Written by Lena HendryCPIAsia
Pusat
Komas is totally shocked and appalled by the recent comments and
statements made by the former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad and
present PM Najib Razak saying that the Merdeka theme was chosen based on
Islamic demands.
This trend of thinking is in fact one of the strong factors that has
been reinforcing the division and segregation of race and religion in
Malaysia. Ethnic based politics has been the order of the day since the
country’s Independence and this has definitely not benefited its
multiracial and cultural communities.
After the previous 12th general election of March 8, 2008, Malaysian
have shown the government of the day and the politicians that we will
not stand for race-based politics and this was reflected in our votes
for change then. The people had sent a strong message to politicians on
both sides of the political divide that playing the racial card for
political ambitions will not be tolerated by the voters and Malaysians
in general.
Independence day should be celebrated with pride and honour not to be
tainted with dirty politics and using religion as a tool for self
interests. Using race and religion as propaganda material to elevate
oneself pending the next 13th general election is totally shameful and
justifies the branding of it being labeled as “gutter politics”.
The Malaysian constitution describes the nation as a secular state and
Islam is its official religion. Both former Prime Ministers of Malaysia,
Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Hussein Onn were both lawyers and had
acknowledged Malaysia as a secular state based on the constitution.
The theme of Independence Day should reflect the interests and
aspirations of all Malaysians and not of just one community or ethnic
group. PM Najib of all people should know this and not be part of the
fanatical zeal of propagating one group over another.
It is now 55 years after independence and the nation is overdue to
clearly move away from racist politics and political agenda towards a
united nation. It is high time the Malaysian government show the world
that it is serious in its endeavour to lead the nation towards progress,
stability and prosperity for all and not only for selected groups of
people.
Malaysia has to immediately demonstrate its membership in the
progressive international community by ratifying the International
Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination
(ICERD). This is an international human rights instrument which provides
a check and balance mechanism for governments to account for their
policies and actions on any issues relating to racism in Malaysia.
Pusat Komas is currently spear-heading the ‘ Ratify ICERD Now, Stop Racism ’ campaign together with seven other civil societies to advocate for the Malaysian government to ratify the convention.
In the coming elections, all candidates must pledge to the people that
they will uphold a non-discrimination position regardless of race,
religion. Most importantly, politicians and governments must walk the
talk. Enough talk, enough propaganda, and enough racial politics in our
country!
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