YOURSAY ‘How convenient it is for you to say people want racial politics.’
Zapping racial politics takes time, says Low
Onyourtoes: Hello, Paul Low, the non-elected minister, may I remind you that leadership comes with responsibility. Leadership must strive to bring change for the better. How convenient it is for you to say that the people want racial politics.
No, you are wrong. It is not the people who want politics based on race and religion. It is politicians, particularly BN politicians, who are promoting it for their selfish and greedy ends. They do it not out of political survival; they do it out of evil ambition and greed.
Asitis: What is the point of learning history if we don't learn from the mistakes made by other nations and avoid those same mistakes in our country? Instead of doing that, Low is using those historical lessons to justify the continuance of racism in Malaysia.
Low, you were appointed to the cabinet to help solve problems facing the nation, not to make excuses to help prolong the problems.
If you cannot do that, then just take your pay cheque and keep your mouth zipped. Better still, if you have any honour, you should do the country a favour and just resign.
Tan Kim Keong: We all know change takes time and we also know what interventions are required, too. So why wait if the intention is genuine?
As the saying goes - change the system to change behaviour. So remove all race-based institutions in the government and that will be the beginning of the demise of race-based politics.
David Dass: The minister is trying to be realistic about things. But certain questions must be asked.
Who are the people who still champion race-based politics? Why exactly is it in their interest to do so? Why do people respond to race-based politics? Why does the minister compare our position to slavery in the United States?
Malays may believe that race-based politics works for them as the government gives them benefits over and above that given to other races.
Do Chinese and Indians believe that race-based politics work for them? Do the natives of Sabah and Sarawak believe that race-based politics work for them?
Why have the natives of Sabah and Sarawak and the Orang Asli of Malaysia become so poor and marginalised? And why have Indians as a whole become marginalised? Is that because of race-based politics?
And why is Universiti Teknology Mara (UiTM) and elite boarding schools in Malaysia the exclusive province of Malays and bumiputeras? Is that because of race-based politics?
Why are more than 90 percent of Chinese children and 50 percent of Indian children in vernacular schools? Is that because of race-based politics? I could go on and on.
We must have a vision for the future. And that must not be based on race or religion. In our march to the future no one should be left behind. The events that led to the formulation of the New Economic Policy (NEP) were the understanding that Malays had been left behind.
The NEP was not, however, drafted as a race-based document. The implementation, however, was race-based. Why will a needs-based policy not work? Why should the wealthy of any race be preferred against the poor of any race?
Minority races will not prefer a race-based policy if the majority are only concerned with the needs of their race. Why Indians would prefer a race-based policy, heaven only knows.
The young have moved beyond race-based policies. The crackpots and extremists would prefer politics based on race or religion because it places everyone in fighting mode all the time. So much of our energy is used to deal with issues arising from extremism.
We must be sensible and move beyond race-based politics now. The minister must push for politics which is not based on race or religion - now. We should not wait for 100 more years to do that. We may not have the time.
Anonymous #20513663: Fighting corruption takes time. Investigating the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu takes time. Investigating 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) takes time. Investigating Project IC takes time. Reforming the police force takes time. Religious freedom takes time.
We know what will happen in the end. Nothing will happen, and in fact things will get worse, because the culprits/instigators are the 'investigators' and they need all these evil things for their own survival.
Who staged the Taman Medan 'protest'? Who staged the May 13 riots (exactly 46 years ago today)? Look at yourself in the mirror, Umno-BN. And you too, Integrity Minister Paul Low.
Playfair: They (BN) "stopped the clock" to get the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) through. Why the hurry? Did anyone say anything about slavery then?
Of course, we know who Pota is meant to protect, and it is not Mat Sabun or Joe Public. They have to look out for themselves.
Odysseus: Low, you were appointed a senator to integrate the people of the Malaysia as one race. Instead, you got yourself integrated in the BN’s race politics.
Is this being done for your own survival or the benefit of the nation?
PCG: Nice of this clown to finally associate racism with slavery - after all, racism is a form of slavery.
But I have to disagree with his "it takes time" part. What's wrong is still wrong, and it should be abolished immediately.
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