MAY 14 — With the outcome of the 14th Malaysian General Election and the jubilant mood that the nation is in, it is tempting to declare the end of racial and religious politics in Malaysia.

The results certainly seem to imply that there has been a wholesale repudiation and rejection of such strategies, which were heavily utilised and exploited by the previous ruling coalition and parties such as PAS.

However, further examination of the election outcome and the ongoing behind-the-scenes negotiations for Cabinet positions seems to indicate that these politics, though they have taken major beating, are still very much alive.

During and even in the months earlier prior to the election campaign period, calls were made by various organisations and political parties for Malay Muslim voters to band together to reject candidates and parties who were deemed to be anti-Islam or anti-Malay, who supported religious harmony and tolerance, and who advocated reform on issues such as unilateral conversion.

On the day before the elections, Gerakan Pengundi Sedar (GPS), released a PDF booklet outlining the candidates for 66 parliamentary seats with clear recommendations on who Malay Muslim voters, should support. Many of the constituencies indicated have Malay majority populations. 

The booklet called for support of candidates who supported an agenda defined by five characteristics: Demonstrated a willingness to support an Islamic agenda and the aspirations of the Federal Constitution in Parliament; will fight for the Bumiputera agenda; has integrity and skilled in issues of governance; free from foreign influences and upholds unity among the ummah; and supports Malaysia as a Malay civilisation.

Opposing candidates were demonised with descriptions peppered with terms such as "pro-liberalism and pluralism”, "defended LGBT rights”, "socialist”, "supporting Malaysian Malaysia”, "anti-hudud/ RUU355”, "extreme tolerance”, "critical of religious departments”

Interestingly, most of the endorsed candidates (majority from PAS) got wiped out. Quite a few of them actually lost their deposits.

Within that context, it is tempting to conclude that the race and religious political rhetoric have no place among voters in the new Malaysia.

However, the retention of Kelantan and the addition of Terengganu to PAS rule, with more state seats gained in Kedah are developments which seem to tell a different story.

The support for Pakatan Harapan at the parliamentary level was directly linked to opposition to Najib and Barisan Nasional, driven by the narrative of anti-corruption, anti-GST and economic hardship. These issues were the primary thrusts of the Pakatan Harapan campaign which succeeded; I am sure, beyond even the dreams and expectations of the strategists, pundits and analysts.

However, the gains at the state level by PAS, specifically in the East Coast, seem to be a result of the electorate in those areas responding to the campaign of ensuring a strong Malay and Muslim supremacy and dominance rooted in the PAS agenda.

This narrative may not have resonated for these voters when marking the ballots for the parliamentary seats due to the anti-BN, specifically anti-Najib messaging. However, it certainly came out strong when it came to who they voted to be their representative to the state assemblies. 

Basically, it was vote PH for parliament and PAS for the state assembly.

Arguably, these levels of sophistication and maturity in wielding their vote, together with the discerning sentiments expressed by voters have not previously been seen in previous elections.

Indeed, race and religion might still factor as major considerations in the appointment of senior positions in government.

It is interesting to note that almost immediately, the usual suspects which have been responsible for exploiting racial tensions, suspicions and communal divisions in the past took to social media in response to the election results.

Facebook pages like Pusat Kajian Ancaman Liberalisme Malaysia and organisations like Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA) have been up to their old tricks. Prior to the elections, Pusat Kajian Ancaman Liberalisme Malaysia had published a rogues’ gallery of candidates, branded others and distributed the GPS booklet online.

Post-election, they have posted statuses and issued statements highlighting and sounding alarm at the number of non-Muslims elected into public office (86 out of 222 Members of Parliament), and demanding that Muslim elected representatives demonstrate their allegiance to race and religion by upholding the Malay and Islamic agenda.

For them, it’s business as usual. And in light of last week’s results, they will continue to try to find relevance and create issues of contention, conflict and controversy in order to justify their existence.

Malaysians are very aware of the racial tensions and communal divisions which bedevil our nation. Our eyes are wide open.

We have been subject to fear mongering and have been held hostage by these merchants peddling hatred, racism, bigotry, fascism, and extremism for a long time. It might take more than an election to undo the harm and repair the damage that has been caused. It might take longer for us to heal as a nation. There’s a lot of work to be done.

These past weeks, Malaysians stepped up and worked together to overcome adversity and make history. It has been an awe-inspiring and emotional journey for many.

We proved to ourselves and to the world that Malaysia is not made of a single race or ethnicity. Nor should it be. Uniformity and assimilation are NOT unity. Neither is racial dominance.

Last week, we chose the aspirations of hope and change over the politics of hatred and fear.

Now, let’s get to work.

*This is the personal opinion of the writer or organisation and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.