Will we answer the call to reinvent Malaysia?

The current turbulence in the opposition ranks following the decision of the PAS muktamar, or general assembly, to sever ties with the DAP  must be distressing indeed to those who have welcomed the dawn of a two-party system in Malaysia following the watershed general election of 2008.

But instability has not overcome only the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance but is a looming factor in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition as well, particularly since the redoubtable former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad began his campaign to force Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak out of office.

In this turbid scenario, it is only natural that we seek a quick return to equilibrium in order that we can carry on with our routine lives and that the country’s reputation, business climate and institutional frameworks do not suffer serious and perhaps irreparable damage.

But there comes a time in the life of a nation when it is important to pause, take stock and get our bearings right in order to ensure the best outcomes for the future, and to prevent a descent into destabilising change.

Today, there is not even a lingering doubt that we are at such a juncture.

When deciding on the best course for the nation’s future, it is important not to clutch at straws but to drill through the most contentious issues to the bedrock in order to identify the critical actions we must take to ensure that we can become a great nation.

What the issues are that are gnawing at the country’s foundations is crystal clear. They range from racialism to religious dogmatism to the breakdown of accountability to the maldistribution of resources – plenty enough to occupy our attention.

The solutions are also unambiguous, although they invariably become mired in controversy when self-interested representatives raise their voices to increase their currency among their constituents.

To move forward, we only need to remain anchored in our commitment to a common future in order to avoid being drawn into internecine conflicts with other interest groups with whom we share our national identity.

Currently, there are already many signs that right-thinking Malaysians are ready to step up to the plate to catalyse the social transformation that must take place for a new, inclusive national consciousness to become established in the people’s hearts and minds.

Alliances like the Negara-Ku movement and the G25 group of former high-ranking Malay civil servants have articulated the need for fresh initiatives to foster a healthy, open social, cultural and political space where all Malaysians regardless of their backgrounds can pursue their aspirations for a better tomorrow in a spirit of mutual respect and fellow feeling.

It is vital for all Malaysians who share the concern of these public figures to recognise that they, the people, are facing a call of duty from the nation to play their part in actualising the vision of an inclusive, moderate and progressive Malaysian society in which the welfare of all its citizens is nurtured.

In answering this call, we must actively promote these values in every aspect of our daily lives, including the schooling of our children, the causes we support and the ideas we propagate in our midst.

The time has come therefore to jettison the limited, compartmental outlook of earlier generations and to embrace a broad worldview that can serve us best in a borderless, globalised environment. It is futile to imagine that we can thrive as a nation in the current era when our outlook is glued to anachronistic communal sentiments.

The work involves a constant evolution from observation of our individual and social norms, to critical self-analysis, to the re-affirmation of positive universal values to the changes in behaviour that will bring us closer to the realisation of our common vision.

As we must all realise by now, passive support for a new national consciousness is not an option because it provides room for the negative, narrow and divisive interest groups in our midst to claim the public space as their own and to vitiate the cooperative, multi-cultural and open environment that must form the basis of the country’s dynamism as a society.

Additionally, it is equally vital to be aware that the work of establishing a wholesome Malaysian ethos cannot be advanced by resorting to reactionary criticism of the communally-inspired actions and statements of narrow-minded groups.

In fact, such reactions only exacerbate the problem by adding fuel to the communal fire. Only when we can rise above the urge to fire a return salvo can there be hope of a new beginning for this country.

Much time has already been lost in the battle for a progressive and inclusive Malaysia. And almost daily, there are new warning signs that the country is slipping further towards an eclipse in its fortunes.

Nevertheless, we can only retain the motivation to build a better future for the country if we stay true to an indomitable belief in the innate goodness of our fellow citizens, no matter how different they may look from us, and regardless of how their lives may differ from ours.

This then will determine our ability to hang together as a nation. It may well be the ultimate test of our nationalism. – June 13, 2015. 

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