Bigotry has gotten worse over the past decade and acts of violence portrayed by imperceptive individuals are only worsened by the obtuse politicians who endorse them.
In a recent statement, Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri, justified the latest protest where roughly 150 Umno Youth members gathered in front of the DAP headquarters on Jalan Yew, Kuala Lumpur; he was quoted to have said, “So we cannot blame Umno Youth because it is its duty to defend the integrity and dignity of the Malays who felt insulted (by the posting)” – thus, reasoning that, such acts of mindless violence and threatening behavior was deemed acceptable because these men and women were simply ‘defending the dignity of the Malays’.
For large numbers of Malaysians, the far right’s rhetoric surrounding race relations, ideological differences, political opinions and economic disparity are beginning to sound like an overplayed track that highlights fascist-like vitriol. Racial supremacy is stronger now because it functions under the guise that Malay values and rights are under constant attack, therefore, justifying insecurities and fears felt by those most gullible, whereby certain issues or incidences are spun in a way that can only benefit the far right – more so, those in power.
The pathetic concoction of bigoted protests and bigoted politicians remind Malaysians of the depressing legacy of our race relations. Race and religion will always be our country’s core issues (much like healthcare and education) and such issues are often used to tear society apart. After all, this is part of the classic ‘divide and conquer’ tactic the ruling far right is famous for.
By instigating and allowing violent behavior on the 7th day of Syawal, Umno has opened Pandora’s box of hatred. In democracy, defending the dignity of any race never necessitates violent behavior; there are better ways of voicing out dissatisfaction or opinion though discourse and reason. Therefore, it is extremely unbecoming that a minister such as Ismail Sabri would openly endorse violence and unfettered bigotry.
We are often told that leaders lead by example – leaders can influence the attitudes and thoughts of others; they empower and inspire those around them by offering hope and a sense of purpose. Leaders are meant to help alleviate society from despair but unfortunately for us, Ismail Sabri and others from the far right, will only drive us further down into the retrospective rabbit hole of decadence, deceit and hate.