COMMENT | Art and the 'mythical' moderate Malay

“Art is the lie that enables us to realise the truth.”

- Pablo Picasso

COMMENT | The new Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Azhar Azizan Harun, who was affectionately known as Art Harun, may not realise that his actions over the past few days, have done great harm to our fragile society.

First. My non-Malay friends said, "I am beginning to lose faith in the Malays," or "I will find it difficult to trust another Malay again".

Similarly, my Malay friends said, "How will others see us? Those of us whom we thought had integrity, have failed us."

Second. The moderate Malay who speaks out is just a myth. He or she does not exist. Well, if they did, they soon disappear in a puff of smoke. Or like the early morning dew, evaporated by the heat of the sun.

Third. The problem does not lie in the kampung but in Putrajaya and where power resides. With the elite and the well-connected Malays who by and large are Western-educated, English speaking and well-travelled. These Malays are the main beneficiaries of Ketuanan Melayu. Why would they want to give up any of this? Like most bumiputera, they probably do not want to lose any of the perks afforded to well-connected bumiputera. It is all about self-interest. It is as simple as that.

On Monday, many of Azhar's friends were disappointed by his performance during his first day in Parliament but a few of his die-hard friends said, "I will allow him the benefit of the doubt and give him another chance."

The one-time outspoken social activist and lawyer, and host of a video podcast, called "The Art of the Matter" resigned as chairperson of the Election Commission (EC) to become the new speaker.

The move was controversial, but Azhar denies this. Azhar's brother ...