Philip: What is your take on National Unity?
Rajiv: I think there is definitely room for improvement. Definitely, we can work towards ensuring that the society feels Malaysian and they will also not feel the gap between other races. I think the Government can do more for the people to gel as rakyat.
Anas: I think we are treading on thin ice. It has been going on for the past five years; I think we have been hurtful to each other. As a nation we are wounded and I feel both sides (Opposition and Government) feel so too. Why they feel wounded, it's a secondary thing. Everybody is “kecilhati”. If we don't handle this, it will be even worse. I've even received things that have not been published, which is hurtful. We should calm things down.
Latheefa: I totally agree that we are walking on thin ice but I think it's easy to say that both sides are hurt. One side is attacking the other! Most obvious is Utusan where they mentioned ApaCinaMahu?. No action has been taken and it is obvious that the media is being used by the ruling party. If it's still there, we can't talk about national unity.
Tee Yong: May 5 is over. For national reconciliation to happen, we ourselves have to work for it. After the election process, we have to accept the results. I think the opposition is clearly saying things without looking at themselves. If you look at their cybertroopers, the hate message they are spreading is bad. They threaten and attack people who support the Government. Both sides should acknowledge that the elections are over. They have the right to send the petitions, likewise for BarisanNasional. Things like this, you have due process. The rallies are not helping. We have to wait for another five years for elections to come.
Anas: We have to diagnose the situation. We should look at our education policy and economic policy. Should we continue to look at race based politics and religious based politicians? We need to look at all these things. Politicians will look at things right now but I think they should look at what transpired in the past too. Let's look at the real issues, what has been happening for the past 14-15 years.
Chat time: Golingai (centre) moderating the Cafe Latte chat with (from left) Anas, Rajiv, Chua and Latheefa.
Latheefa: For example who? Don't simply say things without evidence.
Tee Yong: If you look at websites and pages on Facebook being created that support DAP or PKR most of them are in Mandarin and show so much hate against BN. The amount of videos they have generated are immense. If you look at these GE13 results, we lost 96% of the seats with at least 40% majority Chinese seats around Malaysia. We lost their votes.
LatheefaKoya: 96% Chinese voters or urban voters?
Tee Yong: 96% of Chinese voters that were in areas with 40% majority of
Anas: If you guys (Pakatan) are saying that there is no Chinese tsunami, you're lying. If you guys (Barisan_ are saying that there is no urban tsunami, you're lying. Forth line of unity is not about race, but it's also urban and non-urban. The fact is that both sides feel that there is no urban tsunami or Chinese tsunami, please sit back and research on the results. I speak hokkien and I've been to Penang, the Chinese were organizing themselves for the last 3-4 years for a change.
The fact is there is an element of Chinese tsunami and urban tsunami. You guys want to fight it over, it's your right but as a non-politician, most of us feel that it was a Chinese and urban tsunami
Tee Yong: Umno won 79 out of 88 parliament seats. Gerakan and MCA performed badly. Like what Zubedy is saying, I acknowledge that urban votes were also a factor but the Chinese swing was also there. For examples seats in Tebrau and Bachok, there have been swings. Both sides had their strategy but the opposition plan worked and they managed to get the votes. Personally, the term of Chinese tsunami to me is hurting especially after it was announced right after the results. People could not take it and they say whatever that comes into the mind first. We should analyse based on facts and not be too emotional about it. We also have to do a proper study when it comes to the results.
LatheefaKoya: When you say its Chinese tsunami and urban tsunami, what do you mean by that? It's because if you say it's a Chinese tsunami then the group of people who supported is overwhelming Chinese support which is also the urban support. To say it's both Chinese and urban tsunami, it's because they have access of information and have options to choose. In terms of Sabah, Sarawak and rural areas- they lack information.
We had a strategy or not, we had no access to media. It was a complete unfair field. You fly in via helicopter; we still go by boats to go into the area. You have to have some basis to say this. It depends back on what is our policy and constitution. This whole national unity discussion has been going on for years. The way it has been latched on, we do not have the same level playing field
Anas: I think parties should stop pointing at each other and look at their own flaws. In order to move forward, this is the best solution. Any party that says that they're not making any mistakes, they're lying to themselves.
Tee Yong: Question is, how we move forward, we have to accept that the elections are over. What is important, in these five years, how do we maintain our unity and don't implode. Some people disagree with the results and the opposition has been talking about popular vote. In this country, we have been using the first-past-the-post system for many years. It's like a badminton game.
