The
simple meaning is that the Agong is the protector of ALL Malaysians,
and not just the Malays! So why do leaders like Ibrahim Ali keep
harping on this Article 153 as if it is a sacred provision for the
Malays only? Are they idiots who can’t read? By Daniel John Jambun
Datuk Ibrahim Ali just came up with a gem of
truth when he said there is no need for a Race Relations Act if people
behave. “If everyone behaves, if nobody touches on (Article) 153,
nobody questions this and that, condemns this and that, and at the same
time recognises the disparity of wealth between Malays and non-Malays,
I don’t think we need any additional Act,” he said. How very true!
Out
of so many idiotic statements we have heard from political jokers,
this one is a real gem of truth. The funny thing is that Ibrahim thinks
he said something very brilliant when in fact it is simple truism
(truth that doesn’t need to be said). Yes, we wouldn’t need any law for
that matter if everyone behaves. We wouldn’t need the police, the
security guards, the magistrates and judges, nor the prisons if there
were no criminals. We wouldn’t need the Speaker in Parliament if every
Member of Parliament can behave and not become rowdy or insensitive
comedians making fun of women.
But
who are really behaving badly in Malaysia? Who are those questioning
this and that, condemning this and that? I guess only Ibrahim is the
luckiest guy in the country because he makes all sorts of seditious and
racist statements, misbehaving in a way that he should be arrested and
charged in court, but nobody touches him, no national leaders even
dare to ask him to shut up. Of the Race Relations Act he said that “We
will see the draft of the Act. If it is good for the country, we have
no problem supporting it,” he said. “But whatever Act is introduced ...
it must not encroach upon (Article) 153, Islam as the official
religion of the Federation, Bahasa Melayu as the national language, the
sovereignty of the Malay Rulers.”
We all know
that there is no question about Islam being the official religion,
Bahasa Melayu as the national language or the sovereignty of the Malay
Rulers. What I would precisely prefer to talk about is Article 153. It
is very tiring to keep hearing political leaders speak about Article
153 as if it belongs only to the Malays.
If
we read the article in its entirety we will be reminded very clearly
that it is not a protection for Malay rights, and neither has it got to
do with any so-called social contract. It says that the Yang
di-Pertuan Agong is responsible for safeguarding the special position
of the Malays AND the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, AND the legitimate
interest of other communities. The simple meaning is that the Agong is
the protector of ALL Malaysians, and not just the Malays! So why do
leaders like Ibrahim Ali keep harping on this Article 153 as if it is a
sacred provision for the Malays only? Are they idiots who can’t read?
Or are they stubborn morons who deliberately behave like idiots for the
purpose of making political mileage over something that has nothing to
do with what they are saying?
I
fully support Senior Christian leader Reverend Dr Eu Hong Seng who
said that Article 153 had been used to bully others, and that it was
something that “needed somebody to say it.” He told an online portal he
had nothing to fear despite the fierce reaction from various Malay
groups and denials by the government that Christians or any minority
group had been sidelined. He described Perkasa’s call for him to be
investigated for sedition an example of fear-mongering. It is time
somebody said and stood up bravely about it. The Deputy Prime Minister
hit back and said the provision was never used to bully anyone. But has
he not heard radicals like Ibrahim Ali abusing the provision all the
time? How do the non-Malays feel when radicals talk about Malay
supremacy or when the DPM himself said he is a Malay first and Malaysian
second?
The radical groups
who idolize Article 153 as if it gives the Malays special rights,
privileges, positions and bullying power need to be told to stop the
negative attitude. What I see in the Article is something very positive
for Malaysians as a whole because to me it is a strong unifying
provision, under which we are protected by our King as equal partners
in Malaysia. It is NOT a provision to give the Malay superior position.
It doesn’t give the Muslim the right to bully other people and other
religions. Under this provision the Malays have equal “special
position” with the natives of the Borneo States. Under it, the Malays
are on equal position with the Ibans, the Penans, Bajaus and the
Kadazandusuns. We have the same special position of the Malays, so we
can tell the Malays like Ibrahim Ali to shut up and grow up if we want
to.
Advisor, UK-Based Human Rights foundation Malaysia
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