The Malaysian Insight

THE state of affairs in Malaysia has been an “unmitigated disaster”, with deteriorating inter-racial and inter-religious relations left unaddressed by the new government, said public policy analyst Lim Teck Ghee.

“It is clear that post-GE14 is an unmitigated disaster, whichever way you look at it,” said the former World Bank economist at the Whither Maruah Malaysia 2.0 forum held in Kuala Lumpur today.

“Education, governance, race relations, religious relations, the debacles of ICERD, Zakir Naik, ‘Melayu Maruah’ congress and more. The list of political disappointments and failures keeps growing.

“Are we back to square one or even worse? We are confronting the reality that the tsunami was really not much of a tsunami,” said Lim, referring to the wave of support for PH which allowed Barisan Nasional to be toppled in May 2018.

Present were former Malaysian Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan, former MP Tawfik Ismail, architecture professor Tajuddin Rasdi, MCA vice-president Senator Ti Lian Ker, Bar Council orang asli committee chairman Siti Kassim, columnist Johan Arriffin Samad and PKR Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How.

Lim said he previously thought that high-level corruption and economic crimes may be among the easiest of the legacy of the BN regime to put right.

“I may be wrong. It looks like it will keep coming back. Hence continued vigilance and the need for whistleblowers to emerge.

“More resistant are the policies, programmes and mindsets associated with ketuanan Melayu and ketuanan Islam which the country’s state apparatus and practically all institutions of government – educational, media, economic entities, social organisations, religious bodies and even families – have propagated to a largely captive audience.

“Queue cutting, name dropping, bribe giving, apple polishing, arse kissing, frog jumping, dato-ship worshipping – this is the culture that prevails,” he said.

Lim said reforms would not be quick, describing it as a “marathon” that needs all Malaysians to help change.

He also criticised politicians, adding that whatever the outcome of the next election, “we have to assume that politicians generally are in an opportunistic occupation.”

“What they see is a career, an ego trip, a chance to join the gravy train through their positions. And this is to be found on both sides of the divide.

“This means that we cannot simply demand higher standards or be optimistic that our politicians will deliver. We must ourselves do it. Fight for our children’s future and rights in whatever way we can or we deserve to lose them.” – October 25, 2019.