Can NUCC withstand the onslaught of extremists?
My article was earlier published in TheAntDaily.com on 30/4/2014
The NUCC, established by the government in November 2013, was tasked with advising the administration on efforts to unite the various ethnic groups as well as instilling the spirit of unity among the multiracial communities.
The NUCC has gone on a nationwide roadshow to seek feedback from the public and NGOs, and of course its efforts should be acknowledged.
However, a big question remains here. What has the federal government done to check the rising racial tensions? Despite various reports and comments discussed by the NUCC recently, we have yet to see any government action on several NUCC recommendations.
The government must realise that the current racial tensions did not come only from the people but also the most powerful ranks within the government and the ruling party itself.
Will the NUCC be able to scrutinise the government and the ruling party as well? So far the NUCC has avoided doing so but instead has only spoken up in general. Merely getting public feedback and proposals would not be able to stem the tide of onslaught by racists and extremists.
NUCC also cannot just ignore all these racist and extremist groups which are doing more damage now. Instead, NUCC must demonstrate its efforts as a pressure group to send a stronger message to the government to use its political will and executive powers to curb racism and extremism effectively.
Not to forget too, religious extremism is making inroads and could pose an extreme danger to our nation. And the picture gets even scarier with the emergence of a retired judge by the name of Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah. He has said that the huge statues of Lord Murugan in Batu Caves, Selangor and Goddess of Mercy Kuan Yin in Air Itam, Penang are posing a threat to the Muslim population and would erode their Islamic faith.
This was followed by former Perkasa vice-president and defeated BN candidate for Shah Alam, Datuk Zulkifli Noordin, who alleged that Allah has finally taken away former DAP chairman Karpal Singh because of his opposition to hudud law.
Muslim NGO Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) also jumped on the extremist bandwagon by claiming that a church in Seremban had ulterior motives in promoting its Easter celebrations in Bahasa Malaysia posters.
NUCC must remember that our nation was founded on secularism and today it is moving rapidly towards racism and extremism, not Islamism because Islam was actually being misused by irresponsible leaders and groups with many kinds of self-interests.
NUCC must also remember that these fascist-like leaders and groups cannot be allowed to dictate or shape our nation according to their demands or likes anymore. NUCC must come out from its mere advisory role and play a bigger role in defending the secular foundation of our nation.
We all know that both the ruling party and the government are useless, toothless and gutless in the face of an all-out onslaught by these racist and extremist groups which are using Islam as a tool to confuse the Muslim majority. They are sowing suspicion and hatred among people of other ethnicities and religions in order to achieve their own ambitions.
The previous cabinet-level unity panel chaired by former Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has failed. Even Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, who is also Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president, could not perform his role in national unity (under his portfolio) effectively.
In this case, will the NUCC be able to do what the previous cabinet-level unity panel or Kurup failed to do? Will the NUCC be able to convince this government to scrap all its race-based policies, curb race-based politics, enact laws that will do away with racial quotas, racial and religious discrimination, outlaw racist and extremist groups, and enhance equality among the multiracial communities?
It is not only Isma that we are facing. There are also the likes of Perkasa, Pekida, Jati, Muafakat, Pembela, Aswaja, PPIM, PVTM and even religious authorities like Jais, Mais and Jawi which are becoming more and more paranoid and illogical. They are now showing their ignorance and arrogance, and on many occasions, these groups also dare to disregard law and public order to pursue their selfish interests.
The authorities too are not doing what they are supposed to do to curb all these threats just because they are “confused” on whether the civil law or religious law should apply.
Will the NUCC be able to beat back the fascist onslaught? We are still doubtful.
