Republic of virtue, 2/09

Zombie poltics, Zimbabwe-styled

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Monday, 23 February 2009 08:33

More and more intelligent Malays, nauseated by this misrepresentation that grew out of historical accident and post-colonialist convenience, are numbed by this continuing idiotic pride -- one that has become an ideological catchphrase called "ketuanan Melayu". A REPUBLIC OF VIRTUE by Azly Rahman http://azlyrahman-illuminations.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-is-isa.html In a Malaysian hypermodern age of "zombie politics" in which everyday becomes the night of the living dead and a last Strolling Bones-bash in a horrifying picture show wherein Texas Chainsaw murderers run amuck to the music of Michael Jackson's thriller played backwards, the best defense lies within oneself. The Platonic cave in each and every human being called "public servant"/"elected representative" must be a theatre of existentialism in which the absurdities of "zombie politics" must be rationally challenged. But what is this "zombie politics" that is now a feature of Malaysia? It is a more advanced plane than the depth of a sinking ship. It is more than just a corrupted political stage. It is all these; an abyss reminiscence of a break-dancing street of the zombies in Jack Sparrow's Pirates of the Caribbean in which the corrupted en block as a political front has died many times over from the disease of corruption of power and wealth intoxicated, and now walking around like "zombies realpolitik" spreading the plague both inside and outside of cyberspace. It seems like a hopeless situation. Like a scene in Albert Camus's story of despair, desolation, and dehumanization. But there is still Plato's cave, many an aspiring philosopher-ruler wish to retreat into. A place wherein Socrates and the sages of the past still live; an abode of those always willing to show humanity a true reflection of itself. I reproduce a piece I wrote on the origin of our zombie politics: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Independence and the new idiocy We have a new dilemma of independence. We have developed a new sense of idiocy. The Malays are still indoctrinated by the idea that the Chinese control the economy. The Chinese are indoctrinated by the idea that the Malays must still be represented by leaders who know how to play the race card. The Indians are still left on their own to suffer and become marginalized. We have the dilemma of the growing population of immigrants whose sense of Malaysian nationalism needs to be cultivated. We are obsessed with the perfecting Sun Tzu's art of war in our political battlefields, dragging the lanscape of education and religion into it. The Malays continue to be misrepresented by yet another generation of leaders who refuse to grow up and grow out of the ideology of idiocy - that race, not other factors, is still the root cause of social injustices. We are at a critical juncture, as in the case of Perak, the very foundation of Constitutional culture we are yet to grow, is collapsing. We now see our "little brown brothers" running to our colonial masters for help. More and more intelligent Malays, nauseated by this misrepresentation that grew out of historical accident and post-colonialist convenience, are numbed by this continuing idiotic pride -- one that has become an ideological catchphrase called "ketuanan Melayu". The media and the control of wealth and resources by just a few Malaysians and their families have made possible the sustenance of this ideology. The Malays are made to believe that their survival must continue to lie in believing there is a bogeyman - other races, namely the Chinese, who allegedly continues to control the economy. With media, machinery, money, and mind control at its disposal, the political elite are at the last stage of the war of ideological sustenance. Malays are fed with this ideology even though they and non-Malays alike are struggling to make ends meet in an economy that is at the mercy of huge international corporations interested in wiping off clean family businesses in the name of free enterprise. In times of global recession and Malaysia seeing thousands of job steadily lost, our society continue to deteriorate, unleashing ramifications that will perhaps bring us to the brink of disaster. We have become zombied by the madness of our daily political soap opera. Chinese youth leaders continue to collaborate with Malay youth leaders in the business of sustaining this ideology of economic race-hate. The Malays wield the keris and the Chinese position themselves with Jackie Chan moves. Then they warn one another not to step beyond the imaginary boundary of who-controls-what in the magical mystical economic pie baked by neo-colonialist chefs. Indian youth remain a silent reproduction of the economic system and will continue to be the ultra-marginalised. They will continue to be played up by their leaders interested in the sustenance of power and wealth even though the nation has progresses materially with fantastic highways and structures built by an Indian Malaysian, the