THERE are many false narratives in Malaysia today based on lies, falsehoods, fake news and hate speech.
Some of these false narratives are that Malaysian muslims must choose to become cow herders or pig herders and another is that the Malays and Islam are under threat in Malaysia.
Malaysians, whether Muslims or non-Muslims, do not want to be cow or pig herders but want to be world champions again and to be a role model to the world of inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisational dialogue, understanding, tolerance and harmony.
Or in the words of Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman, to be “a beacon of light in a difficult and distracted world”.
Are these visions for Malaysians to be world champions again and to be a role model for inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural, and inter-civilisation dialogue, understanding, tolerance and harmony, or in Tunku’s words, to be “a beacon of light in a difficult and distracted world” beyond the capacity and intellectual capabilities of the present generation?
I do not think so.
I do not believe that the vision of Malaysia when Malaysia achieved nationhood over half a century ago in the fifties and sixties of the last century is now beyond the capacity of Malaysians in the 21st century and that the nation’s journey is fated to continue to race to the bottom of a divided, failed and rogue state instead of racing to the top to become world champions again and be a role model to the world of inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisation dialogue, understanding, tolerance, and harmony.
Since we achieved nationhood, many Malaysians have flocked to other countries to make them great and to make one country transform from a developing country into a first-world country in two generations. These Malaysians should remain in Malaysia to make Malaysia great.
Are the Malays and Islam in Malaysia under threat?
Those who believe that the Malays and Islam in Malaysia are under threat should visit the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, which I visited earlier today.
The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia was established in December 1998 as a response to growing worldwide interest in Islamic art. Reflecting this awareness, Malaysia became home to Southeast Asia’s most prominent museum dedicated to being a custodian, collector, preserver and educator of Islamic art.
Among the many distinctive attractions are the India, China and Malay World galleries.
Visitors learn of the rapid rise and spread of Islamic civilisation and Islam is now the fastest-growing religion in the world.
Those who spread the false narrative that the Malays and Islam are under threat should visit the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia to realise the depth of the falsity and depravity of their “cyber information warfare” of lies, falsehood, fake news and hate speech.
It constitutes a new kind of existential threat as it is almost impossible for concerned governments and citizens to mobilise the consensus of nations for necessary action to counter such a false narrative.
Everyone must be troubled by the growing deluge of “fake news” and the rise of “deepfake” footage which blurred the lines between truth and fiction and disrupt information and trust.
Let Malaysians turn the present crisis of information and trust into an opportunity to resolve the crisis, where Malaysians develop media literacy to be able to differentiate between what is true and false, what is information and what is fake news.
Let us start with the six state general elections to determine whether Malaysia is to race to the bottom to become a divided, failed and rogue state or race to the top to become world champions again and be a role model to the world of inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisation dialogue, understanding, tolerance and harmony.
Malaysians regardless of race, religion or region, must not waste this opportunity for a national reset and return to the original nation-building principles for a plural Malaysia — for such an opportunity is unlikely to present itself for a second time.
This is why the Yang di-Pertuan Agong advised all Malaysians to maintain political stability and restore national unity for Malaysians to be world champions again and to be a role model to the world of inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural, and inter-civilisation dialogue, understanding, tolerance and harmony.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government has given Malaysians an unique opportunity to reset and return to the original nation-building principles for a plural Malaysia namely constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy, separation of powers, rule of law, an independent judiciary, Islam as the official religion and freedom of religion for all faiths in the country, good governance, public integrity with minimum corruption, a clean and honest government.
Not to mention, meritocracy, respect for human rights, an end to the various injustices and inequalities in the country, a world-class economic, educational, health and social system, national unity, understanding and harmony from our multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural diversity.
Do we continue to quarrel among ourselves and allow irresponsible and dishonest politicians to polarise race and religious relations in the country with lies, falsehoods, fake news and hate speech with the false narrative that a race or a religion is on the verge of elimination by other races and religions?
Or do we wake up to the reality that “time and tide waits for no man” and that the real battle for Malaysians is not with themselves but with the world?
Do Malaysians continue to migrate overseas to make other nations great or do we unite and ensure that there is political stability to make Malaysia great? Can Malaysia contribute to world peace and harmony to prevent a clash of civilisations?
I believe Malaysia, the confluence of four great civilisations can do so.
The Theatre Impian, which is available on Wikipedia is dedicated to the Malaysian Dream of a Malaysia where Malaysians are world champions again. We have to fill out the international dimension of the Malaysian Dream.
However, Malaysians must first re-unite and ensure that there is political stability in the country. – June 16, 2023
Veteran lawmaker and retired DAP supremo Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang is the incumbent MP for Iskandar Puteri.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
