Sarawak Malays Have No Interest In Malay Proclamation

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I have nothing but quiet sympathy for the grand old man. Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s ‘Malay Proclamation’ has attracted a lukewarm response, at best.
This coming from the 98-year-old dreamer who believes he is the only one who can save the Malay race must be very disappointing, humiliating even.
Many Malays have been sympathetic, albeit on the sidelines, to this rejection of the nonagenarian, and the non-Malays, including myself, have been trying to understand whether it is Mahathir himself who needed help badly or the Malay community.
Take a look at the recent photo of Mahathir and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang - two frail, old men who could barely help themselves but still insist that they are the saviours of the Malays.
The photo call was when Hadi met up with the former prime minister to ink the ‘Malay People's Proclamation’ - a document which urged Malays to unite to "save" their race.
Top PAS leaders meeting Mahathir to ink the ‘Malay People’s Proclamation’The Malay People's Proclamation is a 12-point document which claimed that Malays never controlled the economy and have "lost" political control.
It goes on to state that the Malay race has to be "revived" and "saved" by uniting Malays by putting aside their political differences.
Many Malays know too well why Mahathir and his ‘jilted’ adversaries-turn-allies whether in the opposition or the political wilderness (like Mahathir’s little group of misfits) are doing what they are doing, putting up an almost ‘ridiculous’ Malay story.
Their main target is to overthrow the unity government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Poor Mahathir! He is still around to see his top nemesis, Anwar, now in power and on top of his game in Putrajaya. It must be so very tough for Mahathir to stomach this humiliation in the final chapter of his long, illustrious political career.
Already united
To the Malays in Sarawak, it is not way off to state that Mahathir’s Malay Proclamation is a useless, worthless document which means nothing to them.
Listen carefully to what Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg has said recently: “I have no knowledge of the ‘Malay Proclamation’.
“How would I know? We are still busy celebrating Hari Raya in Sarawak, and then the incoming Gawai celebration.
“Why should I be bothered about issues there (Peninsular Malaysia)?” Abang Johari said when met by reporters after attending Kota Samarahan MP Datuk Rubiah Wang’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Kota Samarahan near Kuching on Thursday.
So, how on earth are Mahathir and his little ‘prophets of doom’ group going to convince the Malays that they are losing political power and that they must unite to save their race?
Sarawak Premier Abang Johari OpengTry telling that to Abang Johari and the Sarawak Malays and I guess they must be having a good chuckle at such a ludicrous statement.
I’m certain that the Sarawak premier and the Malays in Sarawak do not feel that they are losing power or that their race has to be revived and saved.
As far as I know, the Malays in my homeland are generally doing well and are happy and contented living in peace and harmony with other races.
They are already united and do not need to be “saved” by anyone because they know that race and religious extremism does not exist in Sarawak.
I think that Mahathir and his group must stop taking other Malays for granted. Do not, for once, think that the Malays in Sarawak are that “paloi” (stupid) that they will blindly follow the extreme views of rejected political has-beens in Malaya.
I’m also prepared to title this piece “Sarawak Malays have no interest in ‘Malay Proclamation’” because Abang Jo, as the premier of Sarawak, speaks for all Sarawak Malays.
Sarawakians gave Abang Jo and his GPS coalition a landslide electoral victory in 2021 and the premier is mandated to speak on behalf of Sarawakians, the Malays most certainly.
Pockets of extremism
Remember the Malay Dignity Congress in October 2019 when Mahathir, in his second term as PM, was the keynote speaker.
I asked Malay friends in Sarawak then this question: “What are your views on the Malay Congress and its aftermath? Share your thoughts.”
One gave this response which I think is an important recap of what Sarawak Malays think and feel in general about pockets of extremism in Malaya.
“The early warning signs that the congress would be a controversial event were not heeded by the organisers. The trouble with Malays in Malaya is that in whatever they do, they do not take the Malays in Sabah and Sarawak into consideration.
“Everything they do is for themselves. We, Sarawak Malays, are already a dignified race. We would never ever dream of organising a Malay Dignity Congress.
“In fact, all the races in Sarawak are as dignified as we are right now. We can never agree with the statement that ‘Malaysia belongs to the Malays’. I consider that a hate speech.”
This is a most direct and honest statement from a Sarawak Malay and it resembles and resonates with what many of his race in our homeland think and feel, our Malay premier included.
One thing should be made clear. Any Malay leader spewing venom on race and religion in Malaya does not speak for the Malays in Sarawak. Period! - Mkini
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at [email protected].
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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