Latheefa: Tilted a bit lah.
Tee Yong: This is the first-past-the-post system. There is no perfect election system. Even in the United Kingdom, they face the same problem. So, there is a problem. What needs to be done, it needs to be looked at and we should find ways to solve it. If Pakatan is sending the petition, I feel that is the right decision to make, I feel it's correct. When you file petition, they still cast their doubts. BarisanNasional also faced the same problems, but we accepted the results.
Philip: Idealistically, what is national unity? What kind of world Malaysia would see?
Latheefa: A wonderful world. Glimpses of unity have been witnessed in many ways. Some of us yearn for this. For me, it's not an issue about going to vernacular schools, for me if you provide proper national schools. Most national schools have become more one race based and more the policies have turned into Malay centric policy. Non-Malay kids have felt left out. I come from a mixed school, I remember not being reminded of my race. However, kids are now facing discrimination, they were questioned. If you want to talk about national unity, don't attack vernacular schools but go after what the teachers have been fed.
Philip: Ideally, according to you, we should be seeing each other as Malaysians?
Latheefa: Of course, yes! I think we have the potential to do it. For example, so many people have rallied and there were no racial incidents in these rallies. We can do it! I don't think because they go to vernacular schools, they are separated. It's because some of us prefer being in our own world. We are all living separately right now and it doesn't help with racial politics.
Anas: We can put 100% Chinese in our Cabinet and they think for all Malaysians. I think we have to work on that. The Cabinet was recently announced and we still talk about how many Malay, Indian and Chinese ministers. Whether you're from a particular race, you have to think for all Malaysians. I think that's the ideal way of coining things. That's the dream now! On schools, the teachers are saying hurtful things and we have to look into this. We have to look into our education policy. I disagree with kids that are being separated into different vernacular schools. We really have to look into our education policy.
Philip: To summarise, you feel that leaders should be leaders for Malaysians?
Anas: Yes, they should think for all and for the betterment of Malaysia.
Rajiv: I said it in the very beginning; everyone feels Malaysian, and everyone walking on the street feeling Malaysian. If they don't feel Malaysian, that's where you see problems coming. I don't necessarily feel that single school system is the way forward. There are lots of other things that we need to deal with. Let's have leaders of both sides feel Malaysian and speak for all Malaysians, think for all Malaysians and implement policies for all Malaysians.
Tee Yong: To me what has happened now is the trend. I send my kids to Chinese school because of the economic factor. Now I believe that there are more non-Chinese kids coming into Chinese schools. It has increased from 15% to 16%. For me, the key is improving the education system. We are not an assimilated society, we are somehow still mosaic.
Rajiv: Then perhaps you can explain the gap between national and Chinese schools?
Tee Yong: Probably some of the non-Chinese believe that the economic side of it is important. What is more important is that education system is dwindling and that's the reason why we didn't score so well in math and science. I think that's why the education blueprint was implemented recently. Besides education, I also agree that if we want to move forward, number one, during this period of after election, there will be a period of politicking.
Probably we need a bipartisan standing from both sides to resolve certain issues. All this while, under BN, they have always had 2/3 majority before the 2008 elections. I think two party systems have their merits and their check and balance. In federal, it shouldn't be overwhelmingly one sided because as a growing society, different people have different needs. I think it's best to have representation from both sides and to throw out ideas and give challenges to both sides. This will ensure improvement for them. Ultimately, what we hope is to build a better country. That is something we should acknowledge.
Philip: Is it a class thing? Do you think the middle class, working class or any class have a different mindset when it comes to national unity?
Latheefa: In a way, it is. You're in a setting where you're in a school where you communicate in English and watch American shows The middle class will have access to other parts, share information to each other more and be open to things. One should not be mistaken that the overwhelming support to Pakatan is because we were united to go against corruption. In other words, they are not rejecting BarisanNasional because Umno is Malay but they are rejecting it because it equates to corruption. This is how we sold ourselves. Never before, Pakatan Rakyat has said let's reject BN because it's Umno Melayu. It's a mixture of class issue and other pressing matters too.
