it be that these leaders have bitten off more than they can chew?

One analysis can point to the idea that the rally is a political ‘show of strength’. In politics, perception is everything. If a party or a leader shows that he or she is ‘losing’, then exactly that would happen. But if the leader or the party shows that they seem to be winning, then that MAY happen.

The rally is a last ditch attempt to show that the party with the seemingly majority support can ‘scare’ the opposition parties, frighten the non-Malays and even its own component parties into a simple message… ‘we the Malays in this party are stronger than ever’. Will it work?

Final nail in coffin

For my money, I sincerely think that this rally will be the final nail in the coffin for those who subscribe to this scare tactic idea and to the two leaders who have said “we do not endorse it but will not stop members from going”.

This rhetoric will no longer save these two leaders, and they will soon be relegated to the little known history book of their own party. I have many reasons to think positively about this rally in terms of its positive outcome to the geo-political realignment of forces in this country and the mindsets of Malaysians.

Firstly, because of this rally I have never seen former minister Rafidah Aziz speaking as a Malaysian with the young idealism of strength, courage and vision.

She speaks like a true Malaysian, albeit a staunch supporter of her own ethnic-based political party. With her are many veteran politicians, though few in numbers and not in possession of power and the ability to grant ‘$$-help-$$’, nevertheless their voices ring high with the G25 group of former high ranking civil servants.

I will not discuss the support of former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad as his intentions have always been… how shall I put it politely…colourful. Anyway, Malaysians have to learn to fend for themselves and not run to the Grand Old Man every time there is a problem.

Secondly, where would MCA and MIC, two remnants of an ethnic-based political party stand after this? Will they have any ‘face’ after this, as it seems this rally has covered their faces with the proverbial ‘egg-in-the-face’ political sidewinder.

Perhaps the two parties will do what most Malaysians now want, an end to both ethnic-based and religion-based politics. In the New Malaysia, there should no longer be such parties but all Malaysians must appreciate what the three race-based parties have done in the past in terms of steering the nation in its tumultuous formative years. Well done for that…say we, but all things must end and a new party and new vision is in the offing.

Opposition still busy arguing?

Thirdly, what of the Sabah and Sarawak-based component parties after this rally? Will they be frightened into submission as planned, or will they spurn this rally and begin to think of a new political alignment with a faction of those in the ruling party who may show better visions of Malaysia?

Umno deputy Muhyiddin Yassin and the whole Johor faction are waiting patiently for the chips to fall. The alignment of forces with the veterans and the component parties with the possibility of a deputy prime ministership from across the seas may be in the pipeline.

Fourthly, what will PAS do? Well…I do not want to say anything about these people. They are too busy witch hunting people’s wives to be divorced anyway. In the future history of Malaysia, this party will remain a single footnote.

Fifthly, will the opposition party now make their move or will they still be arguing till-the cows-come-home whether PAS should be in the coalition? Will they then force a unity government with the New BN against the Old BN?

Hmmm…who will be the PM in the New BN? I don’t know about you, but I will vote for Rafidah! What about the PM for the unity government? Who is the PM? Perhaps Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah or Muhyiddin?

Wow, so many permutations of political endgame scenarios. These are exciting times.

Let all the shops close on Sept 16, and let all caring Malaysians stay away from KL for two days. So…bring on the illegal rally… the future begins.

MOHAMAD TAJUDDIN MOHAMAD RASDI is Professor of Architecture at UCSI University, Cheras.