I refer to Tun Dr Mahathir's recent rant against the DAP, in which he had the effrontery to accuse the DAP of practising racist politics. This is surprising coming from the former leader of a ruling political coalition which consists of single-race political parties. In many civilized countries around the world, UMNO- MCA- MIC would be prosecuted for having racially discriminatory membership criteria. That these racially exclusive political parties form the national government in Malaysia is a huge embarassment to our country. It remains the greatest blot in our post-independence life as a nation.
We can hardly think of any other country in the world that allows such race-based parties to exist. The only example that comes to mind is the whites-only National Party of South Africa which practised apartheid, tyrannised over black South Africans and became the outcasts of the world. For half a century they beat, tortured and imprisoned innocent black South Africans. Now the National Party no longer exists. Unless they reform fundamentally, UMNO-MCA-MIC are similarly destined to finish in the rubbish heap of history, lamented only by the likes of PERKASA.
What is most disturbing is that here the State not only allows such parties to exist, but nurtures, encourages and supports them. For the State itself is a manifestation of these single race organisations. The State will even engage in peculation on their behalf; for example, then Prime Minister Mahathir financed PWTC, the headquartes of his race-based party, by getting State owned banks to write-off up to RM 140 million in loans to UMNO. The annual UMNO General Assembly which is broadcast live into every home in this nation is like something out of a world turned upside down; a single race spectacle that borders on the obscene. And yet Oxford-educated pseudo-intellectuals like Khairy Jamaludin will doubtless defend the existence of mono-ethnic parties and justify their own membership thereof.
The burning question is, how do we explain to the children of our nation why only a certain race can join a particular party? Are we not injecting the poison of racism into their young veins? How has this been allowed to go on for 50 years? Is it not beyond belief ?
For the good of the nation, for the sake of the children, I call upon UMNO-MCA-MIC to reject race as a criteria for joining and open up their respective membership to any Malaysian of any race. If they cannot do this, they are not fit to lead this great nation for even a moment longer. The law must be amended to outlaw all race based political parties and societies.
- N Surendran is the vice president of PKR and a prominent human rights lawyer
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