The biggest and most intrusive event unfolding in Malaysia currently is the Sabah election. It is scheduled for September 26. One would hesitate to call it a state election because its reach and reverberations portend and possibly herald something greater, extending easily to every Malaysian home. Attesting to its overwhelming significance all the political heavyweights from the peninsula have attempted to put up a lasting appearance there.
Unflustered, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, the once besieged caretaker Chief Minister of Sabah has however attained almost iconic presence there. That presence was partly secured with a simple but penetrating message that he seeks ” to develop the nation, not a particular race, religion or region.”
The theme suggests that it is the overarching business of his government, and specifically his own Warisan Plus Party, to develop the entire country, not promote and protect a specific community or conclave. It is a refreshing, almost revolutionary attempt to reach out and inform the electorate that the business of the state and the nation is to unify the people, serve every citizen equally, fairly, impartially and efficiently.
This powerful and precious message from the much sidelined Sabah people is breathtakingly brilliant and superbly timed. It represents a clear and deliberate departure from the unimaginative mediocrity and superficiality of the messaging that Peninsular Malaysian leaders have become noted for in the past three decades.
There was the illusory ‘ Vision 2020′ phase, a hollow Islam Hadhari phase and the final openly obscurantist and bankrupt one Malaysia odyssey of the grandest larceny.
Shafie’s simple messaging has the promoters of these meaningless cliches scurrying to find every conceivable fault with him. Shafie has cleverly upped the ante.
One convicted former prime minister associated with the odious 1Malaysia debacle is one of those leading the charge to rent asunder Shafie’s magisterial message. Shafie has finally said what should have been said and done all along. The business of the government is to state plainly and simply there are challenges of unity and development to be met and how should they be addressed.
This messaging bucks a dangerous trend that was gaining traction when the most representative Pakatan Harapan was ousted in late February.
This messaging by Shafie is particularly apposite as a non mainstream regional religion based party has, with its rather narrow religious narratives, introduced unprecedented tensions and divisiveness into the country’s national governance system. That party, PAS, has acted arbitrarily and intimidated not only the non-Muslims but the largely peaceful, moderate and urbane Muslim population in the country.
PAS leaders have been a disruptive and divisive force, dividing and segregating the population. Their irresponsible rhetoric has been callous, coarse and corrosive but the mainstream components of the government including Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin are tongue tied on the issue as they are dependent on PAS for the survival of the weak government.
The Sabah caretaker Chief Minister’s message of speaking of the full equality and entitlement of every Sabah citizen is a positive move to unify the people. To overcome the current challenges that Malaysia faces the country has to make conscious efforts to ride out of the current six-month- old us-versus- them nexus.
The Covid-19 pandemic has been a form of bandaid for this backdoor government. This us-versus- them monologue predates the Muhyiddin Government but it has assumed a rather toxic tone with PAS, aided by some Bersatu ministers turning their backs on their multihued PKR, Amanah and DAP allies.
The country has to move forward from an inappropriate race based system of empowerment to a comprehensive all inclusive needs-based system where all Malaysians, especially those of Sabah and Sarawak are prioritised and provided with the best education, training and equipped to face life’s challenges.
In this new phase Malaysia’s peninsular leadership ought to let the Bosniaks worry about Bosnia and the Malians about Mali. Let there be no…
