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Free Malaysia Today
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Race, national identity, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malays
From Moaz Nair Malays do not need to be under a 'big umbrella' to achieve economic progress in the country. Only hard work, honesty and a positive mindset pay. Times have changed and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's big umbrella non-political concept, as he defined it, to unite the Malays is nothing more than a hidden political agenda criticised by the Malay political leaders themselves. Malays are already well represented at all levels of the country's administration since the country's independence. There are also numerous Malay-based political parties in the country, each claiming to champion the rights of the Malays. Can these parties be dissolved and melded into one single party for all the Malays? This is politically impossible, as each of these parties has its own agenda – that is to seek power for themselves. And to achieve this, they cannot work in isolation but associate themselves with Malaysian-centric political parties. Just accept the fact that the demographics of Malaysia are represented by its multiple ethno-linguistic groups that exist in the country. There are more than 30 major ethno-linguistic groups in the country and despite the diversity of its people there are earnest politicians working towards unifying and not dividing them. The population is already divided by race, language and religion and they should not be further divided with divisive policies for political gains. The country hence does not need a big umbrella of any sort for any single race. A Malaysian nation Ironically, it was Mahathir during his first stint as prime minister who came up with an ideal concept of 'Bangsa Malaysia', which translates to Malaysian nation. It was an inclusive policy for all races. This has to be nurtured in the country today. It is a concept and policy to create a unified national identity for all citizens of Malaysia, regardless of ethnicity or background. It aims to foster a sense of belonging and unity across the diverse populations of the country. The policy seeks to replace the focus on a Malay-centric national identity and embrace a more inclusive approach that encompasses all Malaysian citizens, sharing a sense of national identity and belonging, encouraging cooperation and understanding among different ethnic groups. The policy emphasises values like cooperation, moderation, and the spirit of give-and-take, aiming to build a nation based on these principles and accepting the Malaysian Constitution as its key component. The aim here is to create a national identity for everyone in Malaysia replacing the old focus on Malay identity. Bangsa Malaysia in this context refers to the idea of togetherness and comradeship among the various races. It is not the creation of a Malaysian race as it is impossible unless, of course, all the races assimilate biologically and grow into a race with a single cultural identity. The problem lies with the system Imagine studying or working in a foreign country and you meet a person from your homeland: be it a Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Dusun, you would feel elated with an urge to become acquainted with the person despite our differences. When we are away, we feel that we belong to the same nation and we share our experience coming from a country we call ours. This is one measure of Bangsa Malaysia and we have nearly achieved this. The experience of Malaysians studying or working overseas testifies to this comradeship. Why then the prejudice at home? The problem lies with the system. We cannot deny that politics, economic disparity and social and cultural preferences have made us perceive ourselves as divergent groups of people living together. We label every person by his race and religion and, in the process, polarise people further. From kindergarten to the workplace and until death, we come across countless forms and processes requiring us to identify our race and religion but not nationality first. A child can't help but grow up with prejudice as he is always made to feel different. We are culturally different but can still share our experiences to create a nationality. The whole notion of creating a Bangsa Malaysia is to foster a deep love for the country, that is, patriotism. To achieve this, all races should be represented at all levels to create a sense of belonging to this nation. A state need not belong to one race, one religion or one way of life to be called a nation. Differences may lead to conflicts, but we should not let them deny us the aspiration of creating a Bangsa Malaysia. We need more tolerance, mutual support and respect for each other to achieve unity, even with all the diversity around us. Let us then achieve unity despite our diversity. It is the Malaysian-first mindset that would nurture Bangsa Malaysia. Mahathir's latest Malay centric focus after no more in power is nothing more than another desperate political agenda to further divide the people. Moaz Nair is an FMT reader. The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Free Malaysia Today
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Umno won't back Malay unity efforts with ‘hidden political motives', says Zahid
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Umno will remain part of the unity government 'we helped establish'. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Umno will not support any movement that claims to unite the Malays but is actually rooted in personal political ambition, says party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Zahid said any genuine effort to unite the Malay community must be built on shared ideals, not disguised attempts to revive political careers. 'We in Umno will never accept any form of secretariat that claims to unite the Malays under the guise of politics. 'We remain in Umno, and we will continue to be part of the unity government we helped establish,' he was quoted as saying at the Bagan Datuk Umno division meeting today. Zahid is believed to be referring to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's proposal for a 'Malay secretariat committee' to unite the Malays and restore their political power. Announcing the formation of a loose Malay unity alliance on June 4, Mahathir said he would invite Umno members to join it in an effort to 'restore Malay power' in the government. He stressed, however, that he was not inviting Umno as a party to join the alliance. Zahid described the secretariat's formation as 'a political move driven by the failure of a former prime minister who lost public support'. 'When someone finds that none of their party's candidates won in the last election, and all lost their deposits, only then do they suddenly want to find a way to 'unite the Malays'. 'And yet, it was that very person who previously divided the Malays,' he said. He outlined Mahathir's political journey – from leading Umno and becoming prime minister, to forming new parties after being ousted, only to lose his deposit in a recent general election -and said his attempt to form a secretariat was merely an effort to compensate for his political shortcomings.