works minister. The recent years following the HINDRAF protests see a continuation of the dehumanization of the section of Malaysians; stripped off their dignity by continuing poverty and structural and psychological violence the State has not cared to even understand the root cause. Mind-numbing happiness The Malay mind continues to be bombarded with all the ingredients that make it happy and numb - a televised grand wedding of a singer, the continuing saga of an old man who refuses to retire with wisdom and dignity, more shopping malls, more junk tabloid reading materials, more Astro channels, more boot camps to indoctrinate its youth, more signs and symbols of mental oppression that adorn the economic landscape, and more ways to massacre neurons in the brain. Of late the government-owned mainstream media has become more sophisticated in its strategies to carpet-bomb and cluster-bomb the minds of Malaysians in the many battles called "by-elections". The Malay political drama continues to be played up by old stories of warring factions cast in newer light, using better actors, and produced with better multimedia technology. The stories are now spun and told by the those who monopolise the dissemination of the neo-colonialist ideology. Chinese youth continue to be played up by the idea that the Malays are in the universities because of privilege alone and therefore the latter are of lesser intelligence. This misconception borne out of anger is understandable - the deserving non-Malay youth are sidelined and victimised in the university selection process. They are like ideological reproductions in an educational conveyor belt that produces human beings like batch-processors in a microchip industry owned by some foreign corporation. Indian youth continue to be left behind in the process, after 50 years of the formation of multiracial Malaysia. Who speaks for them? Life continues to offer them the most unnecessary challenges and despair in which the economic system of lose-lose predominates. Critique our ideology We must critique our ideology, as the German philosopher Jurgen Habermas would propose. We must all - Malay, Chinese, Indian and native of this Independent Malaysia - teach others what continues to sicken/ail our nation. and why we still allow race-hate politicians and race-based political parties to survive. We must in fact interrogate why we have come to an idiotic stage in our political consciousness - on why we have not evolved as efficient as our will to build taller buildings and bigger malls. Our independence is an illusion. We are in fact allowing our nation to become a haven for rate-hate power elites to structure our lives at their whims and fancies in an economic system that allows the maximum exploitation by foreign investors operating in cohorts with local business-political elites. We have developed a class of multi-cultural power elite who are masters of skimming off the nation's wealth and skilled at playing the race card. We have allowed this pyramid scheme of corrupt practice to happen in sync with the capitalist economic design we adopt without much understanding how to trickle it down with morality and altruism. The Malays need a cure for the idiocy brought by the ideology of post-colonial Malaya. A truly intelligent Malay would insist that any political leader who uses bankrupt race-based arguments to hold on a little power but a lot of wealth must be flushed down the sewer of colonial history. It simply is not a sensible, let alone fertile, argument any more if we are to share this living space called Malaysia. The Chinese need to realise that they need to open up their mind to enter a dialogue of race-relations with other races, on the issue of building a truly democratic Malaysia that looks at other classes of people to be helped through philanthropy, rather than through the entitlement of race and ethnicity. The Indians need to continue to throw out leaders who are insincere about helping them improve their lot. In 50 years, they have not made much progress in human dignity. Their rights as human beings continue to be abused in a nation that prides itself in making billions of Ringgit abroad through our oil-drilling activities . Independence can only be achieved when we begin to engineer radical social changes, develop grassroots political consciousness on the issue of basic needs and human rights, elect sensible and stronger leaders regardless of race, democratise our educational institutions, teach our children tools of media analysis, deconstruct propaganda, make our Smart Schools benefit all, refuse to allow foreign nuclear submarines to patrol our waters, become a reading society more than one glued to the TV set, develop strong local governments that will resist state-sponsored environmental destruction, attend to the special needs of our at-risk youth and children, vote in a stronger opposition, and protect our cultural heritage from the covert and overt onslaught of brutal Americanism-- and from the greedy and corrupt amongst us. Come back our senses. Look deeply inside of us-- as nation. Get rid of oppressive structures and our