Significant discontent amongst a crucial voting segment which PH can ill-afford to ignore.
One of the significant takeaways from the Mahkota by-election was the low non-Malay turnout – only 32% of Chinese voters and 34% of Indian voters bothered to cast their ballots.
It suggests significant discontent amongst a crucial voting segment which PH can ill afford to ignore.
While Akmal Saleh’s rude and arrogant behaviour on several issues certainly angered many non-Malay voters, the real issue is the prime minister’s leadership. He keeps giving great speeches about the “dignity and equality for everyone, regardless of race, religion, language or culture” but little of it finds expression in policy or practice. He keeps promising relief for Malaysians struggling with the rising cost of food and other necessities but has yet to deliver. As well, there are very real concerns about the impact of his Islamic agenda on non-Muslims. Unsurprisingly, not a few feel that there’s nothing left of the Anwar they elected in 2022.
At the same time, Mahkota should tell us that though many are deeply disappointed with his leadership they have not given up on him either. Indeed, many no doubt were hoping that their absence at the polls would send a strong message to him to get his act together and be the prime minister he promised to be – a prime minister who would stand up for all Malaysians irrespective of race or religion. His window of opportunity, however, is closing. Unless he begins to address non-Malay concerns, he might find the ground shifting under his feet very quickly.
Mahkota was also a shot across the bows of DAP and a reminder to the party leadership that they cannot take the Chinese vote for granted. Spin masters like the DAP’s Liew Chin Tong have brushed aside the obvious, insisting that the PH-BN election strategy could be the template for winning GE16 and a glorious future for PH-BN. More thoughtful politicians, however, know that the rising unease among non-Malay voters concerning the direction of the country cannot be ignored.
Voters understand that as part of the government, the DAP must make compromises; but they need to be assured that the DAP will not neglect the overall interests of the community simply to keep their own positions like the once-powerful MCA did. Constantly harping on the green wave will only go so far, particularly if voters conclude that there’s not much to differentiate Anwar’s Islamic agenda from that of PAS.
It bears repeating that non-Malays are not against Malay rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and neither are they against Islam as the religion of the Federation; what they want to see is moderation and balance; fair balance between the rights of all communities in our multiracial, multireligious nation. It is, after all, the promise of Malaysia. I suspect – from sifting through the many articles and comments on the various issues – that this is ultimately what concerns non-Malay voters the most. – Dennis Ignatius