DEC 31 — The last few months have been exhausting. Just the thought of picking up a pen to argue some sense against decisions made in this country made me want to crawl into a hole and hide.
Part of me wondered whether writing about citizens’ rights, civil liberties, racial equality, and religious freedom makes a difference in a country where people are bent on making the same questionable decisions over and over; where politicians strategically incite strife for political gain.
And then I remember the great writers of the past, who spent lifetimes fighting for their causes and persevered in their faith in humanity. Perhaps exacerbated by several months of pain and limited physical movement, it was easy to lose sight of what was important to concentrate on what was immediate.
Humbled, I finally gave myself a well-deserved kick, and reminded myself that change is never easy or as quick as I want it to be; that whilst at times I cannot help but laugh at the foolishness of it all, I must not, and cannot, stop being angry with the things that you and I know must change if Malaysia is to be what she can be in our lifetime.
Then, I once again read the news, slap my forehead, and this time, wonder whether the government is going to bulldoze through the Race Relations Bill like it did the Peaceful Assembly Bill.
According to Nazri Aziz, Malaysia’s proposed Race Relations Act was needed “to set limits to what people say and do in a multi-racial country.”
Ibrahim Ali then came out to say that the country does not need such an Act. I wonder whether he worries that with the Act, he may no longer be able to tell a certain ethnic community to stay home and stock up on food, or champion crusades.
If the passing of the Peaceful Assembly Bill recently was anything to go by, certain laws seem to go in and out of the Parliament doors faster than an eye blink. This, despite various quarters – including lawyers, mind you – calling for more thought to be exercised before passing a “restrictive” piece of legislation.
Now, with the proposed Race Relations Bill, the cynic in me wonders whether the Peaceful Assembly Act has found a match. How fast will this Bill be passed? Twenty minutes? Will civil society be given a chance to debate and scrutinise the Bill? Or will lawyers have to march again?
I may agree to the idea of a Race Relations Act to prevent racial slurs and racism at the workplace, but if a Race Relations Act continues to allow people to hurl racial abuse at non-Malays, allow bloggers to use religion to incite hate among races, then this is another piece of legislation we can do without.
In any multi-racial society, there is bound to be elements of racism. In London, for example, where non-English friends have for decades lived without incident, the memory of a Bible-quoting fanatic screaming obscenities at a purdha-clad woman on a public bus some years ago still gives me the shivers.
Yes, a Race Relations Act should protect people from disgusting occurrences like that one, and punish racists in our government, schools, universities and everywhere else.That said, the Race Relations Bill must be adequately studied, debated and questioned by all its stakeholders to ensure that all rights are represented and Malaysians protected.
Society wants a say in how it is governed. People have this right. And leaders must recognise this, and not assume that “this too shall pass.”
Malaysian society has matured, and really, the government will do well to catch up.
* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.
