18 August, 2000

UMNO launched racial campaign to celebrate Merdeka

The latest attempts by UMNO leaders in raising the issues of special rights of the Bumiputra have caused a lot of uneasiness, anxiety and tensions in our multiethnic society. It is extremely disappointing and inappropriate for the Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir to deliver a seditious and provocative speech on the day the nation kicked start the Merdeka cerebration. Instead of stressing peace, social harmony and national unity, Dr. Mahathir spoke in an aggressive and militant tone, presenting UMNO as the only vehicle to defend "Malay Supremacy".

The chorus of attacks by UMNO leaders appeared to be a coordinated effort to convince the Malay population in our country that their legitimate rights as indigenous people in this land are under threat. In particular, UMNO has targeted the General Election Appeal Committee (Suqiu) as the scapegoat. It is obvious that the demonstration staged by UMNO Youth at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, 2.00 pm today (18 August) was a means to intimidate pro-reform Chinese organizations. UMNO-controlled mass media such as the Utusan Malaysia has geared up to misrepresented the initiative and accused the committee for undermining the special rights of Bumiputra.

Nothing is further from the truth. The Election Appeal is a document initiated and endorsed by over 2000 Chinese community associations and it was presented to all political parties during the election. UMNO and its BN component parties too had received the document and publicly claimed that they had in principle endorsed most of the demands. From BA perspective, the Election Appeal contains mostly universal ideals such as: the rule of laws, human rights and civil society. It calls for the abolition of the ISA, Printing Press and Publication Act, UUCA, and other anti-human rights laws. It seeks the government’s assurance to protect the languages, education, religions and cultural practices of minorities. Such stand is consistent with democratic principles, the spirit of the Constitution and the vision of a caring civil society. Although certain clauses of the Appeal question the practices and misuses of "affirmative actions", none has challenged the special position of Bumiputra.

One also needs to distinguish the differences between special rights of the Bumiputra in the Federal Constitution and particular government policies which claim to protect indigenous interests. It is indeed a consensus of all communities that the Bumiputra special rights have been enshrined in the Constitution. In fact, nobody has ever challenged this. Further, changes in the constitutional status of the Malay-Bumiputra require the support of two-third of the parliamentarians, one wonders where is the threat coming from?

While appreciating the noble objectives of New Economic Policy (NEP) and the latest National Economic Policy to equalize inter-community distribution of wealth, it does not mean one could not criticize or review the implementation and approach of the policies. If the affirmative actions were to be effective, the government should keep an open mind and always ready to change. In the last few years, it is unfortunate that the BN has corrupted the affirmative and protective measures to benefit cronies. At the same time, the genuinely needy and disadvantaged groups—regardless of communities—have been excluded from any assistance.

It clear that UMNO is using the emotional debates to divert people's attention from the essential issues such as corruption, judiciary, civil rights, economic recession, etc. It appears that UMNO is attempting to use chauvinism and racialism to regain its lost ground in the Malay electorate. We are appalled with such irresponsible action. UMNO is playing with fire by heating up racial sentiments. It is a shame that UMNO failed to offer a democratic and harmonious Malaysia in our 43th Merdeka celebration. BA joins all peace loving and rational minded Malaysians to condemn UMNO for creating tensions in our multiethnic society.

Tian Chua

Vice President

KeADILan