PERSPECTIVE : LIM TECK GHEE

There are no options but one: emigrate.

This is the heart (in outline) of the Malay/Malaysian disease — manifested as mass trauma for the many non-Malay and multiple symptomatologies for much of the polity at large (excluding Malays, usurpers of the label ‘indigenous people’). *Orang Asli in my limited knowledge are the indigenous people of the peninsula but that is not a prairie fire I want to start now.

That diversion aside there is something else of vital importance missing from your narrative. It is this in outline: the Malay political elite post Tungku (organizations and personnel all listed by you) have in fact, by adopting the institutional racist policies that they have, beginning with, and since May 13, 1969, have given Islam a bad name — further tarnished Islam’s reputation.

You are more knowledgeable by far of the inner workings of the Malay polity than I am. My view is that the Malay political elite has treated non-Malays almost as badly as Israelis have treated Palestinians. The Malay political elite has drawn from the same poisoned political well— no mass prisons yet, no systematic murders and mayhem such as is occurring right now. But the sword of Islam hangs over the heads of all of the non-Malays. The grim inescapable fact: Malays control the armed forces, the ultimate, readily available, imposition of the Malay/Islam political will if non-Malays cross certain red lines. (Precisely the same thing in Fiji which had its May 13, 1969 bloodletting on May 13, 1987. Fiji’s military is almost 100% native Fijians.

Malaysia under the long-dominant Malay political elite you mention has dug its heels in, has had at least 50 years of institutional continuity, and in its collective mind “owns” the rules of the game (as Israel does). Owning the rules of the game is a fundamental part of the hard core of political power. The Malay political political elite and its fundamentalist institutions (UMNO etc.) have tasted blood, gained political power in its many manifestations and will NOT voluntarily give up either a square inch of physical terrain or a pinch of substantive power. For power holders to give an inch is to invite demands for more. Their rule of thumb: theirs is a zero-sum game. There are no options but one: emigrate. You have that right. There is no HAMAS in Nalaysia threatening the all-powerful Malay Garrison State.

Unless you highlight the brutality of the status quo the brutality will remain in place

And keep in mind Malaysia still has no habeas corpus. True? Get too close to the core of the matter and the sword of Islam will come down on you. Do NOT believe me — ask James Putucheary or Mavis or Kit Siang or even V. David.

Leave it there.