Sri Lanka, Mindanao, Aceh and Fiji. The warring groups have similarities as well as differences. It’s evident that in some of these places, religion, which teaches love and brotherhood, has ironically been used to create ethnic hatred.
Such hatred can be easily exacerbated by disparities in financial and political power. When there exists unfair distribution of wealth and resources, when there is a concentration of money with one ethnic group contrasted by abject poverty in another group, racial tension and conflict are likely to arise. Likewise, any act by one ethnic group to suppress another group in order to maintain its political and economic dominance will certainly invite resistance, which can lead to racial hatred and violence.
In my country, Malays, Chinese, Indians and indigenous communities all live together, though each group has a distinct history, religion, culture and language. Though Malaysia’s political institutions still encourage separatism, integration is slowly taking hold, especially at the top strata of society. This is due largely to multiracial schools, increased economic cooperation and a certain degree of power sharing. There is also a growing middle class that is greatly influenced by a common Westernized lifestyle.
That’s not to say that all is well. Ethnic fears and suspicions linger, and they can easily be turned into nasty conflicts whenever there is interethnic competition, particularly in the economic and political spheres. In Malaysia, stereotyping is a problem. The majority Malays are said to be poor but politically powerful. The minority Chinese control the economy. The reality is not quite so stark. The ruling elite is made up of different ethnic groups, although admittedly the Malays play a more dominant role. In the same way, while some Chinese are rich and more dominant in business, other ethnic groups are grabbing their slices of the economic pie.
Unfortunately, there is no room for democratic activism in Malaysia, and odious laws are used to suppress political opposition. The Internal Security Act allows the government to detain a person indefinitely without trial. (In the late 1970s I was imprisoned under the ISA for six years.) The Printing Presses and Publication Act makes it virtually impossible to promote independent publications, and draconian interpretations of the Sedition Act suffocate public discussion. I’m not suggesting these laws have been used to deliberately divide ethnic groups, but they do stifle change, which can create social and ethnic animosity.
The present ruling coalition in Malaysia, known as the National Front (or BN), appears to be multiethnic. But in fact each of its 13 component parties represents exclusively only one ethnic group. Each party uses its own ethnic supporters to mobilize support for the BN. In several elections the ruling coalition has been known to play up ethnic fears to win the general support of the people. During the last general elections in November 1999, the ruling BN, sensing that it was losing support from Malays, adopted a strategy of winning over non-Malays, especially Chinese and Indians. Politicians manipulated the media to arouse fear that there would be ethnic conflicts if the opposition won. Tensions were high, but the elections passed without incident. Racial vote-getting “strategies” have proved successful at returning the government to power. But they cause deep schisms within Malaysian society, which makes it difficult to forge national unity.
There aren’t any easy solutions to ethnic mistrust. But a government commitment to boost social justice and democracy would do much to build social cohesion. By social justice, I mean a more equitable distribution of wealth. By democracy, I mean ensuring broader civil liberties. Governments must promote ethnic cooperation, and establish transracial institutions that bridge ethnic divides. And, of course, there is a need to disseminate such universal values as fairness and equanimity. Mankind is capable of living peacefully–side by side–with mutual respect. But until racial and ethnic harmony comes naturally, it must be worked at.
