The Characteristics of Ethnocentrism in Malaysia
Racial prejudice in Malaysia has reached alarming levels. Many factors contribute to this but one of the main reasons is the misguided focus on racial identity and racial differences. We need to shift the focus to class consciousness to unify as a nation.
Race-based identity politics dominate Malaysian politics. The notion that one’s race is made up of individuals with completely common interests and that other races’ interests aren’t significant holds firm among Malaysians. There is a racist mindset that makes it challenging for interracial friends to get along. Identity politics are wrongly thought to unite people, whereas in reality they tend to drive people further apart. Rather than bringing people together of different backgrounds, it aggravates tensions.
The issue isn’t one that Malaysia alone faces; other post-colonial countries face the same challenge as a leftover of the past. Malaysia’s problem with racial identity has its roots in colonialism; during this time, those in power regarded themselves as above their less powerful citizens. Many post-colonial nations like Malaysia failed to root out racist ideas and patterns of behaviour in society.
However, today, we’re not concerned with yesterday; we’re focused on now. Today, Malaysia is an incredibly divided society, where race greatly influences people’s lives. It may even be said that this is one of the most racially and ethnically split countries in the world. There is no getting around the fact that discrimination exists. However, what are the underlying reasons? Why do discriminatory attitudes and behaviours persist in Malaysian culture despite legal prohibitions against them?
That is the subject we’ll cover in this piece. Ethnocentrism is deeply rooted in our understanding of how the world works. We need to explore the way in which this concept influences how we interact with other races. You should finish the reading with a greater grasp of the fact that these problems are complicated and why it is difficult to address them. In addition, we will address the broader question of class consciousness and how it links to the concept of identity politics.
Let’s start with the basics: what is identity politics? Identity politics is a type of political engagement in which the emphasis is on the very makeup of one’s identity rather than one’s policies or beliefs. Identity politics concentrates on the societal elements of being. Identity politics examines the way our background influences who we are. “Who am I?” and “How does my background impact who I am?” are questions identity politics attempts to answer. It is certainly true that diving further into these concerns will help individuals learn more about themselves, but identity politics becomes problematic when it goes from being a means to an end to an end in itself.
Identity politics, pursued to its logical conclusion, leads to separation and isolation rather than unity and understanding. It is, in some respects, a pessimistic “politics of despair,” which has been defined as an outlook on the world that emphasises powerlessness. It follows the premise that society is so broken and uncaring that any plans that don’t benefit one particular group will not work, because it disregards the discrimination that group experiences.
What conclusions can we draw about Malaysia? In many ways, we live in a country that practises identity politics more than any other. We went so far as to codify it in our constitution with Article 153 and the “Special Position of Malays,” as well as Article 76(2) and the “Special Position of Sabah and Sarawak Natives.” The sad irony is that the people that these constitutional safeguards were supposed to protect are hurt the most by them. These groups are not just society’s most vulnerable and oppressed, but also its most marginalised.
So, who am I referring to? Who suffers and has no power in Malaysia? The simple answer is the poor and marginalised.
Because of the constraints on their identity, these groups have been caught in a self-reinforcing loop that does not allow them to develop a more holistic, multicultural identity. They get really angry when they believe anything they have is belittled or slighted in any way. This is because they see themselves as the defender of their identity. Because of this, these racial voting blocs allow undemocratic administrations to remain in power, only amplifying their exclusion from political participation.
Any efforts that look to aid these demographics are destined to fail, since the population relies even more heavily on the government to take care of them. They grow dependent on the government for benefits, seeing it as medication that gives you just enough resources to exist, but no more.
In particular, the Malays have developed a very defined sense of Muslim identity, and this has effectively allowed corruption to spread through the government without much resistance from the general population. Even if some are claiming a revival of religious piety, it is more apparent that it is fear of losing what makes them unique rather than any type of devoutness that is motivating them. This is why the government continues to instil racism and promote discord, as it hopes to keep other races divided and without the capacity to challenge it.
It’s important to note that I’m not suggesting these groups don’t have a genuine issue with the government, simply that their overall purpose is being obscured by the fact that they are using their real grievances as a cover for their beliefs.
In order to gain the people’s support, the government takes every step it can to keep them fighting amongst themselves, which is one of the primary reasons why they’ve been able to engage in large-scale corruption for so long. It is of note that the administration has guaranteed that all the various forms of authority across the board — from top government officials to the least powerful civil servant — endorse this decision.
