Daily Lesson from Life 06 September 2008

" Sat, Sep 06, 2008 The Star

Dr M: Why must Malay leaders say sorry?

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has questioned why Malay leaders were apologising over a remark deemed as racist by an Umno leader.

He said non-Malay leaders never apologised when similar racist remarks were made by members of their community.


The former prime minister said in his blog (www.chedet.com) the Malays were so scared of being labelled racist that they even wrote in Malay papers that the Malays were not racists.

He was referring to the apology by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made on behalf of Umno over a racist statement by Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail.


He cited the case of the Hindu Right Action Front, he said so many allegations including Islamist extremism and ethnic cleansing were hurled against the Malays.

However, no one demanded apologies from leaders of the non-Malay community.


He also cited the case of Wee Meng Chee who made parody of the Negaraku and poking fun at the call for prayers but there was no apology from leaders of the community over Wee's actions."


So, the old and wiry Dr M has spoken again! This time to disturb the strained peace between the Indian, Chinese and Malay. If he is willing to have racial disharmony as a result of his instigation, he will be remembered as the ex-PM who pulled Malaysia into a disunited country where racial intolerance, racial violent, and poverty take center stage of national political scheme. He will be remembered as the man who sold Malaysia short!!

His line of argument is hard to comprehend: 'Other leaders did not apologized so the Malay should not too!' He is saying, if it is true, that 'one wrong makes another one right!' This is irrational and obviously emotional response! When emotion takes hold, problems solving goes out of the windows, and people start killing each others!

Lessons for me:

1. when you are very emotional, take the following steps to cool yourself down:
- take a deep breath and count to 20;
- take a 10-20 seconds walk but leaving the scene of 'arguments';
- tell yourself: 'If you are right you don't have to be angry. BUT if you are wrong, you have no right to be angry!';

2. if you are a leader, especially a national one: Never lost control of your own emotion on emotive issues! Stick to facts and not such antics as: "if you are tougher I will be too!" Like someone said: if it is a 'an-eye-for-an-eye' world, we will have LOTS of blind people!!;

3. if you are an ex-leader, learn to relax and live away from the limelight and attention of the popular press. Let the young ones do their things EVEN IF they don't do it 'your way'!! It is ridiculous to believe that your way is the best way ALWAYS!!

4. Finally, if Malaysia want to have peace and prosperity, all races must do their bits. It is simply unnatural for one race to be Special Malaysian while the rest are just normal, or worse, secondary Malaysians! It is like asking someone to give and give while the other just take and take. This type of unbalanced relationship will not last long. When the racial harmony is snapped, everyone will have much to lose!!

May I wish Malaysia contentious issue of Malay being a race atop of ALL other Malaysians just won't fly!! It is a matter of time before the underlying tension spill overboard!!