Politicians From Both Sides Of The Divide Are Primary Culprits For Racism Religious Slurs In Malaysia

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THE recent case of a petty trader in Sepang, Selangor, displaying a racist sign barring Indians from purchasing corn may have been resolved with an apology but this is only the tip of the iceberg in Malaysia’s deeply polarised society.
Ethnic and religious divisions continue to fester with no signs of abating.
A few years ago, a similar incident occurred at a laundry in Johor which displayed a sign stating it would only serve Muslim customers. That racist act was swiftly addressed by the Johor royalty who intervened before tensions escalated.
In the Sepang incident, public outcry against the use of the derogatory “ke***g” term had led to the removal of the offensive sign and the said petty trader issuing an apology while promising not to repeat the offence.
However, isolated incidents like these are not new – and they are unlikely to be the last. In fact, they reflect the ethnic and religious divisions that plague Malaysian society.
While UMNO Youth leader Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has condemned the petty traders’ actions, he and others cannot ignore their roles in perpetuating these divisions.

Political forces in the country have historically sown the seeds of racial and religious discord to maintain control.
The petty trader’s racism may have been overt but underlying socio-economic realities also play a role. Though culturally distinct, Malays and Indians share similar struggles in a system shaped by capitalist development.
Don’t forget institutionalised racism
Yet ruling cliques have used racial and religious differences to drive a wedge between communities.
As long as politics remain divided along ethnic and religious lines, hostility between Malays and non-Malays will persist because the current political regime relies on these divisions to sustain itself.
These societal fractures provide fertile ground for acts of racism and religious slurs to flourish.
Prof Ramasamy PalanisamyWhile overt racism is often associated with Malays, non-Malays also engage in discriminatory behaviour though the form and expression may differ depending on ethnicity, class and social factors.
More often than not, it is the nature and implications of state’s institutionalised racism that should be the cause of the primary cause and not so much individual acts especially those emanating from the members of the working class.
Institutional racism which is more harmful than individual expressions of racism are often forgotten compared to the latter.
Unless those in power address the root causes of racism and the religious divide, these ugly manifestations will continue to surface.
Paradoxically, many of those opposing crude racist behaviour may also support a government that thrives on these divisions to maintain political dominance. 
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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