RACIST and religious attacks are symptomatic of the larger political and economic system. The racist slur against badminton star S Kisona is not something new or an isolated incident.
In fact, there are rowing attacks on the non-Muslims by politicians from parties such as Umno, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and PAS.
The racial attacks are too many to be treated as isolated incidents, which reflects the state race relations in the country.
In some cases, the perpetrators might apologise in fear of police action but in many cases, the perpetrators get away from such insults.
Lately, a Muslim religious teacher made unsavoury and extremist comments against Hinduism, Christianity and Buddhism.
Hundreds of police reports have been lodged against this religious teacher but it is doubtful that the police will arrest the man. The police have glossed over too many cases in the past about attacks against non-Muslim faiths.
And I doubt that the police might show a similar restrain when it comes to attacks against the majoritarian community. A slight provocation is all that is needed for them to spring into action.
In essence, the racial and religious slurs against the non-Malays or non-Muslims cannot be dismissed as not reflective of the thinking of the larger society.
We need statesmen
In fact, the racial and religious polarisation resulting from the Bumiputra agenda and the non-Bumiputera counter response that is largely responsible for the current state of affairs.
The Malaysian society is racially and religiously polarised. It is like a time-bomb that can explode any time. Apologies might calm the situation temporarily but the slurs are symptomatic of the evils of the larger system that is based on race and religion.
The general uneasiness and tensions are increasing daily but more so with discriminatory policies of the mono-ethnic based political parties that are in the Government.
The attacks from those in the majoritarian community might not subside and the opposition mounted by the non-Bumiputera against unfair policies might indirectly give rise to racial attacks against one another.
Even though there is no overt display of racism at the level of interaction among the various ethnic groups, racism in Malaysia is very much institutionalised.
The problem with this country is that while there many leaders, very few who could look beyond race and religion.
It is unfortunate that Malaysia is yet to get leaders or statesmen who can propel the country from the entrapment of race and religion. – Oct 4, 2021.
