Malaysian Chinese & UMNO

The relationship of UMNO and the Chinese community is like the tale of “The Blind Men and The elephant” - both look at the same object, but sees it differently.

UMNO leaders and the Chinese community leaders are aware that they have to initiate something to improve the not-so-cordial relationship. Unfortunately, like blind men touching different parts of an elephant both parties interpreted the same problem differently.

Hence, the proposed solution (in the form of a new consensus) will not bring about an amicable outcome but is likely to make the situation murkier. The misunderstanding between both parties, UMNO and the Chinese community leaders, is deep and unhealthy.

Since the beginning, in the “Malaysian Politics and Malay Nationalism” context, between majority Malay community and the Chinese community, it was accepted and understood that the partnership was a symbol of power sharing but not meant to be an equal one-a Malay Agenda. However, the political shrewdness of UMNO leaders then such as Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak and others was able to reassure the other communities that UMNO’s intention was to lead and not to dominate.

However, Chinese community’s inability to understand the Malays’ anxiety and insecurity over its political fortune, sovereignty, special position and freedom has created a perpetual distrust and displeasure between them and UMNO. So much so that now a days, UMNO is seen as an agent of discrimination against the Chinese community.

In a recent survey conducted by a well-known research centre, a total of 54 percent of Chinese respondents thought that the NEP benefited only the rich and politically well connected. A total of 64 percent of the respondents are not in favour of the policy. Surprisingly,43 percent of the Malay respondents who felt similarly.

Other problem areas includes the Cultural Rights, Chinese Vernacular Schools, Constitutional Rights, Citizenship, Fair and Competent Governance and Racial Polarisation etc. Through the Merdeka Center survey, only 38 percent of Chinese respondents favoured the BN while almost 82 percent of them favoured a stronger opposition in the next parliament.

An UMNO which aspires for a democratic, peaceful, fair, equitable and prosperous Malaysia is more beneficial to the party than the one which pushes for the creation of a divisive, socially disruptive, economically backward and hostile Malay-sia.

Young Malaysians