Views : The ‘fall’ of MCA and MIC could endanger Umno as well

DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim capitalised on Hindraf’s makkal sakthi (people power) street demonstrations and did very well for the opposition.

Makkal sakthi was the galvanising factor which captured the imagina-tion of all Malaysians. Everybody jumped on the bandwagon after that and added all sorts of issues.

What does the result of the March 8 general election tell us?

The Chinese are concerned about the state of the economy and rising prices, education and equal rights. They are fed-up to the teeth with ‘Ali Babaism’ and see Umno as more Islamic than PAS itself in the wake of a spate of ‘body snatching’ inci-dents of late, adverse Syariah Court rulings and kris waving incidents.

This calls for an end to racial parties and the racial politics of divide and rule.

The Indians are concerned about Hindu temples, Tamil schools, the Tamil language, equal rights, rising prices and jobs in that order. They don’t want leaders who accept crumbs for themselves from Umno and betray them.

Now, they learn that Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu has never spoken up in the Cabinet on their aspirations, needs and demands. This was revealed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself on the eve of polling day. Again, this calls for an end to racial parties and the racial politics of divide and rule.

Both communities see a Malay civil service, Malay police force and Malay judiciary under Umno.
The Malays are concerned about remaining relevant in the era of globalisation.

However, Umno’s caste approach to politics where the ‘Umnoputras’ stalk the land as latter-day Brahmins has seen a handful playing the race card and getting rich at the expense of the Malay masses.

They are concerned about rising prices and want a more even spread of opportunities and don’t see any benefits for themselves from the so-called special privileges.

The Islamic fundamentalists among the Malays see the existence of racial parties and the racial politics of divide and rule as being against the very tenets of the religion itself.

The recent general election saw a convergence in many areas of the interests of ordinary Indians, Chinese and Malays for the first time in 50 years.

Umno must blame itself for what happened to MIC and MCA at the polls. Umno cannot survive without these two parties in tow.

Hence, the fall of MIC and MCA will eventually mean the fall of Umno too. The party, unrepentant as ever, may be planning to make up its losses and buy time by expanding to Sarawak where it is not represented. Earlier, Umno pulled the same trick in Sabah.

By T Bulba, Sandakan : Borneo Post 21/04/2008 Letter to Editor