BN Beyond Race

The Winning Formula

Barisan Nasional had a winning formula for a multi-racial Malaysia. All major races were represented by their respective parties and they in turn came together to form a coalition. Each party had a percentage of representatives and all policy issues were agreed upon before it was presented to the people.

Although each party looked after the interest of its own community, together they formed a united front. This was how BN had wrestled independence from the British and this was also how BN had won all 12 General Elections. It had worked so well; until recently.

Fifty Years

Ever since our independence, BN had comfortably cruised along with its winning formula with little variation. The last major change in BN was after the tumultuous May 13 incident in 1969 where BN expended its membership to include more parties especially the multi-racial parties of Gerakan and PPP. Despite its expension, BN’s modus operandi remained the same.

Adding to this fact is, the opposition didn't pose a credible threat for BN to thinker with its winning formula.

The 12th General Election has ushered a changing trend. It has shown us that Malaysians no longer view BN’s ‘formula’ as the be all and end all of political formula's and that they are no longer inclined to vote along racial lines.

A good example is Klang. Though being a predominantly Chinese constituency, it saw YB Charles Santiago and YB Manogaran elected as its MP and ADUN respectively, against Chinese candidates from BN.

The time for change has arrived. BN has to adept to changing circumstances or face the risk of being out-flanked, out-manoeuvred and out-run in the coming elections. The world has changed during the last half a century, so have Malaysians and so must BN.

BN must rework its composition, policies and modus operandi. The fact that it had worked well for the last 50 years is no reason to believe that it will continue working for the next 50 years.


BN’s Inherent Flaws

Racial Card
The three senior component parties in BN, namely UMNO, MCA and MIC are raced based parties. Each party has its set of leaders and party electoral system.

In order for an aspiring politician in any of these parties to make headway in their party elections, he has to invariably be seen as a champion of his race. Hence all those sabre rattling and playing up to the gallery comprised of one’s own race.

Leaders that are seen as champions of their race are pushed up through the party machinery. Those with moderate and multi-racial views are often ignored or voted in as an ‘also ran’.

When these ‘champions of our race’ rise up the ranks of the party, you have race-centric leaders representing the components in the BN Council. This results in all those haggling based on zero-sum game and us-versus-them posturing.

Discussion Behind Closed Door Policy

Most haggling and discussion on BN policies are done behind closed doors. Leaders will cobble out compromises to the satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) of all component parties. Subsequently these agreed upon policies will be presented to the people as a fait accompli.

It is then the duty of each component party to sell these policies to their respective communities. Each community will in one way or the other feel that it has been short-changed and that it deserves more. The leaders who bear the burnt of these dissatisfactions will be resolved to dig in more to their racial corner at the next bargaining session.

People don’t see the ‘give-and take’ and the ‘compromises’ made by other parties to appreciate the intricacies that goes in before a particular policy sees the light of day. This gives rise to accusations against leaders of selling one’s race out, which in turn pushes the leaders to be more race-centric .

Ascendancy of UMNO

UMNO, the component party that represents the Malays in BN has gone through many crises through the years and has come out stronger. Through all those internal crises and turmoil, the other component parties have stood with UMNO and have supported the leaders chosen by UMNO members.

UMNO in turn had consistently delivered the bulk of Malay votes that is crucial for any electoral victory through its proficient electoral machinery. The component parties had always deferred to the leadership of UMNO and seldom challenged any UMNO led policies, at least openly for the sake of maintaining a united front.

Over the years, UMNO from being first among equals became the unchallenged pace setter and policy formulator of BN. Component parties found it increasingly difficult on one hand to challenge the UMNO led policies and on the other, to ‘sell’ these policies to their communities. This caused the erosion of credibility of the component parties within their own communities and with it, their ability to deliver votes.

What is more perplexing is that UMNO itself finds it increasingly difficult to ‘sell’ these policies to the Malays. The last election saw a substantial number of Malays casting their votes against BN candidates. The numbers were large enough that, together with the ‘majority’ of non Malay votes, had cost BN its two-third majority in parliament and five state seats. What returned BN to power in the last general election were the Southern States, Sabah and Sarawak.

The accumulation of flawed policies had caused BN to be dealt a severe blow in the last general election. An easy escape route for politicians is to blame the delivery system for the failure of any policy. However, the weak and inefficient delivery system is in it self the result of previous flawed policies.

