51 - From Now On, It's A Malay vs Malay Contest

Summary

As United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) general assemblies go, the one held last week was rather tame in its rhetoric. It was certainly memorable for its lack of vitriolic language.

And it was expectedly so – therein lies its significance.

Things were quite different back in the days before 2008, when ethnocentric exhortations were run of the mill, and UMNO Youth was the amplifier of racial extremist voices. This year, showing party unity was the order of the day.

Much of the credit must go to the fact that Malaysia today has a surprisingly stable two-party system in place. As we know, such a competitive structure has a strong moderating effect on extremist voices, be they racial or religious. After all, gaining the middle ground is how electoral victories are won.

The fact that the incumbent Prime Minister, Mr Najib Razak, reportedly cited – as a warning to his followers – significant errors made by Republican challenger Mitt Romney in his defeat at the hands of United States President Barack Obama, tells us that even at the highest level, the possibility of the hitherto invincible UMNO being toppled is being taken seriously.

Indeed, the bipolar Obama-Romney battle is being reflected in the clash between Mr Najib and Mr Anwar Ibrahim, the leader of the opposition.

What this actually reveals is the most important point that anyone can make today about the dramatic changes that have been taking place in Malaysian politics, not only over the last five years but also over the last decade and a half.

Opposition forces within the Malay community have come of age. That is the fundamental difference. We are witnessing a Malay-Malay battle.

Despite the rhetoric, the Malay community – perhaps because of its increased relative size, its comparative youth, its growing urbanity or its heightened educational level – is showing a political confidence it did not have before.

Its questioning of UMNO's claim to being the only plausible champion of their interests as a community – in fact, questioning the limitations of communal politicking – is an expression of that very maturity.

One Malay leader is pitted against another Malay leader, and each is backed by an assortment of non-Malays. Such a situation, strangely enough, does not encourage racial or religious politics.