The gods of east and west

Malaysia is quickly becoming a land of divided gods. The division, initially geographical since the joining of Sabah and Sarawak to the federation in 1963, has now added both political and religious aspects thanks to today's bungling government policies.

This nation overcame the geographical division of the South China Sea with the rise of aviation. The ease of travel allowed an easier union and increased the migration between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak.

But in recent years certain parties have chosen to highlight resentments of injustice and unfair treatment by one side or the other. The cracks are showing, especially in the choosing of yet another border of exclusivity: religion.

The argument over the usage of one word in religious practice was ludicrous enough to be suggested by some that it be limited only to Sabah and Sarawak, regardless of how many Malaysians from those states are now residing in the Klang Valley. The proof of such an immense population here were the bibles raided by Selangor state's religious authority, Jais, and it's stubborn counterpart Mais.

I beg forgiveness from the Sultan of Selangor for saying this, but he must know that his subjects as of now are not just the people of Selangor, but also from Sabah, Sarawak, even Iran and some as far as South Sudan.

We must allow this diverse population of Malaysians and expatriates to practice how they were preached to. Yet a small population of our people seem steadfast in selling the fear of conversions, to create and emphasise the existence of what seems to be gods of the east and west.

And the decision by those in charge of the Mara boarding schools (MRSM) seems to be such a party. How else do you explain the existence of a ruling not allowing Bumiputeras and Dayak (I'll respect their calling not to lump them in with the rest) of the Christian faith to bring their bibles?

In fact, the recent announcement that this rule will not apply to their Borneo based institutions is not a viable solution either. Are there no students from Sabah and Sarawak attending MRSMs in the peninsula?

What about those in the matriculation colleges and programmes? And what about those in my alma mater UiTM?

In fact, this was the very reason I was one of those who filed a police report against Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali when he chose to tell people on a UiTM campus that Bibles using the Malay language should be burned.

This pro-Bumiputera university which many see as exclusive includes Christians from Sabah and Sarawak. It is irrational and ludicrous that we insist on mocking their religion on such an inclusive campus with talks of how Christians are to be suspected of converting Muslims by Indonesian hacks who are never Christian to begin with.

And it is also the reason why to this day I believe de facto law minister Nancy Shukri should be just as loud defending her people and their rights of faith rather than defending such an arrogant washed-out politician.

Our Federal Constitution permits all Malaysians of all faiths to practice, even if there are limitations on preaching to others. Our government, made up of representatives elected by the people, must also represent and defend the same diversity of race, religion and even gender.

Bottom line, policies in federal governance must stop this separation of the east and west gods. In times of hardship which affects Malaysians regardless of where they are, we should be bringing one another closer, not creating more division.

And if we do find people inciting such a division, then it is our constitutional duty to tell them off and shut them down. To continue living in a condition of separation while preaching this hypocritical notion national unity creates a population of cynics.

The Malaysian people continue to have some trust in Putrajaya, but that number is fast deteriorating. The 2015 Edelman Trust Barometer mentions that only 45% of the people have faith in government, a nine-point drop since last year.

With ministers making racist statements and letting go of people threatening religious harmony, can you really blame them?

Unless the people in power and those vying for it fight for the very basics of rights to think, speak, write and even worship as we have done for decades in peace without fear of government reprisals, we will see this figure continue drop to the point of no return and a change in government.

It is a very slippery slope now for the government to continue creating this separation of gods between east and west, the separation of Malaysians between aristocrats and the common people, between the Indians, Chinese, Malays and the entirety of all ethnic groups, between Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists even.

We need statesmen who shrug off all these separations. Honestly, I have yet to see one. – February 26, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.