New Version:Ketuanan Melayu

Hantu Laut

Everything with Pak Lah is always a little too late. Now ketuanan Melayu takes on a new meaning.

“So when we talk about that (Malay supremacy), we mean we must be successful in many fields. It is never about ruling over others, or forcing our power upon them,” said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“We are not going to be a race that dominates others. We want to be a party that represents the Malays and that is ready to co-operate for the future of Malays and the people, as Malays will also succeed when all Malaysians are successful.That is Malay supremacy and I hope people will understand it,” he said.

He says Malays must not be coolies but must be tuan. Well, that's what supremacy is all about, isn't it, the tuan lord over the lesser mortals and in the case of ketuanan Melayu, the Malays lord over the non-Malays. No matter how hard he tries to re-define the meaning of ketuanan Melayu, the apprehension of the non-Malays will always be there.

Words are not enough to change people's mind.What the PM should do is to follow up his statement with sincere and credible actions.

“We must acknowledge that we are friends in Barisan. This is Umno’s assurance to the other component parties,” he said.

That assurance came a little too late.

Providing mere lip service is not going to convince people to accept the new version of ketuanan Melayu.In fact there was not ketuanan Melayu, it was all made up by UMNO to frighten the non-Malays and to remind them who are the masters in this country.

The Chinese and Indians have no problem with ketuanan Melayu.They have accepted the fact that being in the majority the Malays would naturally be taking leading roles in governing this country.What they want is fairness and preservation of their rights as citizens of this country and not be constantly reminded that they don't belong here.

Not playing the devil's advocate, I think I prefer the original version of ketuanan Melayu.

There is nothing wrong to rule over others.All we need to do are to learn to be good masters.