Tee Yong: I think we shall just answer it in a simple way. When we go overseas and interview students, they will always find for Malaysian friends first. There is the tendency where birds of the same feather, flock together. So, sometimes it's because of the same wavelength. It's not just class but other factors. I think it's because of the cost of living, issue of corruption and crime and economic factors. It's a mixed bag. A lot of analysis still needs to be done. We have to look strategies to get the certain voters. I think at this current juncture, it's not confined to one class that supports which side.
Rajiv: I don't think it's a class thing. I came from a public university; it opened my eyes that peninsular Malaysia had four races. Among the English speaking Malay, Chinese and Indian students, they have no problem mingling with each other. It probably comes up to language, not so much class. Across all language, the income levels vary but it doesn't come to class. It probably comes up to language.
Anas: We have to agree that it's nothing wrong to be racial. In Malaysia, we don't want to erase this. Being Malaysian is a citizenship. I think it's a good thing. It's nothing wrong if you say you're Chinese. Actually, there are small splinter of people who prime for class. Whether we like it or not, they're just being racial. By natural tendency, we tend to mix with our own people.
If we start early, we should socialize our kids and see each of them like themselves. We should decide what language to talk. Decide our lingua franca. In the next 15-20 years, we should plan to have one stream schools. It's not a class issue, its natural tendency.
Latheefa: If you just have a fair policy, it will naturally happen. For example; an Indian kid doesn't get an IC - that creates resentment. Why are such policies still there? If you have clear discriminatory policy, things will never change.
Philip: How do we move forward?
Anas: You can join me in a Healing Malaysia campaign where both parties can call a truce from HariMerdeka to Hari Malaysia, no politics, no arguing. In the long term, we have to diagnose the whole issue economy, political and education. Do a real study and look what has happened. It should be done by an independent body.
Rajiv: Saying something nice is not a bad thing but it's a good thing. Not only the people, but the leaders should also do that. That's where it starts. There should also be a distinction. Just because you have to say something nice, that doesn't mean that you've stop speaking. You need to speak up to injustice. It may not be pleasant or fluffy but it's injustice and people have to recognise that. People on top have to set the right tone.
Tee Yong: When reading about Healing Malaysia, it's a great thing. First things first, we should stop resending or reposting any racist remarks. We have to ignore them! At the end of the day, there comes a time where there is a better future for my children. I do not want constant politicking to the extent that there is no reconciliation.
We have to move forward and avoid problems. What is important is that we let the election results speak for itself. At this juncture, people may be saying hurtful words to each other and I think we should all avoid that. It will create anxiety and having Healing Malaysia will help unite the people. For long term changes, I agree with Anas. We live in a democratic society and we will always go through changes. When society changes, there will be adjustments.
Latheefa: In order to move forward and heal Malaysia, you can't pretend that there is always a thing that allows it to happen. As long as there are discriminatory and unfair policies and also media restrictions, I don't think we can heal properly. We've got to give the right medicine; we've got to diagnose the situation properly. In order to move forward, dismantle those things first. We should pretend that it's a fluff. To me, it's not about politics, let's be real about it. I came from human rights background; I've got lots of cases about discriminatory issues. We have to look into all this in order to move forward.
Background of panelists
Rajiv Rishyakaran (Bukit Gasing Assemblyman)
A former MPSJ councilor, Rajiv Rishyakaran contested for GE13 as DAP's candidate for Bukit Gasing. Having served three terms with MPSJ, he triumphed in a crowded field that included BN candidate Juan Sei Chang and independents Mak Khuin Weng and Simon Lee. He once served as the assistant for Subang Jaya assemblywomen, Hannah Yeoh.
Latheefa Koya (PKR central committee member)
Latheefa Koya is the member of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)'s central committee. A lawyer by profession, she is also actively involved with Lawyers of Liberty, a human rights and law reform group based in Malaysia.
Datuk Chua Tee Yong (MP for Labis, Johor)
A member of MCA, Datuk Chua Tee Yong is the Member of Parliament in Labis, Johor. Having joined politics in 2008, he succeeded his father, Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek for the seat in Labis. Previously he worked as an accountant and he was also chief financial officer for a government-linked company. In 2010, he was appointed the Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based industries minister.
Anas Zubedy (Founder of zubedy (M) SdnBhd)
Anas Zubedy is well versed with sales, promotions and brand management. Anas founded zubedy (M) Sdn. Bhd. in May 1994. In 1995, he branched out into training with a vision to add value to individuals and organisations through sharing and education. He has consulted on programs that integrate and unite people.
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