Carolyn Khor, Murray Hunter and Lim Teck Ghee
Amongst the advantages of an East Malaysian-led
or influenced government is its potential to reject pressure from racial and
religious extremism. Unlike the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak have historically
been more tolerant and diverse in their religious and secular practices. By
promoting inclusivity and pluralism, an East Malaysian bloc can mitigate the
influence of extremist ideologies in politics and the civil service.
Another is the much more multiracial and polyglot
communities in the two states and the absence of the traumatic May 13 racial
chapter of history which not only transformed Peninsula politics and
society. Its dark shadow is repeatedly raised by Peninsula
politicians to stifle the nation’s progress to a psychologically and mentally
liberated society.
To address the challenge of political
transformation effectively, we have compiled a list of issues and assessed how East Malaysian
parties and leadership can create and provide much-needed change to the current
political landscape. From social cohesion to economic development, and
environmental sustainability to indigenous rights, there are numerous areas
where East Malaysia can lead the way in driving positive change.
The success of political transformation in
Malaysia also hinges on the active participation of all stakeholders from East
and West, especially the younger generation, including think tanks,
professional elites, NGOs, media, and businesses— both big and small. It is
only through collective action and collaboration that we can overcome the
barriers to change and build a progressive, more inclusive and equitable
society. Collaboration among
stakeholders from wherever they are - and not just from Putrajaya and the
capital cities - is key for leveraging local and regional interests and driving
national change.
Here's a possible framework for how parties in
East Malaysia could collaborate to form a cohesive bloc:
1. Identifying
common goals and priorities
Parties in East
Malaysia should convene to arrive at shared objectives and priorities that
resonate with the people’s interests and aspirations. Common goals could
include identifying and effectively addressing the root causes of racial and
religious tensions; strengthening the everyday ways to fight against racism and
injustice; and taking action against growing systemic racism by reforming structures,
policies, and practices that contribute to the wealth gap, socio-economic
disparities, and to inequalities in educational access, outcomes, and beyond.
This includes the
clamping down on extremism such as that we are witnessing today with “Sock-gate”
that threatens not just the spirit of multiracialism but also the livelihoods
of innocent employees and their families. If unresolved, it constitutes a
danger to the retention and influx of local and foreign businesses and
investment and may trigger an emergency.
Once this balance
has been restored, only then can we progress, as other countries in the region
have, without the distractions from extremists and polarising forces intent
on imposing their narrowly constricted
racial and religious values onto the rest of the country.
2. Continuous
dialogues among East Malaysian parties and stakeholders
Any ongoing
dialogue and collaboration should be strengthened and expanded, allowing
participating parties to engage other parties and stakeholders to discuss
strategies, coordinate actions, and address differences constructively. The
recent merger between the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and Parti Sarawak
Bersatu (PSB) is one good example. The United Progressive Kinabalu
Organisation’s (UPKO) current good relationship with the Democratic Action
Party (DAP) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are positive indicators for a more
inclusive and forceful voice from Borneo at the federal level. These parties
must also prioritise building trust and solidarity among themselves,
recognising the diversity of perspectives and interests within the bloc to
foster a strong sense of unity and purpose. And they can and must reach out to
the smaller Peninsula parties.
Collaboration
should extend beyond political parties to include civil society organisations,
community leaders, and grassroots movements. By engaging with diverse
stakeholders, the bloc can strengthen its legitimacy, broaden its support base,
and ensure that its agenda reflects the needs of the people.
As a united bloc, parties in East Malaysia can
then leverage their collective influence to advocate for policy reforms and
legislative initiatives that advance the region's and national interests. The
bloc can also amplify its voice and effectively negotiate with other political
stakeholders.
3. Coordinating
electoral strategies
Needless to say,
political parties exploring opportunities for strategic collaboration to
maximise their collective impact should start discussions as early as possible
to avoid potential problems and to start groundwork early on a common platform.
If candidate selection can be agreed upon sooner than later, voters will be
more inclined to decide on the right candidate on election day.
4. Commitment to
save Malaysia
The bloc can
withstand any challenges or opposition from detractors by creating a strong
force through cementing relationships and institutionalising cooperation. This
includes collectively winning as many seats as possible to empower the bloc to
effect positive changes in parliament. The window of opportunity is now
evident, considering the fragmented government formed after the 15th general
elections. The East Malaysian grouping can take heart that their current 25%
share of the 222 parliamentary seats will increase substantially after the next
redelineation exercise. But it is not
only numbers that count. Is there the quality, pragmatism and most important of
all, idealism in the East Malaysian leadership that can make the difference in
policy making and implementation that comes after the next GE? We have seen Pakatan falter, and many now
conclude, fail in reformasi.
East Malaysian
parties now possess the advantage of being courted in national issues and
policies due to the evolving and fluid political environment. With the current
power dynamics, contrasting ideologies and competing interests, East Malaysian
parties and politicians now hold the opportunity to drive bold messages and
actions of reform and unity which can contribute to a better - and not the same
- Malaysia. Immediate action can begin
by East Malaysian activists and political parties taking the lead in organising
parades, marches and similar events to bring home to Malaysians the diversity
and unity that they are committed to protecting and nurturing.
See these links
as examples
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhFO7Bj8eL8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-BColWKoLs
The leaders in Sabah and Sarawak may not be
perfect, but there are no other options since the Semenanjung leaders appear to
have their hands tied and mouths gagged. Indeed, an East Malaysian bloc offers
a unique opportunity to break the Peninsula-centric and Malay
bureaucracy-dominant mould that has long defined and continues to hold back
Malaysian politics and national progress.
Last
but not least, collaboration among parties in East Malaysia with the West
presents a promising avenue for contributing to a broader transformation that
brings the nation back to our original secular roots and identity.
LIM
TECK GHEE is a former senior official with the United Nations and World Bank.
MURRAY
HUNTER is an independent researcher and former professor at the Prince of
Songkla University and Universiti Perlis.
CAROLYN KHOR
is a former ministerial press secretary, a former United Nations Volunteer and
an independent researcher/writer.
