“AT the time of publication, Mahathir had just lost his parliamentary seat, been expelled from the ruling party Umno and Malaysia had recently been rocked by the racial riots later known as the May 13 incident.”
This is the opening paragraph on the Wikipedia webpage about Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s book, The Malay Dilemma, published in 1970, and is still now talked about when it comes to Malaysia’s history and politics. His book posits the following basic positions:
FIRST, the Malay race is the indigenous people (Bumiputeras) of Malaysia;
SECOND, the sole national language is the Malay language and all other races are to learn it;
THIRD, the tolerant and non-confrontational nature of the Malays has allowed them to be subjugated in their own land by the other races with the collusion of the British;
FOURTH, a programme of affirmative action is required to correct Malaysian Chinese hegemony in business; and,
LASTLY, the dilemma whether Malays should accept governmental aid and Dr Mahathir’s position was that they should.
More than four decades later, we can probably describe that Dr Mahathir continues to be a Malay in dilemma, in a political and historical sense.
In politics, there will always be a counter opinion if one is to say that during Dr Mahathir’s rule, the country was at the most successful period when one looks at the economic progress that yielded Penang bridge, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Petronas Towers and KLCC.
However, it is in the political arena that Dr Mahathir ruled supreme with none of his deputies adjudged to have the necessary competency to take over power, with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s case the most dramatic falling-out ever.
When he announced his resignation, in tears, Dr Mahathir found it very tough to not meddle in the country’s politics despite retiring.
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s short-lived rule as his successor was also due to Dr Mahathir’s meddling, among one of the biggest factors.
Now, Dr Mahathir is at it again, all because of his contention that the present leader, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, should also be brought down, with 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion donation issue the prime reasons.
The Malay dilemma, according to Dr Mahathir’s book, is still there but the factors he posited then have been reduced over the years as the nation grows, till today.
Politically speaking, the race factor is still deciding his moves, only this time, it is the Malays that are targeted.
As explained by one of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia founding members, the newest Umno splinter party is seeking to tap the Malay votes that have so far eluded other opposition parties like PKR and even Pas. Meaning, the Malays in Umno strongholds are being targeted. It is ironic, is it not?
Dr Mahathir is trying to persuade the Malays that it’s okay to be intolerant and confrontational against each other to depose a democratically elected prime minister.
Some have uttered their misgivings about the new party for excluding non-Malays from becoming members. So, whether you are pro-government or opposition, Dr Mahathir once again demonstrated his willingness to go against the norm.
Umno, Pas, PKR, Parti Amanah Negara and now the emergence of Parti Pribumi do not mean that the Malay vote will split into five, rather that is the hope of the anti-Najib bloc to dethrone the Umno president and prime minister.
The question is still whether the Malays want to take the risk of accepting Dr Mahathir’s argument to reject the prime minister when their welfare has been well taken care of under Umno and Barisan Nasional all this while.
n AZMAN A. H., Kuala Lumpur