Wouldn’t it be good to be colour blind?

By: Wu Zhen Ni (translated name)
Sin Chew Jit Poh, May 12, 2014

The U.S. President Obama recently visited our country. What he did and said are as important as he himself being a living message that tells people the U.S. was able to achieve “acquired colour blindness” in terms of not judging based on skin colour when considering who to choose as the supreme leader.

This does not mean that the U.S. as a vast country has achieved zero racial discrimination but at least white favouritism policies no longer exist. In such complex and diverse society, skin colour is not the barrier to stop each other’s interaction and certain race to be involved in public affairs and resources sharing.

Obama’s advice to Malaysia is that Malaysia will not succeed if the non-Muslims are not given fair opportunities. Former Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir does not agree, he responded, “Have you seen any poor Chinese? Lawyers, professionals and doctors are mostly Indians.”

Perhaps you have not seen but I have seen that there are many Chinese suffering in poverty who could not afford three meals a day and basic daily necessities as well as medical treatment for their illness. These are the “hidden” cases. Even worse was that, in the eyes of Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA) president Abdullah Zaik, Chinese are “invaders” and “oppressors”.

The world keeps changing as the time advances but some people seemed to have just returned from old times, their mind-set remained the same as it was in the age of wilderness.

Although the ongoing false labelling Chinese or other races in separating “family members” and “intruders” could strengthen unity among the “family members” and motivate the group in going against their common enemies but it brings no actual meaning to the country’s development.

Once such extreme comment is made, the multiracial society will be busy debating on racial issues. Some people might bring up the Malay supremacy and the concern about the abolition of the special right by others. Those who got labelled would be busy criticising and rebuking. And after the heated debate over a period of time, temporary peace will be enjoyed before the next racial placard is posted again.

When will such extreme remarks be spurned by people who are no longer interested to respond to it and be stopped from having the police to investigate and prosecute? Such remarks will no longer be interested by the public and seen as seditious only when the citizens are mature and wise enough.

Instead of spending time on infighting, why not think about the strategy to improve the country?

Or perhaps for a country that has gained independence for over half a century, it is hard for people to not suspect that the constant labelling is a way to cover up the faulty policy implementation, stagnant economy and worrisome public order and safety issues.