COMMENT | Life under Harapan, Umno-Baru, or PN? You choose

COMMENT | This is a scary thought. Whoever would have thought that some full-grown adults need to be told where to put the cross on the ballot paper? Clearly, education has failed many Malaysians.

For me, this is ample reason to throw out Umno-Baru and Perikatan Nasional (most of whom are rejects from Umno-Baru) in GE15.

Have these adults not seen how Umno-Baru has brought the country to its knees?

It is pitiful to note that Malaysians respond to the carrot and the stick treatment, and sadly, the non-Malays are as much to blame as the Malays.

Umno-Baru uses the 'stick' to keep non-Malays in their place. He is conditioned by fear, so he keeps his thoughts and opinions to himself. He has been told to be sensitive to the feelings of the Malays. Decades of brainwashing means that he is too scared to question this and say - "Non-Malays have feelings too."

Day after day, Malays are bombarded with messages that they are the ‘supreme race’ (ketuanan Melayu), that they are the rightful owners of this land, and that under Pakatan Harapan, Malaysia will be ‘sold’ to the Chinese – not just any old Chinese, but the DAP Chinese, as if that was the benchmark for the worst form of Chinese. A close second is Chinese communists, followed by Chinese Christians and Chinese Singaporeans.

These insecure Malays, whose ages range from their teens to their 70s, and who come from both the rural and urban communities, firmly believe that “the Chinese will overrun this country”.

When will the Malays understand that the stories about the Chinese taking over are just lies fed by Umno-Baru? The truth is that Umno-Baru, PAS, and PN are afraid of losing their hold on the Malays, and by extension, lose their grip on power.

The confident independent Malays easily disregard this facetious statement but the insecure Malays have a tendency to wholeheartedly believe that they will lose out to the Chinese.

When pressed for details about the methods Harapan, or the Chinese, will use to sell the country and precipitate its downfall, these Malays failed to provide a valid explanation.

Harping on ketuanan Melayu

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his successors are responsible for spreading many racist rants. In the presence of a predominantly Malay audience, the message is loud and clear, ketuanan Melayu reigns supreme.

When Umno-Baru tells the Malays that they need crutches, what it actually means is that the Malays need to be suppressed.

Umno-Baru will claim to be the saviour of the Malay, and blame Harapan for being anti-Malay.

The irony is that the Malays who believe in ketuanan Melayu fail to appreciate why they require affirmative action policies at all. If they consider themselves 'superior', then why is there a need to compete on unequal terms? Why the handicap?

Umno-Baru's reasoning is flawed. Policies that favour the Malays are based on greed and an inferiority complex.

Only weak-willed Malays allow themselves to be manipulated into thinking that Umno-Baru should form the government of Malaysia.

Only insecure Malays allow themselves to be used as political pawns to ensure Umno-Baru stays in power.

Both Umno-Baru and PN have relieved the Malays of the need to think and work hard.

The Malay is not trapped by his success. He is trapped by his own lethargy, his sense of entitlement and he is crippled by his culture of dependency. This self-imposed mental imprisonment of the Malay mind and his lack of physical exertion has time and again proven his downfall.

Umno-Baru has no love for the Malays. The party tells them indirectly that they are useless and cannot stand on their own two feet. The Malays cannot even think logically, cannot make a decision, and do not even realise they are denied the freedom of choice.

When the Malay is too lazy to think for himself, he denies himself the benefits of education and economic empowerment. No aspiration means the Malay wallows in self-pity.

If you vote Umno-Baru, the party will have the last laugh because of the ease with which it will strip the Malay of his dignity and motivation, whilst its politicians strip the country of its money.

Nothing to fear

Don’t believe the propaganda of racist politicians.

You do not have to fear your fellow Malaysians. The fear is just a construct of the politicians who wish to divide and conquer. In the real world, the three races - Chinese, Indian, and Malay - can live in peaceful harmony.

What those racist politicians neglected to tell you is that Malaysians share a rich history based on respect, dignity and mutual understanding.

So, if you need me to tell you who to vote for, tick Harapan. They are not perfect, but at least your children will have a brighter future.

However, don't repeat the same mistake as in GE14. You thought that voting was the end of the matter. It is not. You must keep Harapan on its toes. Call them out when they step out of line. Scrutinise their every action.

A large majority of the rakyat expected miracles and foolishly thought that over 60 years of Umno's bad habits and indiscipline, could be undone in 22 months. It can't.

The real work starts after you cast your vote. It is a team effort. Yours and the politicians you elected.

Our future is in your hands. Vote wisely.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, Twitter.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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