Malay Mail
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Umno president warns against exploiting Malay unity agenda for political gain
BAGAN DATUK, June 14 — Do not use the Malay unity agenda as a political gimmick, especially after experiencing election failure, said Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The Deputy Prime Minister said UMNO did not intend to dispute any party that wanted to establish a secretariat to unify Malay parties, but the motive for its struggle must be clear and not just for political purposes. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said the establishment of Umno on May 11, 1946, also succeeded in bringing together Malay non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at that time and the principle of Malay unification as a whole is still the party's guiding principle. 'I would like to wish the chairman of the Malay Secretariat all the best and I pray that he will succeed in uniting Malay parties and Malay NGOs for the benefit of the Malays. 'Let us unite in what is important in terms of thought, mindset and conscience, not for any other purpose when the organising party is trying to unite the Malays after not having a winner in the last election, apart from all losing deposits,' he said at a press conference after officiating the Bagan Datuk UMNO Division Delegates Meeting for 2025 here today. On June 4, former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad was reported to have said that a movement called the Malay Secretariat was formed to unite all parties fighting for the Malays under one big umbrella. Earlier, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bagan Datuk, said in his speech that UMNO would not accept any form of secretariat that supposedly aims to unite the Malays on a political basis. Meanwhile, he said that every member, especially UMNO leaders need to strengthen the party again, besides realising that the struggle they have been through is full of tests. He said that all the events that have happened before must also be used as a lesson to ensure that UMNO regains its place in the hearts of the people in the 16th general election (GE16). 'There is no struggle without tests. Someone who succeeds in becoming a leader will definitely be tested, if someone rises without tests, they will definitely go down. We must also change and build new strength to ensure that we return to dominating GE16,' he said. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Malay unity a must for broader national consensus, says Bersatu man
The 'Malay umbrella' initiative was launched by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, with support from leaders of Bersatu and PAS. PETALING JAYA : A Bersatu leader has defended the party's support for Dr Mahathir Mohamad's proposed 'Malay umbrella', denying claims that it contradicts its shift towards a more moderate and centrist political position. Bersatu Supreme Council member Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal argued that supporting the latest initiative to unite the Malays complemented, rather than contradicted, the party's efforts to reach out to non-Malays. The Machang MP said the two are not mutually exclusive but key building blocks in establishing long-lasting multiracial cooperation. 'In fact, Malay unity is a prerequisite for building a broader national consensus,' he told FMT. Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal. Wan Fayhsal rejected suggestions that Perikatan Nasional was veering towards far-right or chauvinistic politics, saying its approach was anchored in the higher objectives of Islam, namely to preserve harmony and peace among all races. 'We're not launching a far-right or ultra-nationalist movement. We simply want Malays to be aware of long-term issues that will affect them if we remain disunited,' he said. Any political party aspiring to govern the country must have the support of the Malay electorate, whose electoral participation and political awareness are still lacking, he added. PN's main components of PAS and Bersatu have already obtained a big chunk of Malay support, but Wan Fayhsal said it was insufficient and could be improved. 'We have to build enough consensus among the Malays first, among the scholars, among the teachers, among the kampung folks, before reaching the next step,' he said, adding that this was the approach even before Malaya's independence. On Wednesday, Mahathir launched his new Malay unity 'umbrella'' with the backing of PAS and Bersatu; it is aimed at restoring the community's political power and protecting them from political and economic decline. However, the initiative's theme appeared to contradict Bersatu's shift towards more moderate and centrist politics, when leaders such as deputy president Hamzah Zainudin had recently mooted a 'new national consensus' that went beyond one race or religion. Political analyst Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said Bersatu's decision to back the 'Malay umbrella' would make people question the party's sincerity about bringing national reconciliation. Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia described it as typical political doublespeak, where politicians use almost contradictory tones and themes when addressing different audiences. However, Wan Fayhsal said he believed that Mahathir's alliance was a sincere and necessary step towards political stability. He said the current government was on an unstable footing. 'Like it or not, the current government is in very bad shape because (Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim) has failed to muster Malay support until today. So until and unless the Malays warm up to the government, the country will not be politically stable,' said Wan Fayhsal, a former deputy national unity minister. Wan Fayhsal said the 'Malay umbrella' could also generate political interest and awareness among young Malays, adding that this was a key strategy for PN as it prepares for the next general election.
Free Malaysia Today
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Malays want political stability, not just racial sentiment, says analyst
Hisomuddin Bakar said the new alliance is a reaction to the perceived lack of Malay-majority support for the current government. PETALING JAYA : Unity based solely on Malay sentiment is no longer the single determining factor in garnering Malay political support, says political analyst Hisomuddin Bakar. He said Malays also look at governance, including effective management of the economy, administrative integrity and policies that have a direct impact on people's daily lives. Hisomuddin Bakar. 'It's more about everyday realities than nationalist rhetoric. Political stability has become a priority,' said Hisomuddin, who is executive director of Ilham Centre. 'Voters are feeling the fatigue created by internal party conflicts, party-hopping and frequent changes in government,' he told FMT. Hisomuddin said voters wanted a stable administration, consistent policy direction, the ability to maintain investor confidence and a promise of long-term prosperity. He said political parties today are evaluated not only based on their historical struggles or ethnicity, but also on how convincingly they can realistically offer a progressive and inclusive future. His comments come after the recent launch of a new Malay unity alliance by former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, created as a loose coalition to gather fractured Malay political forces under one 'big umbrella'. Hisomuddin said the alliance is a reaction to the landscape after the 15th general election, with the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional government seen as lacking the majority of Malay support. 'In GE15, Perikatan Nasional emerged as the most dominant bloc among Malay voters, despite multi-cornered fights with Malay parties like Pejuang,' he noted. Hisomuddin said the alliance could hypothetically improve the Malay vote count beyond PN's performance in GE15 – nearly 70% of Malay votes – but only if it successfully unites all the splinter groups. More to prove than just unity However, Hisomuddin said recent by-elections point to a different reality, with BN winning comfortably in Nenggiri, Mahkota and Ayer Kuning due to votes from PH supporters, including non-Malays. 'Even though Umno has not fully recovered its influence among Malay voters, its strategic cooperation with PH is keeping it alive, winning seats through combined vote mobilisation,' he said. Hisomuddin said the Malay alliance has more to prove than just its ability to unite, and faces a much bigger challenge than simply gathering fragmented Malay entities. Syaza Shukri. 'It must demonstrate that it is able to disrupt the current voter support patterns created by the PH-BN alliance,' he said. Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said the alliance lacks clear goals and has yet to truly explain its purpose. 'I don't know if they will be effective, because I don't know how or what to measure. What are they planning to do? What do they want to change?' she said to FMT. Azmi Hassan. Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara also said the alliance is unlikely to pick up steam because unlike during the earlier Pakatan Harapan government, no driving issues are currently pushing Malay-based parties together. 'At that time, the Rome Statute was the main factor. But not right now. There is no issue. Umno is quite comfortable in the government,' he told FMT.
