Sabah, the land of ethnic tolerance 23 December 2008

“Saya nak tahu kaum apa diorang ni. Tapi yang pasti diorang memang bukan rupa Melayu,” I said to my father.

We were in a night market beside the sea, smack in the middle of Kota Kinabalu. Enjoying a late night tea during our four day visit to Sabah.

My dad shrugged to signal his own ignorance of the ethnicity of the various peoples of the night market. To satisfy our curiosities, we caught hold of the stall keeper serving us.

“Kamu suku kaum apa?” my father asked the young girl, who couldn’t be more than 17 years old.

Of course, she was startled.

“Orang sini. Orang Sabah,” was the reply.

“Ya, tapi kaum apa?”

“Mak orang Bajau. Ayah orang Bugis.“

If it’s one thing I learned from my short trip to Sabah, it’s that it’s way more multi-cultural than anywhere on the peninsular. Sabah’s ethnic makeup is unique in the sense that no one ethnic group has a clear, commanding majority in the state. That is why the issue of ‘ketuanan‘ of one ethnic group, a rhetoric that plagues the peninsular, is by and large non-existent in Sabah.

In Sabah, they cherish their multi-culturalism. My uncle married a Sabahan Kadazan-dusun (who converted to Islam). Yet during Hari Raya, her Christian relatives would visit her, so much so that the first day of Aidilfitri is fully booked for her to entertain her relatives. When my cousins got married, the nights will be filled with religious activities whilst the day witnessed cultural activities such as the Kadazan’s tarian sumazau. And one of her children married a Bajau, to further add into the melting pot another ethnic mixture.

In the peninsular, our multiracial tolerance is considered ‘healthy’ if other races are mixing freely with each other. In Sabah, they bring tolerance to a whole new level.

I think there’s a lot we can learn from Sabah. Here is a state with at least 32 officially recognized ethnic groups with a multitude of different faiths, from Christianity to Islam to animistic beliefs. Yet, whilst they may differ ethnically and religiously from each other, they see themselves as Sabahans. They have their native languages, but they converse with each other in that Sabah dialect of Bahasa Malaysia.

Yet it is said that this mystical land, this beacon of ethnic tolerance and integration has been increasingly sidelined by the developments taking place in West Malaysia. My journey to Sabah was limited to places accessible by roads, but I have read that there are still many places cut off from any major forms of transportation. Not to mention the lack of basic amenities such as water and electricity. In this month’s edition of Off the Edge, there is an entry by Mr. Joe Leong entitled “No Bailout for You – Part II“. The article brings to our attention the plight of the people of Pitas, within the Kudat peninsula, a region known for the hardcore poor in Sabah. They live in huts with no furniture, their children will probably not finish school and they have to ‘borrow from here and there to meet ends meet’. No electricity, no water and public transport is non-existent.

Even in places with access to electricity, water and transportation, the facilities pale in comparison to the worse areas in the peninsular. Along the way to Simpang Mengayang, the northernmost tip of the island of Borneo, we had to pass through a stretch of road which was not tarred. And to think, Simpang Mengayang is a tourist destination, not some far off village!

But oh how we have plundered the  East Malaysian states dry. Their rich natural resources has provided a steady revenue for the federal government. And we can’t even provide basic amenities for their people. Daylight robbery?

Supporters of the New Economic Policy, who claim that there’s nothing wrong with the policy and it should not be reviewed, should spend some time in Sabah. They will see that a policy based on ethnicity and not on merit will not ultimately serve its purpose. The children of well-connected Datuks will obtain assistance under the policy, but the poor youth in Kundasang will be forgotten, if we continue with the New Economic Policy without any attempt to review its effectiveness.

Actually, I think a lot of Malay ultras and ethno-nationalists (especially those from the ruling coalition) should spend some time in Sabah. They will realize that the whole concept of supremacy of the Malays as the indigenous people Malaysia, will not hold water in Sabah. Malays make up only 11% of the population, yet somewhat perplexingly, a Malay chief minister (from UMNO) leads the state. The argument put forth by the ethno-nationalists that this state or that state must be lead by a Malay because Malays are the majority doesn’t seem to apply to Sabah. If going by that argument, a Christian Kadazan-dusun should be the Chief Minister. Of course, in saying that, I myself am bringing to Sabah the racial ‘logic’ from the peninsular. Maybe Sabahans do not care who leads them, as long at the end of the day, he/she is a Sabahan.

