For ourselves and for our posterity, we must remain silent no more. Walk out of your comfort zone, and let’s join courageous Malaysians the likes of Prof Tajuddin and Mariam Mokhtar.

The past few years I have been reading Professor Dr. Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi’s opinion pieces on Sin Chew Daily — incisive articles that manifest his deep love for the country and reveal his nature as an open-minded, knowledgeable, tolerant, forgiving and insightful Malay-Muslim.

His faith also underscores his fear for God, humility, compassion, love and sincerity for the nation as well as her people.

The most admirable thing about him is that he has no fear for the power to be, nor is he enticed by power or earthly interests.

He will not keep quiet when the country is smacked by acts of injustice, fully protruding the demeanor of integrity and righteousness a true believer should possess. You have my most profound respect, Professor!

We all know that this country is currently encountering tremendous domestic and global challenges, breakneck changes in the international environment as well as stifling deflationary pressure, much of which is beyond our control.

Nevertheless, things that we have come across over the decades in religion, race, education, corruption and so much more, can all be rectified by us, only if we wish to.

We have democratically picked our leaders, but these people are very much more keen on politicking and opportunistic ventures to satiate their own, as well as their groups’ political lusts, forming ad hoc alliances, manipulating political powerplay in a bid to maximize their own gains and appease their infinite appetite for more power.

Apparently these politicians are totally disinterested in the country’s development or the rakyat’s well-being. All that preoccupies them is how to fish votes through dirty tricks.

To these people, the securing of power promises great wealth and prosperity, and keeps their vested interests fulfilled.

Distinguished US scholar Howard Hendricks once said, “The greatest crisis in the world today is a crisis of leadership, and the greatest crisis of leadership is a crisis of character.”

Indeed, our politicians, who unashamedly incite the public by flirting with 3R issues, have become the greatest crisis of this country today!

Every day, we helplessly see these political clowns — many were once cabinet ministers or even a respected former PM — tearing up the nation with their repeated utterances of destructive and divisive remarks, loudly chanting the “Malay Proclamation” mantra, arguing that the Chinese have robbed the Malays of their property; the Chinese build skyscrapers while the Malays are contented with peddling at roadside makeshift stalls; multiculturalism contravenes the country’s Constitution; non-Muslims are the biggest sources of corruption; and the Malays will surrender their rights if the Chinese are in power… trashy talks that have gravely distorted the facts.

They are fanning public emotion in every possible aspect of our everyday life in the name of religion, with the ulterior motive of undermining intercommunity harmony.

Save for power and material gains, these people can trade everything else, their conscience and dignity included, in order to advance their ill ambitions.

These evil politicians wickedly cook up sensitive issues, making aggressive and radical statements in the name of nationalism, much to the detriment of the multicultural Malaysian society.

Perhaps they should learn from minister Anthony Loke how to be more composed and intelligent.

Malaysians are known for their kindness, as many foreigners who have been living here for years can profess. But unfortunately, our kindhearted folks have for so many years been instigated and misguided by hypocritical politicians who customarily ingrain in us narrow-minded thinking in the name of education and religion, thus widening the division between the many ethnic groups in this country, sowing the seed of mistrust.

As Prof Tajuddin has said, we do need more Malay scholars, intellectuals and moderate religious leaders to take the lead in guiding the masses back to the right track.

Indeed, the country has nurtured a fair share of social scientists, religious and history professors and other highly regarded members of the Malay social elite.

As Prof Tajuddin has said, we have plenty of Malay professors in groupings like G70 and G25, along with countless of Tan Sris, Datuk Seris and what not, who should stand out at this crucial moment in the nation’s history to guide the Malaysian public back to the right religious perspectives and values, and broaden their scope of vision.

Let us learn to respect, accommodate, trust and help one another in creating a promising common future for this country.

Malaysia is a blessed land of abundant resources. As long as we are determined to reject the malicious manipulations of greedy politicians, we absolutely have sufficient resources that can be shared among ourselves, and lead a harmonious and joyful life.

For ourselves and for our posterity, we must remain silent no more. Walk out of your comfort zone, and let’s join courageous Malaysians the likes of Prof Tajuddin and Mariam Mokhtar. We can make Malaysia a much better place tomorrow!

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil
is for good men to do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)

(Goh Kian Heng is a professional engineer.)