The legacy of Madiba

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Nelson Mandela
1918-2013

THIS week the world received the news of the death of one of the greatest men in history, Nelson Mandela. Immediately there was an outpouring of eulogies and tributes – from the high and mighty to the low and ordinary, through the printed media and cyberspace. These few days we cannot turn our heads without seeing the gentle smile of this icon of courage, dedication and justice — the great Madiba.

Our Prime Minister too sent his condolences. He said that the demise of the former president is a great loss, not only to South Africa and the African region but also to the world, and that Mandela would be deeply missed in many parts of the world for his influence in the struggle for equality, humanity and reconciliation.

Yes, tributes are aplenty and the one I like best is that posted by Morgan Freeman, the actor who played Nelson Mandela in the film ‘Invictus’.

“Today the world lost one of the true giants of the past century. Nelson Mandela was a man of incomparable honour, unconquerable strength, and unyielding resolve — a saint to many, a hero to all who treasure liberty, freedom and the dignity of humankind. As we remember his triumphs, let us, in his memory, not just reflect on how far we’ve come, but on how far we have to go. Madiba may no longer be with us, but his journey continues on with me and with all of us.”

While we stand in awe at the nobleness of this great life perhaps we should also remind ourselves of the struggle and belief of the man – a belief and struggle for which he paid with the spring of his life; which saw him incarcerated for 27 years, looking at the world from behind prison bars.

Nelson Mandela believed that we are all God’s children and are deserving of the fruits of the earth and the opportunities that the world offers. He believed that no one group of people can by virtue of race, religion and colour be discriminated upon and no one group of people can by virtue of race, religion and colour be accorded more privilege than others. In short, Mandela struggled for the equality of all people.

While our political leader joined the world in graciously offering his tribute to the great fighter for justice, a political conference over which he presides was busy making declarations that sounded very like prejudice and claiming privileged position for a certain chosen group. While the White South African racist regime was using colour as the source of their unjustifiable actions, these Malaysian politicians were invoking the name of a great religion to justify the unjustifiable.

These politicians seek to create a climate of fear by saying that their race and religion is under attack, hence the clarion call to unite and defend their rights. Many outlandish views were expressed but none more outlandish, and dare I say ridiculous, than the one reported to have been uttered by the Umno delegate from Pandan, who called for the creation of more Malay millionaires to protect the dignity of Islam.

“Malay millionaires are important as Malays are Muslim. When Malays are rich, Islam will be protected,” said Datuk Mohd Haniff Koslan when debating the party president’s speech at the Umno General Assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre.

He urged the government to audit private companies that were not Malay-owned as the opportunities given to the Bumiputeras in this sector were still very few. His statement was echoed by Minister in Prime Minister’s office Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, who blamed the private sector for discriminating against Bumiputeras.

Of course, the ones who speak so radically and uncompromisingly at political conferences are not necessarily the top guns. The top leaders are too mature and seasoned to express such divisive remarks. Perhaps they are just wannabes who want to gain political mileage for their strive to the top. However, the scary thing is that their attempt to create a siege mentality and a straw man to be attacked do have impact on the naive and/or the opportunists.

Sometime ago I had a conversation with a western gentleman who married a Sarawakian and has made Sarawak his second home. He said something to the effect that Malaysians should not allow Chinese to make any headway in elections. I didn’t quite understand his point and said, “Why? We are all Malaysians, whether we of Chinese, Malay, Dayak, etc.”

“No, no, the Chinese are very ambitious and a few times in Malaysian history they have tried to take over the whole country,” he said with a straight face.

My reaction to such an outlandish view was just “Gulp!” The man is purported to be a retired history teacher of a college in his home country. I wonder who he had been mixing with and what books and newspapers he had read.

Recently one Sarawak politician was reported to have said he was deeply concerned that some quarters have been denying and disputing the rights of Muslims and Islamic law in the country.

“However, as Muslims, we have to stand up to defend our rights and the sanctity of our religion as provided clearly in the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.”

I am nonplussed. Never once have I felt that our national religion has been threatened. It never feared dilution or diminishment even though Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and people of other religious affiliations have been living cheek by jowl for centuries. As one Sarawak politician said, “I attended a mission school and went to church as part of the education system, but it did not make me any less of a Muslim.”

The Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said it best when he said Islam must never be used as a means to advance political causes or score political points.

“Islam is the official religion of the country, but Islam also stresses that every other religion can be practised freely in harmony and peace by people of all faiths.”

He went on to say that a good Islamic government would be one that protected and defended the rights of the people, and this included people from other religions and races.

Nelson Mandela devoted his life to fight for equality and fairness to all, irrespective of race and religion. We take heart from his triumph, but as Morgan Freeman said, “As we remember his triumphs, let us, in his memory, not just reflect on how far we’ve come, but on how far we have to go. Madiba may no longer be with us, but his journey continues on with me and with all of us.”

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