Why threaten a Malaysian genocide?

There is an innate belief that whenever a segment of Malaysia speaks out, we need to be reminded of May 13, 1969, yet again. For the unknowing reader who did not watch Tanda Putera, this date lies in infamy for the older generation of Malaysians who lived through a period of race riots in segments of Malaysia.

The cause? According to some, a political victory march that did not follow its route conjoined with a rabble rouser who knew which buttons to press on the other side. According to others, it was arrogance, murder, mob rule and machetes.

The effect? A tearful Tunku Abdul Rahman resigning, the need to address economic unbalance among races through a New Economic Policy and a constant reminder that we have to remember the date as a mark of how bad it can get.

Truth is, I'm an 80's guy; 1983 to be exact. I don't have the experience of living though the horrors of the Japanese Occupation, the Communist Insurrection or even the race riots of 1969. And to be frank, nor does the majority of the current Malaysian population.

Do you know what horrors we live through nowadays?

Not being able to make an income, not being able to own a house, not being able to feed our families without getting a second job, pulling kids out of school because we can't afford it, seeing cow and pig heads, dead chickens and half-dead garrotted ducks being used to threaten others.

Other horrors include threatening decapitation as a "figure of speech" to respect a religion of peace, removing soup kitchens for the homeless and paying an RM150 fine if you get caught giving alms to the poor in Kuala Lumpur.

And this is, of course, without reading how teens are bludgeoned to death by fathers, children abandoned in ratty apartments by burned out mothers and parents who think it is fine to leave kids in cars with the engine running without a worry that they might be kidnapped in a car heist gone wrong.

These are the concerns of the 80's generation, while the 90's are now looking at the increasing cost of living and the inability to secure meaningful full-time jobs while reading in newspapers of how there are billions in wastage of public funds.

And yet, instead of having a level-headed government which was voted in to tackle these issues, we now have to deal with the threat of a Malaysian genocide?

That is exactly what is being said, make no mistake. The threats which some ministers deem a "reminder" are not so much that of a May 13 but more of a Rwanda.

The reason I say this is simple: News coverage clearly shows that only one ethnic group has been acting like thugs since 2008. Other than the Hindraf rally, there has not been any instance of any other ethnic group in Malaysia taking part in a mob that ended with threats or violence.

You can apply this to the DAP HQ riot, the storming of the Penang state assembly hall, the shouting at PKR HQ by its own members, the cow-head march in Shah Alam, Bersih when the barricade came down, the attack on Lynas protesters in Kuantan – take a look at every single instance over the past six years and tell me I'm wrong.

And the worst part about all of this is – and it frightens me to admit it – if this so-called threat is carried out, the silent majority will either remain silent or join in. Meanwhile, those who point out the possibility of such a threat are deemed conspiracy theorists, blood traitors or an interethnic half-breed apologist.

It is this fear that moved me to write that the Malay community must speak up against its extremists. And though many a Malay may think this an apologetic letter to the non-Malay community without the support of my own racial group, I don't really care.

Because it needs to be said. Because opposing the threat of a Malaysian genocide needs to be said. As an uncle of mine so aptly put it, there will be no winners should the threat of another May 13 be carried out, for we will all lose.

And right now there is at least another Malay man speaking out, which I consider a mission accomplished. – July 8, 2014.

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