‘Anak Melayu Anak Saya, Anak Cina Anak Saya…’

‘Anak Melayu Anak Saya, Anak Cina Anak Saya…’

‘Anak Melayu Anak Saya, Anak Cina Anak Saya, Anak India Anak Saya…’

Badawi could never utter the above words. And if he did, he would be transparently unconvincing. Neither could Najib and certainly not the likes of Hishamuddin and Khairy.

But Anwar, in his speeches, articulates those words with passion and conviction.

Therein is one of the most fundamental of differences between the two dominant influences in contemporary Malaysian politics. One tradition that has persisted on the racist agenda and tactics we’ve come to recognise as the modus operandi of Umno and the other tradition, being championed by a multi-racial coalition, determined to rid Malaysia of the debased and coercive racist politics of communalism that continues to lose currency with an increasing segment of the Malaysian public.

Gerakan’s Dr Toh Kin Woon hit the nail on the head when he said there’s a movement underway to ‘strengthen the voices of moderation, against racism, for political freedom, [and] a more just and equal society. Anwar has articulated all this.’ Perhaps like Toh, other career politicians will see just how strongly Malaysians are in favour of burying the racist politics of Umno and how fast the component parties of BN are losing ground with their base for essentially being a conduit to Umno’s racist politics.

Read the rest of the article here.