COMMENT Ironic is it not, that during the tenure of a prime minister who vowed to bridge the gap among Malaysians that the nation seems most divided along racial and religious lines.

 

Since the predominantly Chinese DAP emerged as the second biggest party in terms of seats won in the last general election, certain quarters have upped the ante on divisive issues.

                                   

A nation that once prided itself for being tolerant now appears to be plunging south as non-Malays are constantly reminded that they are mere tenants here and hence should tread with caution.

 

Now even the auditor-general has decided to join the bandwagon of factious forces, straying from his original role of number crunching to culinary issues.

   

In the latest installment of his audit report, Ambrin Buang ticks off the Tourism Ministry over its ‘Fabulous Food 1Malaysia’ event, where non-halal dishes were available.

 

And as always, it concerned the issue of sensitivity.

 

Since Malaysia is on the ‘sensitive’ track, we wonder if it had even occurred to the authorities and others about beef being served at official events where Hindus and Buddhists are present.

 

For the Hindus, the cow is considered a sacred animal, and all Malaysians know this.

 

But has the learned auditor-general and his subordinates, who appear to be extra-sensitive to the feelings of those who profess a particular faith, ever thought about this?

 

We doubt it because that is how the mindset is shaped in this nation. It is all about an imbued superiority complex, where one group believes it has the divine and constitutional right to trample upon the feelings of others without the need for explanation or accountability.

 

And to question their actions would invite wrath.

 

Cow slaughter

 

Let’s look at this same issue from the eyes of the minorities in Malaysia, for example, the slaughtering of cows on Hari Raya Aidiladha.

 

A Hindu friend related how several cows were slaughtered near a surau situated on a playground facing his and the houses of numerous Hindus and Buddhists.

 

These cows, he said, were tied overnight to the trees right opposite the homes of Hindus and Buddhists. And on the morning of Hari Raya Aidiladha, the cows were slaughtered there.

So it begs the question, why did it not occur to those doing the slaughtering that Hindus were living nearby and that perhaps it would be impolite to kill an animal, which is consider sacred, next to their doorsteps?

 

Lest we forget, there was also the issue of cattle being slaughtered in schools .

Perhaps for them, it is simply a question of ‘we can do what we want’. But it comes at the expense of not realising that if they had been a little more sensitive regarding the feelings of others, the respect which they demand, would come naturally.

 

‘Insignificant’ others

 

The dominant not only impose their values on other races or religions. They also dictate their version of the "truth" on other groups.

 

The recent brouhaha over the ‘ I want to touch a dog event ’ is reflective of the power of the dominant to exclude "the others".

 

The politics of this nation has shaped people in this mould, making them both deaf and blind to the “insignificant” others.

 

This brings to memory the story of a sniper in the Bosnian war, where he admitted to randomly picking targets, women and children included, and killing them.

 

He claimed not to feel remorse for his actions but the notion that he could gun down a stranger without batting an eyelid terrified him.

 

Similarly, in Malaysia, things are done and said without the slightest remorse or realisation that what is uttered and executed could be wrong.

 

And politicians who realise this, choose to remain silent and run with the herd, for acting to the contrary might jeopardise their position.

           

FATHI ARIS OMAR and RK ANAND are members of the Malaysiakini team.