ADUN SPEAKS | George Floyd - A lesson to learn

ADUN SPEAKS | The death of the poor soul George Floyd in the US was not only caused by the policeman but it's a result of racism showed by the leadership. 

In recent years, racism-related hate speeches and actions have crept into their leaders where they have exhibited racism from top to bottom. 

When leaders show their racist minds, certainly other leaders, civil servants including enforcement officers, will be following in their footsteps. These actions were not condoned at the earliest possible which has now turned into a major disaster in the US.

These incidents prove that right-minded leaders who do not support and practice racism but care for every citizen equally, must be chosen to helm a country to greater heights. We shouldn't let the leaders who say "I'm a Malay first", or "Malays are stupid and lazy", or "Chinese are manipulative people", or "Indians are gangsters" etc be the leaders in our beloved country. 

We need leaders who can embrace everyone as their own children. This doesn't mean that the every need of individual communities must be dropped but it has to be handled in a way that one doesn't affect the other. 

The rights of each community should be acknowledged and any special needs to uplift the community should be encouraged without jeopardising that of others. 

The moment leaders steal the rights of other communities to enhance another community, dissatisfactions, disappointments and jealousy will creep into the people to fight back.

This is the reason why I, Ganabatirau (photo), chose to serve the rakyat through DAP. I fought for Indian rights via Hindraf in 2007 and was subsequently arrested under the ISA for almost two years. Yes, I fought for Indian rights because we were suppressed to the maximum. We retaliated but didn't steal the rights of others nor did we question it too. But we were asking for our rightful share. 

The following years, slowly Indians began to feel their real freedom and their rights under the Pakatan Harapan coalition since 2008. In my eyes, DAP is a party with high integrity and discipline where the main aim is to fight for all Malaysians so that they can exercise their individual or community rights without affecting others. 

DAP is fighting for a "Malaysian Malaysia" in order for the country to prosper further for the benefit of our future generations. My fighting through DAP is also in this direction and it is for all. Our next focus should be to eradicate racism from the minds of every Malaysian. 

Policies should be enacted equally for all Malaysians except to cater for the special needs of a community. Affirmative policies for different communities are welcomed as long as it does not steal the rights of others. Taking care of their own communities is not a crime nor should it be viewed as racism.

Therefore, again I would like to reiterate that Malaysia should sign the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to progress in the challenging world. Leaders should have the courage to sign it for the betterment of our country. They should steer the country on the opposite direction of racism. 

If we fail to eradicate racism, a "George Floyd incident" could happen in Malaysia at any time. As a leader, I will not allow that to happen to any of my Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan, Dayak, Murut, Sikh, Orang Asal brothers and sisters or to any rightful citizen of Malaysia!

GANABATIRAU VERAMAN is state assemblyperson for Kota Kemuning. 

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.