Like HINDRAF, we need a SUQUI to re-emerge for a Malaysian nation

Like HINDRAF, we need a SUQUI to re-emerge for a Malaysian nation 

Many may not know about SUQUI and their 17 point demand. This was a loose organization set up by Malaysian Chinese Organizations' Election Appeal Committee, which was made up of l3 organizations and had the endorsement of over 2,000 Chinese associations in Malaysia back in 1999.

This was the 17 point demand with further 83 specific demands.    

1. Encourage racial solidarity.

2. Increase democracy.

3. Defend human rights and uphold justice.

4. Eradicate corrupt practices.

5. Implement a fair economic policy.

6. Re-evaluate the privatisation policy.

7. Implement an education policy that is more progressive and liberal.

8. Encourage the development of all cultures.

9. Protect the environment.

10. Modernise and develop new villages.

11. Formulate a “House for Everyone” Policy.

12. Protect Women’s Rights.

13. Develop a fair media.

14. Restore the confidence of the people towards the police.

15. Improve welfare.

16. Respect workers’ rights.

17. Help the aborigines become self-reliant.

The points raised is clearly a clarion call to promote national unity, to advance democracy, to uphold human rights and justice, defending Chinese education and place of worship, to curb corruption, to have a fair and equitable economic policy and to allow the flourishing of multi-ethnic cultures. It appealed for the protecting of the Malaysian environment, modernizing the New Villages, and housing for all and to provide for the Orang Asli.

Naturally at the time, bearing the impending 1999 election, the memorandum received with considerable publicity and both the opposition and the BN accepted in principle the points it contained.

If you note what the Chinese were asking for their community is an end to the corruption, abuse, injustice, oppression, and many more transgressions that divides the nation by its race based politics. 

SUQUI, like HINDRAF was armed with army of volunteers, passionate with a worldview of national unity without a political agenda but to build the nation, yet after the election they were treated like communist, traitors, drawn in comparison with Al’Ma’unah (armed cult group) and compromised by the then toothless MCA and Gerakan for political survival and silence in reticence by the opposition.

Well, SUQUI may have been a similar movement like HINDRAF, but in nutshell both their objectives are same basic human rights in Malaysia without infringing the need of the others even when they fought for their own individual community.       

Coming back to SUQUI, unfortunately the Malaysian Chinese could not pursue their conscious and rightful agenda as their Chinese representatives and community rather hid behind the UMNO sarong who dresses them as the Chinese representative like what happens with the opposition without much to do as everything is taken care for.

Naturally HINDRAF did not encounter a natural death like SUQUI                who had trusted their Chinese political representatives, but they have and continued to put their head on the chopping board no matter what is the repercussion as long as they are focused in their goal to protect what is natural and humane for their community’s objective as Malaysian. 

Why I say this is because, although they are against UMNO and its allies, they have written numerous letters and engaged the opposition yet the protocol of politics seems to have the upper hand against them even with the opposition as the latter continues to “jaga” their own individual position as oppose to working with HINDRAF. I guess this the Malaysia Boleh concept that is well imbibed for the right connection, right time and right affiances. 

Well, if it is truly an agenda to protect and serve basic human rights and grievances of the marginalized, then why all this for the populace run when all you do is to please someone for individual run against what is best for the community? 

The rather self indulging urbanites fail to comprehend the needs of the marginalized and under privileged in the rural segment as we urbanite Malaysian continue to classify everything in a race, religion context on a personal modus operandi whether it is an UMNO One Malaysia or the oppositions Malaysian First but never able to comprehend, that this should not even be a factor when basic human rights is paramount with sound reasoning.

Today, the seismic shift that we find ourselves involved in modern day internet has completely shifted, but with little change as the fundamentals are not in place for as usual I know best whether UMNO is bad or Opposition is good.   

In hindsight, which is bad or good does not bother me or people like us, either way we endure, yet never for the untold struggle and survival for those who are not in our shoes. We at large fail to understand their struggles and mishaps are the silence acceptance and inept politics that we practice by picking sides when there is only one which is basic human rights irrespective of the origin.       

For a civic nationalism on a basis of humanity for the current generation irrespective of origin,    HINDRAF & a re-emergence of SUQUI with moderate level headed MALAY future leaders alike TAR, Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Hussein Onn, Burhanuddin Helmi, Tun Dr Ismail, is what we need to create and enhance a Malaysian nation against a spoon fed chosen politicians nurtured at the courtesy of the typical UMNO and PAKATAN methodology with their hand- picked and hen pegged cronies who are only there for their own populist agenda.

The Malaysian bargain for civic nationalism starts with HINDRAF and SUQUI kind of organization without the typical political agenda that most politicians from both side of the equation run without a concern for the marginalized and discriminated that forms the bulk of the society.       

Wong Mun Chee