Is there such thing as Malay supremacy?

(Mingguan Malaysia, 13 December)
Dr. Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, Senior Lecturer, National Defence University Malaysia


I have repeatedly reminded on the dangers of the ultra kiasu, instead we continue to relent. Neither have they deterred from their actions nor take any lessons from this. Since before the ultra kiasu has raised sensitive issues and is against anything pertaining to the Malays and Islam in this Malay land even though their rights are guaranteed in the constitution. According to them, all Malaysians must adhere to the formula of equal rights or fair and square or Malaysian Malaysia. They are against anything related to the Malay Muslims rights such as wanting to change Malay Language to Malaysia Language, Islamic country to secular country, Malay supremacy to people supremacy and so forth. Will the ultra kiasu agree with the supremacy of Islam championed by PAS, its ally? Perhaps, PAS could ask the ultra kiasu which is its close ally.


The word Malay supremacy does not directly reflect the relationship between a 'master' and its 'slave' as claimed by the ultra kiasu group. If the non-Malay is slave, how the non-Malay has the economic dominance leaving behind the Malay Muslims? Just look at the list of the 10 richest millionaires in this country. Who are they? If there is Malay supremacy, then we would definitely have a few Malay faces. If indeed the Malays are masters, they would have blocked the 'slaves' from succeeding, but does it really happened? This is the danger when the nature of kiasu became too ultra. Now they are so brave to the extent of disputing the provisions or funds available for development by the Islamic government, including the construction and financing of mosques, anything that related to Malay supremacy and Islam. Even the zakat fund is not spared. I am very keen to see the response from Tok Guru and PAS pertaining to these rude statements.


In fact the Malay supremacy and Islamic issues were raised again to obtain the sympathy and sentiment from the non-Malays in order that they continue to support them. They want to ensure the supporters of the ultra kiasu party are always vigilant and to be awake so as not to be too complacent. Similarly to what was done by the Singapore government with their aggressive campaigns and to remind the people to be alert on the enemies of the country around them such as Malaysia and Indonesia. The ultra kiasu party clearly understood on these tactics because they are also from the same group over there.


My research findings showed that the ultra kiasu has successfully instilled the thoughts into their race to reject Islam and Malay supremacy in total. The Malay supremacy is deliberately magnified associating it with the relationship between master and slave.


As a political researcher, I am very confident that the ultra kiasu understood the context of Malay supremacy and not as what being hype up. I am not supporting the Malay supremacy, but I understood the context of Malay supremacy explicitly and implicitly. I understand history and I do not distort the facts to attain political mileage. I am so grateful to be born in this fortunate land, as were my ancestors, too.


Malay supremacy is only a term to indicate that the Malays are the pioneer of this country apart from the orang asli. On this note, I am able to accept this term without any prejudice and not disputing the fact that the Malays were also immigrants, from Yunan and Indonesia. These were the arguments often used by the ultra kiasu group including a handful of those in the BN component such as MCA and Gerakan. In fact the ultra kiasu followers are plenty and they are not alone. The former Gerakan president is one of them who vocally criticized the Malay supremacy. Have we perhaps overlooked their tactics? Do not forget that their central is at the island and it is already sufficient for us to lose two islands.


The next question is whether the Chinese or Indian people also do not have the spirit for Chinese supremacy or Indian supremacy? Don't deny, it is just that it has not been initiated yet. Their supremacy has already been clearly emitted when they defended their rights extremely for which had been obtained. This supremacy actually unites them.


Haven't their demands and pressures actually portrayed their supremacy over the race? At least the Malays proclaimed the Malay supremacy sincerely, giving the space for views and criticism. Unlike the ultra kiasu, articulately being criticized, but worked silently, and without us realizing became a reality. Initially it was covered and when it was suddenly opened, masyaAllah, a huge statue had been erected. So cunning is their strategy. What about the Muslims? You cannot be sincere all the time. We can console ourselves if there is plenty of action going on, but instead there is a lot of talk without an equivalent degree of action.


Look at their strategy, the Malay supremacy is being disputed followed thereafter by questioning the use of the government funds towards the development of Islamic purposes such as the construction of mosques. My question is whether the state and federal government have ever help the construction of the non-Muslim places of worship? Don't simply accuse others without being grateful on the tolerance we are having now. This is the true colors of the ultra kiasu, they look good from the outside but actually are bad internally.


Look at how united they were at the official opening of the Kek Lok Si building and the largest Kuan Yin statue in the ultra kiasu state recently. This does not include the views at Batu Caves. Is it appropriate for it to be built in an Islamic country drowning the position of the race and the religion of Islam in contrast to the race in majority and the official country religion? Is this the freedom granted to Muslims in China and India or Switzerland? It is sad to see that the babri mosque was destroyed to be replaced with a Hindu temple. Not many Muslims objected. This is the nature that deserved my praise for even though our hearts are heavy to accept. Such nature is rarely seen in others. Many have been able to, but to be unsatisfied is what ultra is all about. Their current strategy is to maximize their demand for even though their demand might not be met, eventually the government will relent a little. It is that little that win big.