My father continued his ‘interrogation’ of the Bugis-Bajau stall keeper.

“Mak orang Bajau, bapa orang Bugis ye? Jadi, kamu orang apa?“

“Orang Sabahlah!” she replied, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Lessons to be learned from the past week 13 December 2008

Last week when the landslide occurred in Bukit Antarabangsa, for about a day or two, Malaysia was united in grief, sorrow and sympathy.

Racial, religious, ideological and political lines were forgotten. Our hearts cried at the destruction caused by the tragedy.

Of course, it did not last long. Grief turned to anger. Sorrow turned into political one-upmanship. The blame game starts. The actions when the fact has happened.

There are many ways one can view a tragedy.

We can look at the obvious. The dead, the injured and the displaced. The destruction of livelihood.

But we can also look at the ’signs’. The lessons that can be learned.

In our pursuit of materialism, in our constant quest to satisfy our hunger for more, we must never forsake the essentials. We do not live in a vacuum. Each and every one of our actions do not only effect us, but also our environment. We’re supposed to learn it 15 years ago, with the collapse of Highland Towers. We’re now given another opportunity to learn. Hopefully, this time, we will learn our lesson.

Last week, a Malay family, an Indian family and a Chinese family wept for the loss of their loved ones. Last week Malaysians wept with them.

To me, this is proof that regardless of any artificial lines we wish to draw on the ground to separate ourselves, the fact of the matter is that we’re in this together.

Bumiputeras, non-bumiputeras, Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazandusuns, Dayaks, Muslims, non-Muslims, Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat. We’re all stuck with each other. No two ways about it. We’re all citizens of this nation.

Why does it take a tragedy for us to understand this?

UMNO first, country second 3 December 2008

So, Mr. Zaid Ibrahim, former de facto law minister has been sacked by UMNO.

To me, it is UMNO’s loss. Let them continue on this path of self-destruction for all I care.

I also thought of an interesting comparison.

Mr. Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, MP for Pasir Salak, uttered racial slurs in Parliament. He is unpunished and un-rebuked by the party.

Mr. Ahmad Ismail, of pendatang infamy, insulted the Chinese, likened them to Jews, tore down a picture of a Chinese leader of a party in HIS own coalition and generally created all sorts of  racial tensions. He got suspended for three years after intense pressure from all quarters to punish him.

Mr. Zaid Ibrahim attended the PKR annual congress. He got sacked.

It’s quite clear where UMNO’s priorities are. Betraying UMNO is far more severe than betraying the unity and harmony of the country.

The human cost of the ISA 3 December 2008

Her name is Norlaila Othman.

She is the wife of ISA detainee Mat Sah Mohamad Satray, who was detained under the ISA in 2002, suspected of involvement with Jemaah Islamiah.

Last June marked the sixth anniversary of Mat Sah’s detention. Ms. Norlaila was informed that her husband’s detention has been renewed for another two years.

I do not know much of Ms. Norlaila, I have never met her and only recently, I came upon her blog.

Ms. Norlaila, I believe, have three children. She is a single mother, having to take care of her children in the absence of her husband. Yet she is an active member of the Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) an NGO committed to the abolishment of the draconian Act.

Her blog is raw, emotional and it is evident that she’s still learning the intricacies of blogging. Yet she blogs with a mission. Her mission is to create awareness amongst Malaysians on the evils of the Internal Security Act. I urge you to visit her blog and read it for yourself.

Sometimes, Ms. Norlaila cannot contain her anger. Understandably so. But with her, we get a glimpse of the devastating effects the ISA has on people.

Sure, we can scoff at politicians who call for its abolishment as political oppurtinists. We can scoff at lawyers calling for its abolishment as ‘elitist demands’. We can even jeer the resignation of a minister over its arbitary use simply because we do not share his views.

Heck, we can even try to ‘justify’ the ISA as a necessary evil in multi-racial, multi-religious Malaysia.

But put aside our political leanings. Put aside the RPKs and the Anwars and the Najibs and the Syed Hamids and the HINDRAFs and the whatever.

