The Exorcism of May Thirteenth Ghost
By Por Heong Hong
What are the similarities between Zaid Ibrahim and Azhar Ibrahim? I suppose many Malaysians would give such a response without hesitation: “Both of them are Malay Muslims and they both carry in their names ‘Ibrahim’”.
It is very unlikely that they would answer: “They are both Malaysians” and there is no lack of national leaders in the ruling party in this country “teaching” us that race/ethnicity comes before nationality (recall one of the top cabinet member’s on the interfaith issue?).
It’s true that they both share the same racial and religious identities, but what about the differences between them? You might get these feedbacks: “Oh, one is Zaid and another Azhar?” or maybe “One is PKR leader and another is UMNO leader?”
Ms.Por Heong Hong
It’s true that they have different names and belong to different political parties, but other than these, is there anything else that really makes them different from one another?
Given the long history of race based politics in this nation, it is thus quite common to see Malaysians identifying themselves based on racial and ethnic differences but unable to see differences among the same ethnic communities or common interest across different racial groups.
If we are well informed with the current politics in this country, we would not be blinded from seeing the profound differences between the two anak Ibrahim: the former condemns racial hatred while the latter promotes it. While Zaid is not alone among his own ethnic community in denouncing racial politics, Azhar also has no lack of support and this can be seen in the latest call by a right wing group, Gerakan Kebangkitan Rakyat (Gertek), to hold a mammoth rally on this coming May 13 in Terengganu.
In the first few months after the political tsunami back in 2008, many political scientists and social scientists were optimistic to see the breakaway of Malaysian politics from the racial lines. The once exorcised spectre of May Thirteenth was thought to have rested in peace since then, however, has been resurrected, again and again by the right wing groups.
Who is to blame for the resurrection of a ghost that should have been put to rest for the sake of harmony and democratic transition in this nation? Certainly not the rakyat nor any particular ethnic community. Though it is true that most Malaysians, regardless of race, still tend to view things from a narrow racial and ethnic perspective, it is a result of information manipulation by the mainstream media, which is the main source of information for the majority of the population and under the control of the ruling alliance or its ally. Not only are rival views different from the ruling party not given balanced coverage, some mainstream media even submit themselves to racist advocate.
It has been four decades and is entering the fifth since the May Thirteenth event, whether the ghost of it could be exorcised depends very much on rationality and tolerance for diversity that is only possible with free flow of information and open debate between rival views.
(Ms. Por Heong Hong is a social science lecturer from UTAR Journalism Department. She is active in public debates of current issues.)