The government uses diversions like dress rules, religious adherence, inter-marriage, and ethnic supremacy to distract the public. They are deliberately controversial, divisive themes which distract attention from more pressing concerns like corruption and economic inequality.
Perhaps you are curious as to why the government has been hesitant to be more aggressive in enforcing its discriminatory policies, as they have effectively kept people’s attention focused on one another rather than the discriminatory nature of these policies. Economics is one important aspect of this.
To begin, racially charged rhetoric can only deflect attention from the issues so far, and more significant actions like launching violent crackdowns on opposition are required. I doubt I have to explain how harmful this would be to the economy.
Additionally, the government is reluctant to advance on this too quickly, for fear of losing what little international backing it now has. Being known as a pariah state is not necessarily in the country’s best interest.
The government has no desire to change things. A disgruntled minority certainly exists, but it’s very hard for them to effect change.
People, for their part, are content with the status quo. Even if they might not be content with it, they will tolerate it because any other solution is less preferable. For all intents and purposes, their race is to control the country, and they see no reason to upset the status quo. They are fearful that questioning the status quo might threaten everything they have, thus they want to preserve the stability of their society.
The government is unlikely to face significant opposition due to all the aforementioned factors. There are dissenters, but they are essentially powerless and can be quickly suppressed if necessary.
We’re faced with this dilemma. It’s not shifting, but the possibility to do so always exists. The elite realise this, and are trying to maintain the public’s goodwill to cover their real agenda. They have to do something about the current situation, because they cannot afford to just let things remain the same. A restless population could demand change, and it could cause multiple issues if they aren’t properly guided.
We have given so much credit to Hang Tuah’s principles of obedience, loyalty, and sacrifice for the sake of the country that it is becoming a kind of religious devotion. We have created a generation that has lost their individualism, only to replace it with a constant focus on what they think is best for the group. The issue is that this approach maintains order, but it does so at the expense of the human spirit and self-identity. They have been transformed into soulless “organs” that work for the nation’s “body.”
We must break out of this standard state of affairs. We need to get individuals to think for themselves and cease defining themselves by ethnicity, religion, or even the concept of a “larger Malay race.” They must begin to recognise themselves as individuals rather than as an undifferentiated group. They must find meaning and purpose in their lives beyond of simply serving the country.
The current situation needs to be redone. In order to define themselves in a positive way, people must be able to think independently and give up on utilising race, religion, or the idea of a “larger Malay race” as ways to do so. They need to realise that they are individuals and no longer should think as a homogenous mass. It is important for them to find their purpose and sense of significance outside of serving their country alone.
We can’t change history by going back in time. It’s impossible to overlook the reality that the Malay sultans undermined the interests of their people by getting involved with the British in a deceptive manner. The British used divisions among the Malays to control the country for themselves, and that strategy has carried on in the current political system.
However, we can address these concerns and attempt to resolve them. Our past shouldn’t be dismissed, but instead should be treated as a source of learning. Although we are unable to alter our current situation, we may take action to help it, as well as hope that future generations will continue this work. This is why, rather than fostering race consciousness, we should start developing class consciousness.
Everybody has some kind of connection to the concept of class. It makes no difference what race you are. At some point, everybody is subject to experiencing varying levels of both poverty and wealth, hunger and plenty, homelessness and the possibility of home ownership. Anyone of any race or nationality can understand these concepts. We need to understand that class consciousness brings people together regardless of ethnic, racial, or religious differences.
It’s also relevant to bring up that poverty is a problem for the middle class and above, not only for the poor. It makes no difference if you are Malay, Chinese, Indian, Christian, or non-religious. Poverty is a real threat for people of every background. This is something that the government can simply fix. This is the first place every nation wanting to progress should prioritise.
Class consciousness will foster unity by bringing down racial barriers and bridging social gaps. Our country can never flourish if we continue fighting and dividing over racial issues. It’s bad for everyone, whether that’s the people or the country. Our priorities should be highlighting what we have in common, not accentuating our differences.
Only when we recognise these commonalities can we overcome our history and grow stronger as a nation. That way, we won’t be at the mercy of others and won’t have to look to anyone else to be in charge of our lives. To have control of our future and our destiny, we must get involved.