If you do not believe, ask the heads of BN component parties. Have they received what they had demanded? Have the government not provided assistance to their house of worships? Do not ask the ultra kiasu party because they are never satisfied for as long as power is not completely in their hands. They aspire to be prime minister or deputy prime minister. Have we ever asked the Malay Muslims whether their hearts ache to see the large and high statue, which is clearly in contrast to the religion beliefs or each time they pass such places? We did not ask, correct? We are only angry in our hearts because we want to take care of others feelings and the non-Muslims rights.


Have the Muslims ever forbid the construction of such large statue in an Islamic country with Islam as its official religion? If there is, it is very minimal. Are the rights of the non-Muslims being denied with the Malay supremacy being cried?


Didn't Lee Kuan Yew uphold the Chinese supremacy in Singapore? Will there be any Malay supremacy for the Malays in Singapore? The Malays do not get any position over there compared to the Indian who are a little more in numbers. If previously Yusuf Ishak could become president, after him, the Malay name had not appeared anymore. When the Malays criticized the Chinese supremacy in Singapore, they will be thrown far away. Has the present government ever throw away the ultra kiasu group to other country for being too vocal criticizing the Malays, Islam and Malay rulers? I think the Malays have more faith on the non-Malays compared to the non-Malays have in the Malays.


The Malay (Muslim) had never interfered in the affairs of the non-Muslims, but why are the non-Muslims being so impudently interfering every matter that is related to Islam? Consider the issues such as conversion to Islam, apostasy, the position of the sharia court, the Islamic position and the privileges provided in the constitution and so forth.


This ultra kiasu group has never appreciated this tolerance. They are never satisfied or grateful. When we asked that tolerance did not occur in other countries, therefore why not appreciate it? Their reply was that this is the uniqueness that needs to be highlighted in Malaysia. So cunning are their strategy and tactic, for when we were hit, they said this is the uniqueness of Malaysia and the spirit of 1Malaysia, but if they were hit, then their answer were unfairness, non-Malays are marginalized and discriminated and various accusations. Apart from this ultra kiasu group, we could see their evil alliances with the lawyers’ council and the non-Muslim religion associations. It is not logical when looking at the number of non-Muslim houses of worship which amounted to 45 percent, more than double the number of mosques and suraus in an Islamic country that has Islam as the official religion which the number only exceeds 55 percent.


This ultra kiasu tribe is never grateful. Their tactic is to go against heavily without any compromise. They know they are not alone. Support for them is very strong and solid. We should not have good opinions even though it is honorable by nature. Having good opinions to this day resulted not only having our heads being stepped on, in fact, they have almost reached the level of dominating us. Imagine if they had actually made a pact with the small country which is so strong in the southern Johor?


I hereby invite all of us to think for a moment, that with the cries of Malay supremacy, did the Malays and Islam have became the master? What do I know the stronger we cry Malay supremacy, more Malay reserve lands are being leased out to the non-Malays? The position of the Malay language and Islam continued to be threatened.


Sometimes I appear to ask myself that with a five percent discount to buy a house and the existence of MARA are they enough to represent the Malays special rights? If indeed this reflects the Malay supremacy, then what a humiliation? The actual Malay supremacy is whatever associated with the Malays being the majority of the race, including language, religion and lifestyle to dominate the atmosphere of this country. But are these happening?


Just look at the print media and electronic media in our country. Is Malay language dominating? The answer is easy which is no. Even there is Malay media, it is only read or watched by only the Malays. I do not think there are non-Malays who will read and watch the Malay media. Unless exception for the ultra kiasu group. That is also for the purpose to dig out the secrets and to read the psychology of the Malays. Otherwise, they would not have the purpose to see and read.


Had the facilities for the Chinese (Indian) to do business decreased with the cries of Malay supremacy? The Chinese or Tamil schools reducing? Houses of worship for the Chinese and Indian are reducing? Rights of the non-Malays increasingly denied? Jawi writings are increasingly influential? The emergence of Malay schools compared Chinese and Indian schools? Is there really any Malay supremacy? Therefore, will the Chinese and Indians experiencing a loss if UMNO continues to shout Malay supremacy or long live the Malays or simply an effort to remind the Malays not to forget themselves easily in their homeland and to continue marching forward?


If the name Malaya remained without changing into Malaysia, I do not see the relevance in Malay supremacy. This was what had been stated for China and India. They do not need to call Chinese supremacy or Indian supremacy because the country name already reflected their supremacy. So it is not a surprised to see that the Muslims are wandering in their own land. Mosques are being seized up for temples. Are the Muslims having a good life in the non-Muslim countries compared to the non-Muslims living in Islamic countries such as Malaysia? Did the ultra kiasu tribes ever realized?


I am worried cries of Malay supremacy remains as only cries just like the many Malay names which were increasingly lost such as the Malayan Railway into KTM. Indeed a very cunning plan. We continue to accommodate. When threatened, then we will bow down to their pressures and demands. What is clear is that the ultra kiasu has an established synergy, while our synergy is declining, and what are left are empty cries and slogans that can not be defended.


The 1Malaysia ideas are no longer seen as empowering ideas for the future but to claim what has yet to achieve and to increase what already have. How long can we with hold? Has the synergy of the Malays (Muslims) becoming extinct in the Malay land? Don't we need to restore the synergy that is increasingly losing?