Do The Malays Know What They Want

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I don't know the answer to the question, "Do Malays really know what they want?"
You will have to ask them yourself, but a lot depends on his upbringing, his education, his religious indoctrination, his social circle, his insecurity, and his gullibility or naivety
Solving Malaysia's internal problems lies with the Malay
He belongs to the majority race, but he behaves as if he is in the minority, consumed by the irrational fear that his way of life and religion are under threat
Malay leaders have failed him, with their corruption and involvement in crime, but 63 years of political brainwashing compounded by 50 years of intense religious indoctrination, have prevented him from trusting a non-Malay
Although many Malays are brought up with a strong moral compass and know the difference between right and wrong, many adult Malays turn a blind eye to the injustice, abuse of power and corruption that is destroying Malaysia. Why
Is the answer self-preservation? Is the Malay prepared to sacrifice integrity and self-respect, as long as he keeps his job (especially civil servants), his pension and is not ostracised by society
Are Malays reluctant to answer 'that' question for the following reasons
Loss of community interaction: After Merdeka, the evolution from agriculture to manufacturing saw a migration from rural to urban areas for jobs. The Malays once lived in houses surrounded by fruit trees and herbs
Families who moved into flats in towns, for work, found that a staircase and landing was no substitute for a gap in the garden hedge in the kampung, where they would gossip with their neighbour. Urban living deprived them of active community interaction
Social isolation: "No man is an island" (John Donne), but many Malays have been metaphorically isolated from others in their community by selfish leaders
The Malays have been told they are 'superior' and given special allocations in social housing, scholarships and houses of worship
Inability to communicate: Our needs are not just food and shelter. The Malay is told he is 'superior', but when his world falls apart, if he is passed over for promotion, fails to make the academic grade, is abused, or loses his job, from whom should he seek solace and advice
Many Malays are conditioned to bottle-up their emotions and not bring shame to their families. When the bottle overflows, the Malay runs amok
Loss of identity: The Malay was happy until some ulama joined the politicians in the battle for the control of the Malay mind
Malay creativity in dance, song and acting, was strangled, when the arts and culture scene was decimated by conservative ulama
The Malay has lost his identity. He litters his speech with Arabic phrases, dons Arabic clothing, and gives his children Arabic names
Negative image/messages: Malays are constantly reminded about the communist (always Chinese) atrocities committed during the Japanese Occupation, and that they will become extinct if they allow other races to dominate
Leaders refuse to encourage different races to work together as a team, or learn from one another's experiences
Living in denial: In the 1970s, the Malaysian economy was on par with other Asian Tigers, like South Korea and Taiwan; but today, these nations have become advanced, high-income nations, competing on the world stage
Malaysians have been left behind and are still scrabbling in the dirt, demanding more Malay rights, increased Malay representation and higher Malay quotas
Cherry-picking home-grown talent: Our education was once one of the best in Asia. Many Asian countries recognise the intellectual abilities of their home-grown talent and retain them to develop their countries; however, Malay patronage means that the children of elite or well-connected Malays usually receive recognition
To fulfil their ambitions, many non-Malays and Malays who do not fit the Umno-Baru mould, have left, vowing never to return
Hardship: Millions have lost their jobs because of the economic recession brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic. It will turn ugly, when the Malay elites start squabbling among themselves
Oppression: Think Jakim and the various laws, like the sedition law, which are used to silence people
Malay leaders must stop the Malays who dare to express themselves. Their power comes from being able to control the Malay community and their fear that outspoken Malays may inspire others
Disempowerment: The average Malay is confused. Many Malays live the life that the government has decided for them, and not the life that they would want to make. They lack power over their own lives. For some of them, life has little meaning, despite the four wives, the children and the government handouts
Lack of focus: Many Malays have ambition but are held back. Usually, because other Malays see them as a threat, or want to be like them, but lack the drive of the people they envy. The solution is to forge ahead, but few Malays are willing to upset the apple cart
Be warned, for 97 percent of Malays will hesitate to answer this simple question: "Do Malays know what they want?"As the coronavirus pandemic re-programmes our way of life, the Western-educated, English-speaking, well-travelled Malay will become as insecure as the rural Malay; but for different reasons
The needs of the rural Malays will continue to be food and shelter. On the other hand, job openings, government contracts and educational opportunities will become intensely competitive
Thus, Malays who have been force-fed a diet of "It's the DAP, or the fault of the Chinese", will soon view other Malays as the threat
How will PAS or Umno-Baru react
MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, Twitter. - Mkini

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