Racism - Keeps us distracted from real concerns of justice?

Racism - Well, in the Malaysian context, we look at not just ethnicity but also religion - when really we should be looking at nationality.

Racism - Unscrupulous Malaysians use ethnic, religious, language and class differences for their own selfish reasons ... undermining the principle of equality for all persons. Racism is used not simply for political reasons, but also for economic reasons.

Preferential treatment is a human phenomena - hence people give priority to family and kin, maybe even people from their own communities, religious groups, language groups, workmates and friends...hence, we all need to make a CHOICE - do we want to propagate 'Racism' - or do we want to diminish the differences by promoting similarities...respecting the differences in others. One bad experience with a man of Chinese ethnicity, or a Muslim man, should in no way prejudice how we look at all others from that same ethnic or religious background...But sadly, for many it is not even 'personal experience' ...but simply stories they heard..(which over time may not even be accurate, as people tend to 'add on' or 'delete' things as the story travels.)

Whilst Indonesia and Thailand, stressed on developing a national identity of being Indonesian or Thai, hence diminishing the importance of ethnic/religious differences. Malaysia, on the other hand, seem to want to highlight and maintain the differences in ethnicity - WHY?

UMNO - a Malay only party, MIC - an Indian party and MCA - a Chinese party > Well, these ethnicity based political parties would naturally lobby that they will be fighting for the best interest of people of particular ethnicity. Together, they formed the Alliance, and political power was given to them when the British colonial government granted Malaysia independence. These parties, with other parties, now form the Barisan Nasional which has ruled Malaysia since independence.

What about the Opposition? What are the ethnic and/or religious based parties?

PAS - Muslims

Amanah (a new PAS breakaway party) - Muslims

Pribumi(a new party led by former ousted UMNO leaders) - Malays

Multi-racial multi-religious parties
DAP, PKR, PRM, GERAKAN, PSM, ...

The Sabah and Sarawak based parties are primarily State based barties..
 

MALAY majority...Chinese majority...that sometimes is how political parties decide on which party is to contest...well, the ethnicity and the religion of the candidate is also considered...

ENDING RACISM - or propagating racism - well, the blame can be levied against UMNO and UMNO led-BN, but at the same time, the blame can also be levied against the Opposition parties ... 

If one is striving towards 'eliminating' (maybe not eliminating but reducing ethnic religious consideration), and promoting a Malaysian nationality and a Malaysian people - then we must bravely stop using the same 'ethnic' or 'religious' terms and considerations, even in General Elections...

Are the Malaysian people to be blamed? Well, yes and no....We could have chosen not to support politicians and parties that were for ONE Ethnicity/Religion - choosing rather to choose parties that were multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural and truly Malaysian...

The existence of race-based religion-based political parties and their politicians have also STUNTED our growth as a nation...We would vote for a candidate who is from our own ethnic group or our religion, rather than looking at what he/she stands for...what changes in policy are they planning to bring in that will make Malaysia a better place - where there is a more equitable distribution of wealth, where there is no poverty, no crime, better education - maybe even free and available to all, better and FREE healthcare for all, more social protection, etc..

PAS - PAS is perceived to be wanting things to be more "Islamic" but sadly they seem to be only interested in enacting Islamic Laws ... Syariah, Hudud, etc ...Attire, Halal or Haram, Gambling,... What else? How is the administration of Kelantan different from the administration of the rest of the State governments? What is their 'better' more Islamic policy and plan about agriculture, education, healthcare, worker-employer matters, etc... 

The same is with all the other political parties that use ethnic and/or religious issues and concerns as their main tool to lobby Malaysian voters.

Look at other countries - where the issues being lobbied for are broader and encompass everyone - Healthcare, Education, Taxation Policy, Public Transport, Employment Policies, etc..

Race and religion can simply be used to effectively reduce our concern for other matters ...equitable distribution of wealth, increased individual and family income, elimination of poverty, education, healthcare, social protection,...

Race and religion is the cause of wars and oppression all over the world...Look at Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan,...

Looking beyond ethnicity and religion and see others as simply our fellow human being ...our fellow Malaysians..

For this to happen, one cannot depend only on the government, political parties or politicians, BUT each of us must ACT to CHANGE... we have to cross over the 'fences' and start interacting with people of different ethnicity, religion and economic backgrounds...and we have to start OPPOSING racist political parties, politicians and leaders at all levels...