The Way Forward

New Attitude
The first step forward is for BN component parties to place emphasis on candidates with multi-racial outlook and chastise its own leaders that play the racial card. Leaders should champion issues based on principles and not race.

Arguments based on ‘us against them’ must not be tolerated. Fairness and equitability should be the underlining basis upon which policies are debated. BN must educate its leaders to think of themselves as Malaysians first before anything else.

A New BN Constitution
The next step is to formulate a fresh BN constitution that reflects the aspiration of all Malaysians regardless of race. For the formulation of this new constitution, all BN leaders must cast off their hats as representatives of a particular race and adopt a holistic approach.

The constitution of all existing ‘multi-racial’ parties must be studied and combed to ensure the best qualities are incorporated into the BN Constitution for it to progress beyond race. The new BN Constitution must be sustaining, enduring and effective for generations to come.


BN Beyond Race
It has become necessary for BN to transcend its existing coalition and achieve a consolidation. BN should set up a committee consisting of credible leaders to formulate a mechanism to enable smooth integration and transformation from its present state.

Membership of all component parties must be verified and streamlined so as to avoid duplicity and inflated claims. The new constitution of BN must also be in place by then to ensure that the new organisational structure is sturdy. An interim measure can be introduced where each party elects a delegation to a BN convention and these delegates vote for leaders of BN regardless of race and party of origin.

The final transformation might take time but steps forward must be taken now. Such an important advancement must be thoroughly deliberated as this transformation sets the foundation for the future of a progressive BN.

The ultimate step for BN is to take that giant leap forward and merge to form a party that is truly beyond race.

Conclusion

BN beyond race is indeed an unchartered territory for all Malaysians but one that must be undertaken. Its time we venture beyond the comfort of our present system and look at new frontiers.

Unless this coalition can break free from the cocoon that has thus far protected it, BN will not be able to spread its wings to reach greater heights. This metamorphosis is essential for BN to realise its full potential. BN beyond race is an inevitable necessity.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

MIC ... let it be

Ever since I journeyed into cyberspace and joined the blogging community, I have been inundated by calls to work towards the dissolution of MIC or to join a multi-racial party.

Invariably, the calls come from Malaysians of Indian origin. Why are they so eager to see MIC dissolved?

MCA, Gerakan and Umno suffered equally in the last general election but we seldom hear the Chinese or the Malays asking these parties to close shop.

Is this because the other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties in Peninsular Malaysia played their role and MIC didn't?

The election results clearly showed that a substantial number of voters were unhappy with the ruling coalition as a whole. Yes, we accept the results and have gone back to the drawing board; as a component party and collectively as a coalition.

Our policies, attitudes and implementation must be reviewed and we intend to set things right.

The noblest argument, put forth by some, as to why MIC should be dissolved is that Malaysia is moving away from race-based politics. While I agree that Malaysia should move away from such politics, but is this the reality on the ground? Are we truly above and beyond race in Malaysia?

Granted that the results of the last election have given us reason to believe so, we must also not forget that 'a single sallow does not a summer make'.

The next general election and the one after will provide clearer indicators. The results from the two elections will determine if 2008 had indeed ushered in a changing trend.

We have multiracial parties in Malaysia, both within BN and Pakatan Rakyat. I salute them. But show me one so-called multi-racial party that has escaped the racial composition of its members.

Each multiracial party has its 'dominant race' and most of the key positions will be held by members of this race while the rest will be accorded ornamental positions to fulfill its quota of multi-racialism.

Are these multiracial parties willing to break free from the racial composition of its members and promote anyone based solely on ability; totally disregarding race?

The party that has a semblance of being multiracial is DAP. I remember it having at different points in time, a Malay, Chinese and an Indian as its chairman. However, that party didn't make much headway until the last election because it lacked the support of Malays. It still sees a need to champion Chinese-based issues to hold on to its Chinese vote bank.

On the other side of the fence, Gerakan made genuine attempts but still could not shake off its Chinese flavour. The reality is that we are still far from race-free politics despite having multi-racial parties.

Returning to MIC.

Who are those calling for the party's dissolution? The most vocal are non-members, people who did not vote for or support MIC to begin with. So what difference does it make to this group if the party continues to exist or otherwise?