Put aside our prejudices and see the Act for what it is: a draconian Act that has no place in Malaysia. It has no justifications and I have yet to come across anyone who can offer me an acceptable justification for its retention.

What touched me the most was the entries by Ms. Norlaila’s son, Suhaib Mat Sah in 3 parts; Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

Excerpts from his posts:

…Saya tidak akan lupa peristiwa Abah dibawa keluar dari rumah kami.Ketika itu saya sedang tidur,tiba-tiba Umi angkat dan letakkan disebelah Abah.Saya buka mata dan bila menoleh pada Abah, saya nampak kedua-dua tangannya bergari.Saya menjerit ketakutan dan menangis .Peristiwa melihat gari di kedua tangan Abah, amat sukar untuk dihilangkan dari minda saya. Walaupun peristiwa itu telah lebih 6 tahun berlalu, ianya ttap segar dalam ingatan…

…Hidup sebagai anak tahanan ISA, amat menekan perasaan.Namun, jika saya pergi demo, tidak kira samada waktu malam atau siang, saya akan rasa kurang sedikit tekanan perasaan…

…Saya juga seronok menulis. Umi dan Abah yang tidak pandai menulis pun kini sudah ada banyak fakta mengenai kezaliman ISA dalam minda mereka berdua…

…Saya juga sering ikut kempen anti-ISA yang Umi lakukan.Vigil, demo, ceramah didewan, ceramah dipadang, kempen pilihanraya dan banyak lagi.Semua itu dilakukan hanya untuk memebritahu, Abah saya, masih ditahan tanpa sebarang bicara di Kem Kamunting…

…Saya terlalu ingin melihat Abah saya dibebaskan supaya saya dapat merasai bimbngan dan kasih sayang seorang ayah.Saya cemburu ,kecewa dan sedih bila melihat orang lain bersama-sama ayah mereka. Saya juga masih ada Ayah(Abah) tetapi , kami dipisahkan oleh akta ISA beratus batu jauhnya dan bertahun-tahun lamanya…

…Saya harap, Menteri Dalam Negeri akan bersikap lebih berperikemanusiaan dan memulangkan Abah kepangkuan kami semula. Saya sangat-sangat rindukan Abah……

Imagine a teenager having to deal with an absent father for the past sixyears and for at least (at least!) two more years. One morning, the police came to his house and took his father away.

No charge, no legal advice, no trial, no judge, no appeal and without certainty as to how much longer will he be apart with his father.

No, the ISA is too evil to be allowed to continue.

Abolish it. Abolish it now or by God face the consequences.

The Star interviews my Sultan 2 December 2008

The Star carried an interview with HRH Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the Sultan of Selangor. It’s a great read.

Here are some excerpts.

On racial politics:

For example, I am disturbed that some of our politicians, regardless of their political parties, prefer to dwell on trivial issues. They are harping on issues that have no relevance to the country. With the global economic crisis, I would expect them to focus their energy and resources on how best they could help Malaysians face this financial uncertainty. But the issues that these politicians have brought up are disappointing. I am concerned with the manner some politicians exploit racial issues for their own agenda.

Malaysia belongs to all races, not just the Malays. The country is what it is today because of the contributions of all races and that is something we must acknowledge.

On the PKNS general manager issue:

I think it was a non-issue. The person has served in PKNS loyally and effectively for 30 years, so why should her promotion be questioned? If she’s not good, she would have been sacked a long time ago.

On Datukships:

This year, I have decided that only a few people would be awarded Datukship, two Dato Seri and one Dato Setia.There would be no politicians, either from the past or present government.

His Highness’ Birthday wish:

It’s simple. I like to see the people of all races live together in harmony. We have been able to do that for the last 50 years and even before independence and I believe the ordinary people love peace. What they want in life is simple – to live happily, have a decent life and see their children have a future in Malaysia.

I must say that I have newfound respect for His Royal Highness. What he said is a breath of fresh air, especially with politicians using race to further their personal goals. The political deadlock in the country has allowed the Malay Rulers to assert their influence and they seem to relish what is in essence their Constitutional role.

Although, I must disagree with returning royal immunity to the Rulers. I mean for every Tuanku Mirzan, Raja Nazrin and Sultan Sharafuddin, there are others who are ‘less than royal’ in their attitudes.

Daulat Tuanku!