POLITICS in Malaysia is a fickle thing. Take Pas, for example. Let's forget about the fact that the party seems to change bedfellows very quickly. Let's instead focus on its leaders' seemingly endless changes in policies and stances. If any political opponent or anyone the party does not like speaks negatively about religion, race or royalty — the 3Rs — Pas leaders are bound to be up in arms.
Yet, when calls are made for politicians to not touch on the 3Rs during the election campaign, caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor brushes them off. To him, since the Rukun Negara mentions religion and royalty, it is perfectly fine to talk about the 3Rs. He suggests that if the subject is off-limits, then we should do away with the national philosophy.
Firstly, Sanusi does not exactly get it right. The first principle of the Rukun Negara calls for belief in God. Not religion. One can believe in God, but not subscribe to any religion, or believe in several or all.
The other principle calls for loyalty to king and country. This leads to the second point. The calls for politicians not to touch on the 3Rs blend perfectly with the Rukun Negara. Everyone knows about the five principles. What most people do not know is that there is a whole, relatively lengthy preamble to it, which, among others, calls for harmony among the races, cultures and religions.
Fitting, considering the Rukun Negara was brought about — as Sanusi so rightly pointed out — after our darkest point in history as far as race relations are concerned: the May 13 riots. Pas politicians, of course, are not the only ones who touch on such things. It is prevalent in politicians from both sides of the great divide.
Divisive politics is all about winning votes, and there are chameleons out there. These are people who will say one thing before a conservative crowd, perhaps, and another when speaking to a gathering of more liberal folk.
The question remains, though, as to why we need such divisive politics. When the calls were made not to touch on the 3Rs, what that meant was politicians should not insult or call for action against the royal houses, or someone of another race or religion.
It is perfectly fine to talk about one's religion or respect for another religion. The same goes for race. It is the very call of the Rukun Negara for us to live together as a harmonious nation. A nation where we will not be attacked just because we are different from the person next to us.
Politicians — and yes, every single one of us — should heed the call to stay away from inflammatory speeches about the 3Rs.
What they must remember is that even though they are elected in one constituency, they are elected in order for the entire nation and its people to prosper.