soul cages. Embrace radical multiculturalism. Or radical marhaenism. Only then will we begin to evolve as a truly independent and intelligent nation. _________________________________ [OUR USUAL REMINDER, FOLKS: While the opinion in the article is mine, the comments are yours; present them rationally and ethically. AND -- FREE ALL I.S.A. DETAINEES] Comments (20) ... written by freerpk, February 23, 2009 08:52:47 You hit the nail on the head. Bullseye!! report abuse disagree 1 agree 39 ... written by DreamLady, February 23, 2009 09:44:19 Very well said, Azly. Malaysia has gone beyond the twilight zone into the zone of the deceit where the righteous, the brave are the evils and vice versa. report abuse disagree 0 agree 16 ... written by Democrats, February 23, 2009 09:53:02 Malaysia is heading backwards from a prgressive nation. It has reach a point where the blind is leading the dumb, and the deaf is listening to the cries of the people. report abuse disagree 0 agree 12 ... written by Arubin, February 23, 2009 09:55:02 I've always said that the 'N' in both BN and UMNO stands for 'Nazi'. report abuse disagree 1 agree 10 ... written by Counterpointer, February 23, 2009 10:08:18 report abuse disagree 0 agree 92 ... written by truthbespoken, February 23, 2009 11:04:37 Azly, You spoke the truth about Malaysians. Let's hope more Malaysians will reconcile quickly and see the truth. Then, change will be for the better! report abuse disagree 0 agree 16 ... written by Kathy, February 23, 2009 11:38:58 Azly - if the UMNO/BN leaders could think like you we wouldn't have the problems in Malaysia that we have today! report abuse disagree 0 agree 15 ... written by SocratesI, February 23, 2009 12:47:47 All the Malays with the mentality described in this article are in the Utterly Moronic Nazi Organization, all the Chinese as described are in the Moronic Chimpanzee Association and the G-akan Party, and the Indians described above in the Moronic Imbeciles Congress !! The rest of the enlightened ones have already thrown their lot behind Pakatan Rakyat - The People's Choice for a Better Malaysia !! Mansuhkan ISA !! . report abuse disagree 0 agree 21 ... written by OVERLORD, February 23, 2009 13:26:24 Simply a brilliant write-up! report abuse disagree 0 agree 10 ... written by apa jadi, February 23, 2009 13:49:56 Well written. Dr. Azli. However, your article is only a reflection of the West Malaysian scene. What about the real bumiputras in East Malaysia? Have they been set into the limelight of Malaysian politics? Or are they just left out in the cold breeze of Malaysian scene, while the post-colonial masters continue to reap the resources freely? report abuse disagree 0 agree 12 ... written by commonfolk, February 23, 2009 15:22:13 Going back to a simple solution. All we need is just a PM who care for all Malaysians. report abuse disagree 0 agree 9 ... written by Loh, February 23, 2009 21:17:50 ///The Chinese need to realise that they need to open up their mind to enter a dialogue of race-relations with other races, on the issue of building a truly democratic Malaysia that looks at other classes of people to be helped through philanthropy, rather than through the entitlement of race and ethnicity.///-- Azly Rahman The Chinese are not allowed to use their mind freely in this country. They have to accept that they are stupid even though examination results show otherwise. Even with the right qualification, they are not selected to be in university for study or for teaching posts. They will neither be accepted in government linked companies and other institutions. The rejection of a qualified candidate for a top post in PKNS in Selangor says it all. Government institutions are no longer neutral; it has not been since 1969 and getting worse as NEP progresses. There is no way the Chinese would be able to change the mindset of Malays. The more they show interests in the affairs of the country, the more Malays under UMNO flag are more incensed, and some declare the thirst of their keris. So, the Chinese can hope at best that their children would somehow able to migrate, and they would form the silver hair group watching the demise of this country, perhaps with satisfaction that I told you so. Sad it is, but what to do. report abuse disagree 0 agree 13 ... written by Loh, February 23, 2009 21:20:20 Counterpointer, Your picture worths more than a thousand million words. report abuse disagree 0 agree 4 ... written by Heaven8402, February 24, 2009 08:51:48 I just could not wait for the next GE and it'll be like the GOOD triumph over EVILS !!! report abuse disagree 0 agree 3 ... written by tlnrs, February 24, 2009 10:22:51 Dear fellow Malaysian, As far as I could recalled....our National Anthem lyrics is.... Lagu kebangsaan Malaysia Negaraku Tanah tumpahnya darahku Rakyat hidup bersatu dan maju Rahmat bahagia Tuhan kurniakan Raja kita selamat bertakhta Rahmat bahagia Tuhan kurniakan Raja kita selamat bertakhta Well...sound good...sound right...but was this all illusion? Again, as far as I could remember, during my primary school in a SRJK(C)...a Chinese school, we've learn that as always, "Pada suatu