What is their exigency in seeing the demise of MIC? Could this be supporters of the opposition who fear that MIC might make a strong comeback in the next polls?

For democracy flourish, is it not wiser to encourage the birth rather than the death of parties? So in that context, let MIC be, as an option for the voters, if not for anything else.

On that note, I would also like to see the same voices on a crusade against race-based parties to call for the dissolution of religious-based parties as well. Religious based parties can be more divisive than race-based parties. Why has this inconvenient truth been ignored?

Once again, allow me to reiterate that I am all for race-free politics and a Malaysia for Malaysians. I regard myself as truly being a Malaysian first above all else. My father is an Indian, my mother a Chinese and I look Malay. And my friends say that when I speak Bahasa Malaysia, I sound like one too. So there you have it.

Some of those calling for MIC's dissolution could be well-meaning, but it is recklessly naïve to call for the dismantling of an Indian-based party when others in the equation are unprepared to do so. Are we on a higher moral ground to dissolve MIC and call for race-free politics? Yes, perhaps. But are we being prudent? A definite NO.

For those who claim that MIC has not done anything for the Indian community, here are some facts and figures.

• MIC, through it education arm MIED, has disbursed over RM85 million in scholarships and study loans to deserving Malaysian Indians over the last 23 years. It is currently assisting 1,200 Malaysian Indians studying all over the world through MIED study loans. Most of these loans are only recovered after legal action is threatened;
• Annually, MIED encourages academic excellence amongst Indian students by identifying and awarding top achievers in UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM;
• MIED has prepared and printed workbooks for all Tamil School students sitting for the UPSR examination and have distributed these books for free. There has been a marked improvement in the students' achievement since this programme was introduced;
• Tafe College produced tens of thousands of para-professionals. Lets not forget, the setting up of the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) University in Baling Kedah;
• MIC's social arm, Yayasan Pemulihan Sosial handles an average of thirty social cases per day;
• The party has also facilitated over 4,000 Malaysian Indians to obtain micro-credit loans amounting to RM40 million for business start-ups in 2005 and for another 2,000 Malaysian Indians in 2007.

The above list is not exhaustive but it reveals the socio-political commitment undertaken by MIC. Contrary to allegations, the party did not just sit in a corner doing nothing.

Could we have done more? Perhaps.

The March 8 elections made us sit up and take notice of this. It was a wake-up call that jolted the leaders and members. We have since resolved to relook at our priorities and the way we handle issues.

I acknowledge that keeping silent when one is required to speak up amounts to failure to discharge one's duty as a leader.

Now, when the voters have achieved their objective of opening the eyes of those in power, why are some 'hell-bent' on closing the eyes of the party for good?

There are countless number of MIC Branch Chairmen, Youths, Women, Puteris and Puteras whom have and are genuinely working tirelessly for the sake of the Indian community with no expectations of reward other than to see the progress of the community and the nation.

Reprimand MIC for our mistakes and reprove us if you will, as you did in the last election but please don't allow some loud voices deny the good that we have done.

There are also those who call for MIC president Dato Seri S Samy Vellu to resign in view of the party's poor performance in the general election. Those that make the call should remember that he is the elected president of the party. Whether he resigns or not before the end of his term is his decision to make.

People who call for the dissolution of the party have no right to call for the president to resign as this group only wish to see MIC destroyed. Let the party decide if it needs a new president.

In success and failure alike, no one person is responsible. It's unfair and unbecoming to attribute the failure to one man, no matter how high his post is or how long he has been at the helm. It's easy to go with the tide and blame everything on one man or one party. It takes character to stand against the wave and put things in perspective.

All members of MIC, like in success, also have a share in its failure. I as a Central Working Committee member of MIC and as a former candidate take full responsibility on my part for the poor showing of MIC in the last general election. I will work towards putting things right and I believe, so will my colleagues.

The voters have exercised their democratic right and their sentiment has been duly noted. MIC is looking both inwards and outwards to see what went wrong. If we get our act together by the next election, vote us in. If we don't, vote us out. This is democracy.

Until such a time arrives when all BN component parties decide to merge to form, not only a multi-racial party, but a race-free party, MIC will remain relevant to the community and this nation.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

Central Working Committee Member

MIC

http://s-murugesan.blogspot.com/