Is DAP a victim of Malay microaggression?

COMMENT | Malays are rightfully proud of their culture. Be it Sejarah Melayu, otherwise known as Sulalatus Salahtin, or Hikayat Abdullah Munsyi, there are countless historical recollections of how Malays - despite their deferential behaviour and demeanour - can show their spite and anger against their (unjust) rulers.

In fact, in the story of Mahsuri in Langkawi, a mere curse was enough to hold the next seven generations accountable for the sins of their royal courtiers. The false gossips and the calumny against Mahsuri, an innocent victim, was transferred en mass to the plebians and laity of the Malays.

Not until the modernisation attempt of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in his first tenure as prime minister, Langkawi was known as "padang jarak padang terkukur" (a forsaken land).

In the story of "Ikan Todak Melanggar Singapura”, where spearheaded fish ostensibly came crashing into the island nonstop, it was a Malay boy who came up with the solution of lining up the banana trees to absorb the blows of the sharp tips (of the fish). The local rulers listened to the boy. A tragedy was stopped and simple wisdom prevailed.

Elsewhere, Hang Tuah is known to have said, "Tidak akan Melayu hilang dari dunia" (Malays will not disappear from the surface of this world).

In saying it, the myth is intertwined with the permanence, not only of the Malays as a race, but the power of Malays to perpetuate their own culture, traditions and belief systems in perpetuity.

However, when such a discourse is married into the eternal narrative of Islam, where some preachers believe that even on the Day of Judgment, everything else would be destroyed except Mecca, the Holy City of Islam, one has a combination of a "super race".

It is an idea underpinned, not of the Nazi type, where their reign can last the Reich of a Thousand Years, as Najib Abdul Razak tried to portray Umno in December 2017 - barely six months from the end of the Umno administration on May 9, 2018 - but a chauvinistic form of superiority complex. Everything Malays believe in and ultimately espouse must be true, while that of others must be subject to serious scrutiny, if not outright opprobrium and ridicule.

The end results of such a system of one-upmanship in the urban or semi-rural Malay areas is a prolonged series of microaggressions against anyone and everyone who dares to stand up against them. In this case, the Democratic Action Party (DAP). Take Sarawak, for instance.

Whereas Umno cannot be in Sarawak, DAP can; creating the impression that Umno is an outsider that was outmanoeuvred by DAP altogether; rather than by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) of Taib Mahmud who, in actual fact, was the one who blocked Umno's entry into the massive state.

This was done while he allegedly laid siege to the ample riches of Sarawak

Indeed, whereas DAP is not responsible for the May 13 riot of 1969, the urban myth that Lim Kit Siang (photo) single-handedly triggered the racial riot remains fresh in the construction and reconstruction of the Malays.

Consequently, whereas Umno and PAS are the ones that took the whole country for the ride, literally robbing it, especially with its politics of rent, where only their elites enjoy the perks and benefits of high office, DAP is seen as the instigator of their collective fall in 2018, especially with DAP's "Ubah Campaign".

For almost everything the Malay parties had failed to achieve, DAP has been their favourite bogeyman.

When evangelical Christians made their way into different corners of Malaysia, DAP is again seen as the proverbial sinner, even though most of its top leaders are avowedly secular democrats, such as Liew Chin Tong and Anthony Loke.

These microaggressions will continue, and increase in crescendo against DAP in and across 119 rural Malay constituencies.

A campaign of drips and draps will be maintained to ensure the fall of Pakatan Harapan, by making DAP oddly different from Amanah, Bersatu and PKR.

But DAP fielded the most number of under-40 Malay candidates in the last general election and will continue to do so. DAP, in other words, is not playing dead with these microaggressions.

By resisting the process of stereotyping DAP as a regressive party, DAP cannot be immune to more attacks in social media, only the increased presence of Pakatan Harapan can stay as a resilient force. This will depend on each party defending DAP and DAP defending the others - all on the sheer principles and politics of justice and fairness.

As the ancient Chinese sage Lao Tzu once said, "That which can be named is not the name, and that can be called the Way is not the Way”. He was referring to the timelessness of standing to the idealism and universal aspirations of all time.

Harapan may have a name and be already failing to deliver for now, with DAP inside. But they do have four more years to go. And Harapan embodies the spirit and essence of elevating Malaysia. And since DAP can be pro-Malay and pro-Malaysia, a united purpose is what it needs and no less.

Meanwhile, it is time to stop the microaggressions against a multiracial DAP; just as it is time to stop the microaggressions of all Malaysians who want to live in peace and harmony, without kleptocracy and the return of Umno and PAS.

RAIS HUSSIN is a supreme council member of Bersatu. He also heads its policy and strategy bureau.

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