hari, Ali, Ah Meng dan Muthu pergi ke sungai memancing ikan.."and many other cases where our education system trying to teach us the importance of harmony between races, and how well we live together in Malaysia. But, as I grow older, I realized that what being taught to me was not true, or should I said not entirely true. Why? because not until I went to Tingkatan 4 where I started to have Malays classmate, and note I said classmate but not friends implying not until I am 17 years old I manage to come contact with some Malays and frankly speaking...I have no Indian classmate. Until today, 15 years later and I've spent 9 years live and working abroad, my memory about the "Pendidikan Moral" with its 16 Nilai-nilai murni still serve me well but then I did not noticed or see or feel that Malays-Chinese-Indians are actually live under the idea of "one Nation" Correct me if you think I am wrong. Take an example of my mother who has spent her entire life raising kids (me and my siblings) and work as penoreh getah (rubber tapper) and pekebun koko, she doesnt speak malays, barely can ask "How much is this?" (Ini berapa?)has no Malays or Indians friends.I ask ed myself, do we really care about other races? and you know what I am ashamed that my answer wholeheartedly might be negative. I must pay my respect to Dr Azly Rahman for writing this articles and touch on the issue like Universities quota, many talented people did not manage to find place in local University and therefore went to oversea (for those who are afford of course) or simply joint the workforce (that could be just across the causeway) than further study later on in some institution.I don't have to numbers of how many people are now working abroad and contribute to other people country's economy but I myself included. To my own understanding, Rakyat includes all the races, hidup bersatu dan maju....did this really happen? What I could see is that Malays-Chinese-Indian basically live their own separate life in their respective kampung, raise their kids and repeatedly cycle by cycle, for decades. In my humble opinion, those BN component party whose claim to represent their respective races are now more fond of finding themselves Datukship or any pangkat rather than to serve us "The Rakyat" because of the equation of "Pangkat = Money" Common fellow Malaysian, Let's vote for a CHANGE in the next GE 13. I hope one day, Malaysia will truly become a multi-racial multi-ethnic who live hormonally. Tanah Air ku Malaysia as always. Thanks & Best regards. report abuse disagree 0 agree 10 ... written by TalkALot, February 24, 2009 10:58:47 Chinese youth continue to be played up by the idea that the Malays are in the universities because of privilege alone and therefore the latter are of lesser intelligence. Since the 70s, the Malays have been systematically filtered out from the mainstream schools to be educated in premier institution. Imagine, from 12 years old, the top 10 to 20% of the Malays students are taken out of the system every year and whats left after SPM are those bottom fifty percent of the population. These are the ones that compete with the creme-de-la-creme of the non-Malays for places in the local universities. Upon entering your first year, you'll find your contemporaries from the non-Malay group are like minded and intelligent. You clicked because of "similar frequency". Meanwhile, the Malay contemporaries are a league away. In other words, the top 10% of the non-Malays can't be expected to dumb themselves down to the level of the below average mental quality to adapt. It is just not fair and not possible. It should be the other way round. However, as the Malays are pampered since primary level and spoon-fed all the way, like any spoilt brat, they would not be bothered to take up the challenge to raise themselves. There is an easy way out... just whine! There will always find some willing ears in the political leadership. Before you go counter-arguing about the intelligent Malays, let me part with this small observation. They are all well educated, well looked after, successful in their career and most probably living overseas. report abuse disagree 0 agree 9 ... written by Eskay Lim, February 25, 2009 21:46:41 There is no way Malaysian citizens can change the mindset of the Malays; not so especially with the Umno political propaganda churning out volumes upon volumes of the "Ketuanan Melayu" indoctrinations into the minds of young Malay children, starting even in their primary education. The Malay mindset can only change when Umno is voted out of political power. report abuse disagree 0 agree 10 ... written by redmok, February 27, 2009 11:24:02 You are truly a Malaysian. report abuse disagree 0 agree 4 ... written by Angela Ooi, February 28, 2009 10:24:37 How is it viable to be 'Ketuanan' when the majority Malays tuan over the minority...like having NUMEROUS kings but FEW subjects! report abuse disagree 0 agree 3 ... written by charcoy feng, March 01, 2009 12:25:38 What more to be said???? Dr. Azly, You never fail to amaze me with pure briliance. Hopefully the nation understands..... report abuse disagree 0 agree 4