Reformasi: Renewal, reversal or refusal?

‘Political reform is a waste of time if people are innately saddled with certain sins and flaws like selfishness, prejudice, short-sightedness and self-deception.’

Reform is a very strong word. In ordinary and technical language it means to “make changes in something, especially an institution or practice in order to improve it.” The key word here is “improve”.

In September 1998, then ousted Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, minted the Reformasi movement to usher in social equality and social justice as a major reform initiative. He languished in prison for years.

The major reform saw the end of the Barisan Nasional/Umno political hegemony in May 2018, and the beginnings of a coalition government where some political parties grouped together each to have a stake in government power.

Anwar became the tenth Malaysian prime minister in 2022 after winning the hearts and minds of various political parties endorsed by the Royal nod. Reform rang real and relevant.

Today Malaysians wait to experience social equality and social justice as promised by the Reformasi movement and guaranteed in the Federal Constitution – the supreme law of Malaysia.

Social equality and social justice are lofty and noble ideals that evidently remain in the realms of philosophy and experimental jurisprudence. They represent what can be, and not what should be. Therein lies the rub.

Malaysians will have to wait for generations to figure out how politics, religion, law and justice perform their roles with prepared scripts that frown on independent thinking for new beginnings.

The BN/UMNO advantage was over since 2018. The “improve” mindset should have garnered and gained social, political and economic mileage. GE-14 and GE-15 promised tangible reform and palpable change.

The UMNO advantage is still around although with much fewer parliamentary seats. Its leader is deputy prime minister although another political party secured more seats.

Our reform-minded political leaders use the WMD (Weapons of Mass Distractions) scare effectively, effortlessly and efficiently. Petty and nonsensical issues take centre stage true and faithful to a Master’s List.

Reform and change should not be difficult or impossible in heterogeneous Malaysia if the political leadership is ready and willing. This is where the quality of leadership matters most.

Let’s take a hypothetical situation to task and see where this goes. Article 160 Federal Constitution offers a clever way out of this self-inflicted quagmire created by lacklustre leadership.

“Who is a Malay” is broadly defined in Article 160 Federal Constitution. One does not have to be of Malay parentage or ethnicity. You have to embrace Islam, adhere to Malay customs, and speak the Malay language. No esoteric interpretation required.

Hypothetically, what if everyone who is now a non-Muslim and a non-Malay decides to become a Malay and invoke Article 160 and make Malaysia a 100 per cent Malay nation? Will this reform and change bring about social equality and social justice?

If everyone is a Malay under the aegis of Article 160, is there any doubt that the race and religion factor will vanish overnight? Politicians, public officers and the general public ought to weigh in through a nationwide referendum.

This may sound radical, but what other way since 1957 do we have? What choices do we have? What answers can we expect? Decision-making time is upon all Malaysians. We must take up the cudgels as responsible citizens.

Many may not agree with this hypothetical solution, but it is worth considering. I for one will be ready, willing and able to stand in line to be accepted as a Malay if the supreme law of the land guarantees me my inalienable rights and all other privileges.

Thomas Carlyle inspiringly remarked that “to reform a world, to reform a nation, no wise man will undertake; and all but foolish men know, that the only solid though a far slower reformation, is what each begins and perfects on himself ”.

It starts with each of us. Each one of us has to decide what we yearn for as citizens. Not associating with herd mentality, but associating ourselves with what we can do for the nation while expecting the nation to do something for us through meaningful governance.

In 1998, tensions were high. Reformasi offered much hope for national salvation. Earlier, in 1987, dissidents were arrested en masse in the infamous Ops Lalang crackdown. In 1988, the judiciary was mauled and mutilated. Democracy faced many black days.

Fast forward to 2024. Democracy still faces black days. Politicians stoking and fomenting hate speech are pretty much chastised with a mere slap in the wrist. Race and religion are still fanning the flames by irresponsible politicians.

Voters are primarily voting in politicians who were selected by their political parties. Voters do not vote particularly for what they expect from the government for their well-being, progress and advancement.

This makes democracy face black days. The reform and change promised by the present coalition government has taken its position in the catacombs of empty promises and false hopes.

Alexander Hamilton warned that “necessity in politics often occasions false hopes, false reasoning, and a system of measures correspondingly erroneous”.  Politics need not be a sinister game played by a few who won a majority of votes.

Malaysians must insist on reviving and rejuvenating the Reformasi spirit that resonated with reason and purpose when Anwar gave utterance to a sophisticated form of opposition in 1998.

The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of the Sarawak Tribune.