By Lim Sue Goan, Sin Chew Daily

We used to believe that Malaysians would pool their energy together to fight the coronavirus and save our economy. Unfortunately the same old problem surfaces again, entrenching the gloomy sentiment of our society.

So long as Tun Mahathir still stays in politics, he will keep spreading "virus", inciting racial emotions. During a recent interview with Malaysiakini, the former prime minister argued that vernacular education would divide Malaysians, Chinese parties are extreme, the Malays sacrificed themselves so that Chinese could get citizenship, and the Chinese are rich while Malays are poor…

Racist issues have been raised over and again lately. Firstly we had a Chinese employer slapping and whipping two bodyguards for fasting; an Indian couple urling insults at fast food employees who were fasting; and then we had a Raya ad promoting online gambling to Muslims.

In addition, a secondary school in Johor set racial rules for sports activities at school, while Subang Umno chief Armand Azha threatened to get 50 Malay residents to protest against the construction of SJK(C) Too Joon Hing.

Politicians manipulating racist politics have been practicing "divide and rule" for decades. As a result, Malaysians have become divided, mutually suspecting and lacking mutual understanding and trust. This will readily create misunderstanding and conflicts. For instance, since the Chinese employer is a Malaysian citizen, why can't he try to understand the significance of fasting to Muslims during the holy Ramadan month? Can he do anything he wants just because he is wealthier, in total disregard for interracial harmony?

Unfortunately, many Chinese Malaysians feel comfortable hanging around among themselves and will very rarely have interactions with their non-Chinese compatriots, or try to understand their religions, cultures and ways of thinking.

The school is supposedly a place to promote unity and foster friendship among young Malaysians from different cultural backgrounds. As for Chinese primary schools, they actually are part and parcel of the country's education system, and with approximately 20% of students being non-Chinese, they have helped boost the country's competitiveness. Seeing education from the perspectives of race and politics will only hurt the country's interests in the long run.

Every now and then irresponsible politicians will cite the country's history and demand that non-Malays be grateful to be granted citizenship, with the wicked motive of justifying their racist narratives. This country will never go far if we keep binding it in the name of "history".

It's like roasting the Malaysian society on fire. When it's hot and we feel the pain, we momentarily remove it from the fire. But after it cools down substantially, we put it back on the fire.

We need a statesman to manage a multiracial country like ours. Unfortunately, two-time prime minister Tun Mahathir is not a statesman, for he keeps exploiting divisive racist tactics to keep Malaysians constantly suspicious of one another, allowing racism to take root and thrive in our society.

After Singapore was separated from Malaysia, Lee Kuan Yew opted for a meritocratic multiracial approach to run his country, and today we should tell which has been a more successful model.

Against such a race-driven political landscape, even DAP finds itself deep in a controversy over whether to consolidate its Chinese support base or explore new Malay vote bank. Neither side is wrong, but given the country's race-dominated political reality, it is indeed difficult to keep everyone happy.

The race politics advocated and championed  by Umno over the decades has successfully put the party in the forefront of Malay politics. Meanwhile, DAP's "Malaysian Malaysia" political philosophy has seen it voicing up for non-Malays, winning itself the "Chinese extremist party" label and even being slapped with the allegation of trying to set up a Christian state here, in doing so.

Thanks to Umno, 95% of Chinese voters supported DAP in the last general election. Despite years of hard work, the party has nevertheless failed to clinch substantial Malay support, and has failed to make any significant breakthrough in Malay-majority constituencies since it teamed up with Semangat 46 in 1990.

To deliver themselves out of the current stalemate, DAP and Pakatan Harapan must strive to shatter race politics and racism in this country.

Political parties will never go far if they keep basking in their own comfort zone and hanging on to their fundamental support bases.

PAS central committee member cum minister of plantation industries and commodities Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali, for instance, has hoped to secure two-thirds majority in the next election with the help of the allies in order to redraw election boundaries in a way that will benefit the Malays and Muslims. Such a thought is actually very dangerous!

This country has been independent for 64 years now. Unfortunately, as we are moving towards the era of Industry 4.0, it is sad that we still consume ourselves with such unproductive racist issues.

Race politics will eventually destroy this country. No one is set to gain anything from it.

With the country still struggling under the weight of a ravaging pandemic, a slumping economy as well as totally chaotic politics, we need to put aside our differences and pool our energy together to take this country out of the gloom.

No one can come to our rescue if we ourselves give up hope.