LETTER | From perennial punching bag to being branded immoral

LETTER | From being used as a punching bag by Malay politicians for many years for the ills of the country’s economic pie not being shared fairly, the Chinese are now branded, by their own, as having lost their moral compass.  

Why the about-turn? 

The Chinese apparently came out in huge numbers to meet the 6th prime minister, whose travails on the 1MDB matter puts the country on the world map, during his visit to a Chinese vernacular school and a walkabout in a food court and a temple in Johor recently. 

Or is it because the politician raised this issue to drum up support for the events organised by his own party which were poorly attended by the Chinese in Johor as compared to that of the 6th PM?

It is always said that the rakyat of Chinese descent in Malaysia are very pragmatic.

They understand the complexity of social reality in its many forms in this country. A great part of what was going on in the minds and thinking of the Chinese is influenced by their philosophies of life. 

The Chinese talk more easily than they act, especially in politics. The Chinese avoid entering a course of action which might be irrevocable but instead find substitutes for positive action. 

Their tendency for inaction appears to suggest a sort of passive attitude that they rather wait for the unfolding of the events than enter a course of action. 

Others would condemn this attitude as one of callous indifference but the obstacles that the Chinese had to overcome since that historical day in 1969, remains hung around the necks of every Chinese like an albatross.

Since that infamous incident, the Chinese acquired the fear that if one strand is touched, the whole will unravel and accordingly they came to believe that the safe thing was to leave things alone rather than run the risk of making them worse by interference. 

Moreso, time and again for the last 50 years, opportunistic Malay politicians never fail to remind the Chinese of this momentous event solely to boost their standing amongst their supporters.

The problem at stake for the Chinese was not simply just their existence but the preservation of their very existence against political interference. 

The rakyat of Chinese descent are expected to behave and support politicians from their own ancestral background – at least this is what politicians from both sides of the divide wants it to be.

With the bumiputera making up 70 percent of the total population now, the Chinese vote will become less relevant over time because Chinese-majority seats are going to become mixed seats and eventually become Malay-majority seats.  

Thus, the Chinese do not believe they could yield positive results in the field of politics. The conservatism of the Chinese is an apt response to the political situation with which they had been confronted for the last 50 years or so.

They just wait for the fruition of the natural processes, to give nature the time to do her work, a trait demonstrated in their beliefs in the practice of feng shui by a majority of Chinese.

Academic achievement

The Chinese perennial, almost obsessive, concern with economic and education relevance guides or frames their pragmatism in this country.

In fact, this is the common trait practiced by Chinese all over, regardless of wherever they are.

It was the change of conditions, an alteration of environment that changed how the Chinese thought and acted as in what was witnessed in Johor. It was genuinely pragmatic. 

Chinese parents view academic achievement as a great source of pride which is held in high regard in Chinese culture. In Chinese culture, success is not the result of intelligence, but the result of diligence, self-discipline, and self-regulation over the long haul. 

The goal of every Chinese parent is for the next generation to strive for a good position in society. They want everyone who knows them, such as their parents, teachers, and friends, to be proud of them. 

Chinese students are driven by this sense of cultural and familial obligation. Their expectations are deeply reflected in their ingrained cultural values, desire for a better life, and struggle to adjust to their visible minority status in this country.

They voted in huge numbers to support the coalition that promised them recognition of the UEC examination certificate in 2018.

The failure of the Pakatan Harapan government which made the promise was felt across the entire Chinese society. Promises imposed a moral obligation on Harapan for them to deliver.

The politician can give the excuse that they don’t have a chance to fulfil the promise as they were ejected before the full term. To the Chinese kids, they won’t understand that with their parents already having problems explaining that to them. 

Does those who complained about the Chinese losing their moral compass, checked their own moral compass then?  

When the politicians exhorted the Chinese to come out and vote in numbers in the 14th general election while sharing the same platform with the man they condemned previously throughout their political career as responsible for the ills of the country to date, have they checked their own moral compass?

As mentioned, the Chinese are pragmatic people. The Chinese know that regardless of whoever is helming the government, they will remain as the most convenient target and will always be used as a punching bag for any Malay politician who wants to gain relevance amongst their supporters.

Looting the country’s coffers? The Chinese know and believe every one of them loots regardless of whoever is helming the country including the present opposition coalition.

The Penang tunnel deal and Lim Guan Eng’s house purchase below the market price are just two clear examples. It is only the extent of the looting. 

It is sad that politicians of Chinese descent are now joining the act of scapegoating the Chinese too when the grain goes against them. Do not blame the Chinese voters or any voters due to your own failures to win over non-Chinese majority seats.

Based on current projections, this is expected to be continued post the election in Johor where the Chinese will be singled out again with the winning coalition praising them while the loser will scapegoat them for abandoning them and supporting a return to a regime that will destroy the country.

The Chinese are not at the crossroad. It is just that the logical thinking of moral compass was not grounded on the Chinese philosophy of life in this country.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.