How will race and religion influence the outcome of the coming Malaysian election?

Producer: Yvonne Gomez
First broadcast: 15 March 04, Radio Singapore International

As Malaysia's polling day approaches, the role of race and religion in voting trends was an issue that was discussed at a seminar organised by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, or ISEAS in Singapore today. Yvonne Gomez finds out more in this report.

Race and religion have played a significant role in the development of social order in Malaysia's post-colonial history. But how have they also affected the politics of the country? Mr K Kesavapany, Director of ISEAS thinks that the struggle is now focused within a single race in Malaysia.

K: Until 1999, the element of race figured quite significantly. For example, when election time came, the MCA will make its demands. the MIC will make demands, and Gerakan will make demands. But after 1999, particularly in this election, there is no mention at all about the other races. Now, the election is pure and simple, an intra-racial struggle. It is a struggle between the same race, the Malay race, but of diffrerent Islamic persuasion - the radical versus the so-called moderates.

Dr Abdul Aziz Bari is a Professor of Law at the International Islamic University Malaysia. He gave his reasons for the increased role that Islam now plays in Malaysian politics.

AAB: In 1970, I remember that the composition of races was different from what we have today. In 1970, we had something like 35% Chinese, out of the
entire population. But by 2001, this went down to something like 20-25%, and the Malay population has gone up to something like 60%. This is, I think, something one should bear in mind, as a reason that the call for more Islamisation is getting louder and louder. Probabaly, the sense of a identity and numbers has an important role in this development.

However, Dr K S Nathan of ISEAS believes that the concept of race may not
be as contentious as it appears.

KSN: Race is negotiable in Malaysia, but the option to decide who enters and becomes a Malay, is left to the power elite. Mahathir himself is half-Indian, half-Malay. So negotiated concept of race being accepted in Malaysia, because he has some skills, and his skills are recognised. He is able to lead and so they admitted him.

Dr Nathan continued on the topic of political elitism, in the Islamic context.

KSN: In any society, elites will develop. The masses, if you'll pardon me, are asses. They cannot rule, so from the masses, an elite group will develop. It's a question of which elites really rule a country. Maybe in Malaysia, what is happening is an alternative group of elites, with a more Islamic identity, is emerging, to contest the post-colonial, pro-Western elite, which may have lost a certain sense of legitimacy. So in any case, if you destroy the UMNO-led elite of the Barisan Nasional, something else would develop and this could well be the PAS-led Islamic elite.

Dr Colin Abraham is a freelance consultant on education and social development, based in Malaysia. He believes the privileges for the Malays have perpetuated a negative notion of political elitism in the country.

CA: When we talk of people who are protecting their interests, who are using or manipulating the political system, including the agama...who are these people? They are the elite groups. And this elitism has continued from the colonial period. The colonial system of politicisation and political parties just continued, flipped over like a page. This perpetuation of the ruling class of elites, of all races, but of course, mostly Malays and aristocrats, and of course, the bureaucracy now. So I think in that sense, it's a very progressive step forward, that these elites are now being called upon to account.