Yes Change Must Come From The Malays But The Chinese Must Stay United And Exert The Right Influence

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 The following is adapted from an interview with Prof James Chin by The Malaysianist.



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Malaysian politics noisier than usual but going nowhere fast
pandemic-induced recession with thousands unemployed in its wake
James Chin, director of the Asia Institute, University of Tasmania.
JAMES: For 1st two years PH did try to create a new political norm
from 2000 onward BN becoming more Malay-centric (ketuanan Melayu)
ketuanan Melayu Islam because of PAS
Many forget Bersatu’s DNA is essentially Umno - it is a breakaway 
Dr Mahathir suddenly resigned as prime minister 
March 1, Muhyiddin replaced him.
Muhyiddin reverted to the old order, Malay and Islam-centric 
we’re back to BN in 2018, basically ketuanan Melayu Islam
we have gone a complete circle
Malay community sending strong signal, “We want the old political order” 
In other words Malays in charge.
What happened to PH was by design, not accident
NEP tells Malays they are the chosen ones
Malay-first policy
never been such a thing as Malay unity
Malays have always been split among themselves
no such thing as a common Malay political culture.
there’s no such thing as Malay unity
I have always argued that it is a myth
Bersatu, Umno, PAS - who gets what.
how to divide the seats? 
120 seats in rural Malay areas 
Bersatu does not stand chance in urban areas
they stand to gain very little in mixed seats
their rice bowl will be core Malay areas
Umno also after same demographics
for every seat that goes to Bersatu, Umno will lose out
northern Malay states, Umno and PAS both chasing same seats 
if you are outside parliament, no one takes you seriously.
if you want change in Malaysia, must be the Dewan Rakyat 
more importantly, change will have to come from the Malays
It cannot come from the non-Malays
non-Malay NGOs are not going anywhere
Malays must be very clear whether they like it or not, Malaysia is multiracial 
Malaysia becoming more Malay because demography changing 
rapid pace of urbanisation
Malay population increasingly urban
Malays have to resolve what sort of country do they want Malaysia to be.
Do they want old Umno ketuanan Melayu
or current model of ketuanan Melayu Islam
or kepimpinan Melayu or Malay leadership
successful countries have clear identity, clear idea of what they want to be
In Malaysia, we never had this
since 1970s terminal tension between Malays and non-Malays
conflict has taken life of its own and covered every other issue
racial card will come up, and we can’t move forward 
number one thinking is not defining Malaysia’s identity
number one thinking is how to win next election 
and, for Umno, how to get rid of Bersatu
non-Malays increasingly being marginalised 
in cabinet, only one Chinese minister
Bersatu-Umno-PAS project themselves as Malay-centric 
Budget 2021 for the Malays
DAP will still do well.
DAP will keep all 42 seats and maybe gain additional mixed seats
Amanah will do very badly
PKR will lose half their seats
Malay ground has shifted so much to the right 
PKR’s moderate Malaysia or moderate Malay leadership not selling 
moderation, is dead at the present 
for now it’s all about ketuanan Melayu and ketuanan Melayu Islam.
Muhyiddin will cut a deal with Umno to make sure he stays in power.
senior Umno members don't like Anwar. They don’t trust him.
non-Malay — mostly Chinese and Indian — votes will still go to DAP 
Chinese will continue to support DAP 
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
By Syed Akbar Ali 

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