Politics is a game of power, and identity is the most effective tool
The more each community fears the other, the easier it becomes for politicians to position themselves as the protector of their own community.
Identity politics is a powerful tool wielded by politicians across the spectrum to mobilize their constituencies, according to Ti Lian Ker, a former deputy unity minister and ex-MCA vice-president. The political parties, including Umno, DAP, and PAS, have each used identity politics in different ways to benefit their respective communities, but the question remains: who created, cultivated, and ultimately benefited from this strategy?
The answer is clear: politicians from all parties have played a role in creating and benefiting from identity politics. Each party has employed unique approaches to identity politics, with Umno focusing on Malay fears and grievances, DAP highlighting the unequal treatment of non-Malays, and PAS emphasizing the need to strengthen Islam's position in government and society.
While there are legitimate ideological arguments behind these approaches, when political parties turn these issues into electoral mobilization, they transform religion and identity into political currency. The ordinary Malay voter is repeatedly told to unite, lest they lose their rights, while being provided with various forms of assistance, privileges, and political support.
However, the real question is whether the nation's wealth reaches ordinary Malays or if it is captured by the political and business elite. Identity politics effectively keeps people arguing over race and religion, while the more critical issue remains: who controls the money and benefits from political power? Both sides have played a role in the divide, with Umno, DAP, and PAS each reinforcing the other's narratives.
This paradox allows politicians to position themselves as protectors of their communities, keeping people fearful of one another and dependent on politicians for protection. The result is that identity politics is profitable for politicians but expensive for the rakyat, as they are kept worried about each other, rather than addressing the real issue of who is really benefiting from racial and religious politics.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
