LABELLING Malays based on their voting preferences is divisive and harmful, according to analysts and politicians from all political coalitions. They argue that Malays should be able to vote for any party they choose without fear of being labelled. Malays make up 60% of Malaysia’s population, making their votes highly sought after during elections in the country.
During the recent elections in six peninsular states, think tank Ilham Centre reported that in the 15th General Election (GE15) in November, Perikatan Nasional won 52% of the Malay votes, followed by Barisan Nasional with 32% and Pakatan Harapan with 15%. However, Malays who voted for the Perikatan state governments in economically less developed states were labelled as “conservative” by some political groups.
The conservative label is often applied to Malays from rural areas who are seen as more religious and ethnocentric. States such as Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu, where these Malays predominantly reside, have Islamist policies and strict morality enforcement. They also have mentris besar from the Islamist party PAS, known for its traditionalist approach to religion.
Umno Youth Chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh disagrees with labelling Malays based on their voting habits, stating that there are multiple factors influencing voting decisions. He believes that Malays who voted for Perikatan are not necessarily conservative or non-conservative. Similarly, the director-general of the unity government’s Community Communications Department, Datuk Dr Mohammed Agus Yusoff, argues against regarding such Malays as conservative, suggesting that their support for Perikatan may be a result of misinformation spread by party leaders.
On the other hand, PAS youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari contends that labelling Perikatan voters as conservative overlooks the fact that their concerns stem from the government’s failure to protect Malay rights. He argues that these voters are educated and forward-thinking, focused on issues such as an equitable distribution of resources according to the population ratio.
Wan Ahmad Fahysal Wan Ahmad Kamal, the Youth Chief of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, believes that the term “conservative” carries a negative connotation and is not accurately applied to Malays who voted for Perikatan. He suggests that these voters adhere closely to Malay Islamic tradition and are guided by local customs and Muslim scholars. Conversely, he views liberal Malays as those who have detached themselves from these traditions and have embraced Western culture.
Political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin states that political labelling helps the audience quickly understand the news but is not clearly defined. He argues that labelling should focus on ethnic categories rather than conservative and liberal Malays. Shamsul questions why the focus is solely on Malays and suggests that other groups, such as DAP supporters, can also be labelled.
In conclusion, labelling Malays based on their voting preferences is seen as divisive and harmful. Analysts argue that Malays should be able to vote freely without fear of being labelled. The focus should be on ethnic categories rather than conservative and liberal Malays, according to one analyst.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
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