The Big Lie of Malay Special Privileges

 The Big Lie of Malay Special Privileges

M. Bakri Musa

 

Excerpt #6 from my Qur’an, Hadith, And Hikayat:  Exercises In Critical Thinking

 

         There is no shortage of books and published materials on critical thinking, but the examples cited are often familiar only to those from Western cultures and societies. For the most part those would be alien if not irrelevant to Malays and Muslims. Far from sharpening critical thinking skills, those exercises would feed only their already false and negative perception of critical thinking being a Western construct to undermine traditional eastern beliefs. Or worse, the remnants of the old colonial mindset intent on keeping the natives suppressed, or belittling our cherished values and mode of thinking.

 

         The experience of Edward Omar Moad teaching philosophy and critical thinking skills at Qatar University is instructive. His students ended up merely regurgitating what had already been published in the West. To overcome that barrier, he asked his students to read the editorials and the leading news items in the region’s papers and to critique those ideas. That forced the students to think. You can be assured that Western commentators would not be interested in those genuinely unique local matters.

 

         Critical thinking guides us towards making better judgements. It would also help us understand the Qur’an and hadith better, as well as our culture and literature. Critical thinking is not just for a philosophy class; it would lead us to more effective and efficient learning. The day we stop learning is the day we die. If we read a novel in a passive manner without much reflection, then it becomes merely an “interesting” story, much like watching a soap opera. There is joy in that, but that is all there is.

 

         By becoming active readers and engaging our critical faculties, we would not only learn better and faster but also appreciate what we are reading even more. That after all is the purpose of literature; likewise, when we read the Qur’an, hadith, and folklore. Sans a critical mind, such readings of the Qur’an or hadith would be but mere rituals, no different from Mao’s Red Guards of yore mindlessly chanting quotes from his Red Book.

 

         On a more profound and consequential level, the ability to think critically would prevent us from being taken in by the “Big Lie.” The Germans under the Nazis in the 1930s, despite their sophistication and superior education, were not spared this dangerous virus. The consequences were disastrous, and not just for them.

 

         Nearly a century later, Americans too nearly fell for President Trump’s “Big Lie” that he was cheated from his “landslide” electoral victory in the 2020 elections. It was fortunate that the tragedy there was restricted only to Trump and his ill-informed followers, plus some innocent lives as with the policemen killed during the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

 

         For Malays, the current “Big Lie” is that special privileges are our savior when in fact the program has degenerated in front of our very eyes to become a vast, corrupt entitlement scheme for the privileged few. 

 

         It is not coincidental that former Prime Minister Najib Razak could with ease hoodwink Malays including our rulers, ministers, and top bureaucrats that the billions he swiped from 1Malaysia Development Berhad were but generous donations from a Saudi Prince. To Malays, everything from the Holy Land is halal, including their flies. 

 

         Even when the loot confiscated from his luxurious condo following his defeat in the 2018 elections was in the form of stacks of Euros, US dollars, and pound sterling notes, many still believe that those belonged to his party. Leftovers from campaign expenses, as per Najib. Yes, those simple villagers in Ulu Kelantan could readily use Euros or US dollars at their local pasar malam!

 

         Najib Razak was not the only Malay leader guilty of hoodwinking Malays while at the same time amassing unimaginable fortunes for himself, all under the guise of Malay Special privileges and thus helping Malays. During the Asian economic crisis of 1997, Mahathir created a massive RM60 Billion rescue fund to bail out such “Malay” companies as Renong, owned by his cronies, and the national shipping company of which his son was a major shareholder.

 

         Fast forward to today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim who should have known better, risks falling for the same big lie. To wit, his propping up Sapura Energy. He fools himself into believing that bailing the company would help its Malay suppliers and vendors. 

 

         Malay leaders at all levels have yet to learn this simple truth. That is, the most effective way to help Malays is to make us competitive. Improving the national schools would be a good start.

 

         This “Big Lie” will continue and be taken as gospel truth as long as we Malays, leaders and followers alike, do not use our critical faculties. 

 

Next:  Excerpt #7:  Critical Thinking During My School Days