Testing Truly Malaysia

Tue, 02/26/2008 12:49 PM | Opinion

For people in fully democratic nations, the target set by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, that Barisan Nasional (National Front) -- which won 91 percent of parliamentary seats in the last election -- retain more than a two-thirds parliamentary majority, looks frivolous, because it is rare in their countries for election victors to win by such wide margins.

International media have reported it could be disastrous for Badawi if his coalition fails to reach that target in the March 8 general elections.

Many Indonesians who experienced general elections during Soeharto's 32-year rule are familiar with the atmosphere of the ongoing election campaign in Malaysia. Soeharto described elections as a "feast of democracy", although in fact they were a "manipulation of democracy".

The Malaysian government can say anything to try and justify its decision to bar opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim from contesting the election, but for outsiders the only reason for the ban is the fear that Ibrahim could return to power.

During Soeharto's 32-year reign, the Indonesian media offered heavy coverage of Soeharto's party, Golkar, during general election campaigns. While the campaigns of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the United Development Party (PPP) received little attention.

The Malaysian press -- mostly controlled by the government -- also has little choice but to give special treatment to the rulers.

The prime minister's challenge is not how to win the election, because a victory is almost guaranteed, but how to face angry and frustrated non-Malays and non-Muslims, who under the Malaysian constitution are regarded as second-class citizens.

Malays (automatically regarded as Muslim) make up 60 percent of the country's 27 million people, while ethnic Chinese account for 25 percent and Indians about 8 percent.

As shown by the recent mass demonstrations by ethnic Indians, there is growing discontent among non-Malays over rising discrimination against them.

At the same time, among Malays there is a rising sense of insecurity because they feel the government is very protective of businesspeople, mostly non-Malays, despite the fact that they receive special privileges from the state as Malays.

When the state fails to guarantee all citizens are treated equal under the constitution -- no matter their background -- it is inevitable that some citizens will be treated as second-class citizens.

Badawi's party will win the election, the only question is by how much. But as long as the Malaysian government adheres to its policy of providing special privileges for the majority at the cost of other segments of society, the government will continue to pay a cost. And this cost will be very expensive when the country's economy is on the decline.

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