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Melayu Baru Versus Melayu Barua
M. Bakri Musa
http://www.bakrimusa.com/
There is very little display of civility among Malay leaders,
reflecting their lack of class and social finesse. Embarrassing
though that might be, it does not concern me. Far more
consequential is that such boorish behaviours set the tone for
their followers.
The recent tear gas incident involving former Prime Minister Tun
Mahathir is one such consequence. Expect more, and even much
more ugly confrontations if the present trend continues.
When Tunku Abdul Rahman was Prime Minister, he used to have
social gatherings outside of official functions so leaders and
their spouses could get together and know each other better at
the personal level. Such interactions act as a useful and
necessary social lubricant. The goodwill generated would spill
over to their official and other spheres.
It was through such personal social encounters that enabled the
likes of the late Datuk Asri and Tan Chee Kon to be effective
opposition leaders and yet they maintained their warm personal
relationships with the Tunku and other government leaders. Such
genuine expressions of cordiality also rubbed off on their
followers and subordinates.
The Tunku was widely known for his fondness of what would be
politely termed as "un-Islamic" habits, yet no one ever insulted
him by calling him a kafir. If they did, the Tunku would have
replied with his characteristic humility, "Those are my
weaknesses!" End of story!
Even if some of the more boisterous members were to resort to
such name calling, rest assured that their leaders would have
made known their disapproval. Such actions would have been
enough to restrain the more exuberant followers.
Elegant Silence Encourages Boorishness
Today, these leaders would prefer to remain quiet to the
excesses and thuggish behaviours of their boorish supporters.
Such "elegant silence" only feeds on their followers' perception
of approval. Worse, some leaders enthusiastically egg on their
followers to engage in those uncivilized deeds.
When Mahathir was Prime Minister, supposedly pious leaders of
PAS would regularly assail him with contemptuous and
uncharacteristically un-Islamic epithets. Their followers were
more than eager to pick up the cue. Yet Mahathir's personal
piety far exceeds those of his predecessors; the man does not
even smoke!
At the recent UMNO's Diamond Jubilee celebration in Johor Baru,
its two leading personalities - Abdullah Badawi and Tun Mahathir
- were noted for their coolness towards each other. They would
not even be photographed together for such a historic occasion
despite being prompted by their host, the Sultan of Johor. Such
gross lack of graciousness is not lost on their followers. To
think that they both belong to the same party! Imagine had they
been from opposing parties. It is from such a social and
cultural milieu that the recent tear-gas incident in Kota Bharu
emerges.
Contrast that to the socio-political scene in America. President
Bush, Sr., and Bill Clinton were once bitter political rivals.
Yet that did not stop them from coming together with their
genuine display of warmth and affection to head the highly
successful Katrina and Tsunami Relief Funds. President Reagan
and Speaker Tip O'Neill used to end their day of contentious
political negotiations by sharing cigars and their favourite
Irish whisky. And they were from opposing political parties! As
Reagan characteristically said, politics ended at 5 PM. To be
sure, such displays of civility are today fast eroding in
Washington, D.C.
Younger Leaders Worse
The lamentable part is that the younger leaders are no better;
in fact they are worse. Consider this. UMNO Youth leaders see
fit to have an annual golf game with their counterparts in
Singapore's People Action Party. That is laudable. I remember
not too long ago when leaders of UMNO and PAP were demonizing
each other, with UMNO folks openly accusing PAP leaders for
being racists and anti-Malay. The end result of such ugly
displays was the heightening of racial tensions, culminating in
the fracturing of Malaysia and the expulsion of Singapore.
While UMNO Youth leaders may see fit to engage socially their
hitherto enemy south of the causeway, they have yet to extend
similar goodwill gestures to the Youth Wing of their Barisan
coalition partners. As for having a kenduri or friendly sepak
tekraw games with their counterparts in PAS or Keadilan, that
would be beyond their collective comprehension.
Prime Minister Abdullah and PAS leader Datuk Nik Aziz are both
widely regarded as ulama. Nik Aziz still regularly delivers his
Friday khutba (sermon). As for Abdullah, soon after taking
office he was prominently photographed piously leading his
Muslim ministers in a congregational prayer: the Prime Minister
as Grand Imam! His handlers were obviously attempting to project
the parallel image of the Rightly Guided Caliphs during the
glorious days of Islam when the political and spiritual
leadership were one.
Despite such very public displays of religiosity by the two
leaders, I cannot imagine either of them listening to the
other's sermon, or for both to be seen praying together. So much
for the charity of spirit that is so highly valued in Islam!
Things have not always been this way. During colonial times,
Malaysian society was even more segregated racially than today.
There were minimal social and other interactions between the
average Malaysians from the various communities. Yet, as these
elite leaders have bonded well through having attended the same
schools and universities, their personal examples of genuine
friendship and respect for each other rubbed off on their
followers in the respective communities.
These leaders' personal chemistry mix helped greatly when they
were involved in intense and contentious negotiations leading up
to independence. Leaders like Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tan Cheng Lock
and Sambanthan were personally fond of each other. Their
followers, seeing the pattern set by their leaders, followed
suit. It was this promise of unity as demonstrated well by these
leaders that convinced the British to grant Malaysia (or Malaya
as it was then) her independence.
Nature's Gentleman No More
The colonials used to refer to Malays as "nature's gentlemen," a
term of endearment as well as condescension. Modern Malay
leaders took umbrage at such a designation. We were subsequently
urged by our leaders to undertake a mental revolution of sorts,
and to discard our "gentleman" image. Our leaders exhorted us to
be more assertive, or in the words of then Deputy Prime Minister
Musa Hitam, to be more kurang ajar (lit. not adequately tutored;
fig. uncouth).
During my youth, to be so labelled was the height of insult both
to yourself and your parents. Musa Hitam would have preferred us
to take it as a compliment. Such perversion of values!
In their obsession in creating the assertive "New Malay," these
leaders have created a new monster; their Melayu Baru (New
Malay) has morphed into Melayu Barua (Malay rascal). These newly
revolutionized "New Malays" now proudly proclaim that they have
acquired an "A!" These Melayu Barua have perverted our
traditional values. No hallowed institution or esteemed ritual
escapes their wrath of disapproval. The goodwill practice of
"Open House" during festive seasons too has come under their
attack. These are now deemed "un-Islamic."
Meanwhile those Melayu Barua in the mainstream media view such
"Open House" events as surrogate straw polls of a leader's
popularity. Through their despicable commentaries which they
unabashedly publish in their rags, they compare the waiting
lines and crowds at the various open houses, giving their
uncalled for pretentious political predictions from such social
events. They cannot write on anything substantive, so they
resort to pontificating on trivialities.
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur was criticised recently for
spending lavishly in teaching these Melayu Baru in the civil
service some social graces. Someone ought to tell them that
"class" means more than being able to fasten your cumberbund and
tie your bow tie properly, or learning how to use those salad
forks. You can still have class attired in your traditional Baju
Melayu and eating with your fingers. Besides, it would be tricky
to use those forks on your petai and jering!
It would take more than sending these Melayu Baru leaders
through finishing school to instil class in them. If they
haven't got it by now, they are unlikely ever to acquire it.
Blame not their followers when they follow their leaders'
pattern.
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