Comments on recent PM speech at UMNO assembly

I was reading The Star online following on the recent convention that is going for UMNO. Two key points that the PM mentioned caught my attention.

First, it is about the end of parochialism. That statement has definitely resonated with many young Malaysians especially people of my generation who were born and raised in Malaysia. These are the people who grew up sitting in class next to your Ali, Muthu and Ah Chong and know nothing about the so-called social contract until probably when they read history in lower secondary. So, a Malaysia for all people regardless of race and religion seems to be the norm and what they had expected in their naive years. And now, hearing this coming from the PM is truly refreshing and nostalgic to a certain extent. For me personally, I have never felt marginalized by the policies of the 80's and 90's until it dawned upon me during my adolescence years ;p ... you can call that the Great Awakening. While I think this happened because of weaknesses and flaws in some of the policies (maybe a miscalculation of equivalent variation on the government side), I have always hoped they can be improved as time comes. And to hear this from the man himself is encouraging enough.

Next, one of his statements caught my attention. And this particular one, while justified in its traditional way, leaves much to desired. The PM mentioned that a few things can never be challenged. They are, among other things, religion, beliefs and practices, Malay interest and social contract. I said this statement leaves much to be desired because it just shows us how fragile still is our country's coalition after 50 years of independence. I can agree very much on religion, on beliefs, on practices - no questions asked. It is your right to practise and act in any way you wish as long as it does not encroach on other's rights. However, Malay interest and social contract, the phrase while very relevant and still practical in our current society just exposes the lack of strength and foresight in our society. If Malaysia were to truly become a country for all, it should take care of everyone's interest, regardless of race. The PM's strategy and vision on eradicating poverty best exemplifies this concept. If we target poverty action on people below a certain income level, regardless of background, all those who qualify will benefit from the policy. So, if it happens that there are more Malays or Indians who need help, then naturally and logically, they will receive the most benefits. No questions asked and there is no need to specifically guarantee any race a safety net. Because ALL Malaysians who qualify will be safeguarded. Are we ready to progress to that stage yet? I fear not. Else, the PM wouldn't have felt the need to reiterate these as basic entities. Unfortunately.

So, my challenge to all Malaysians is not what can you achieve in 2057. Rather, ask ourselves when can we truly call each other Malaysians.

Have a good weekend.