Antara tak malu dan tak tahu malu

In the Malay sense, being "not ashamed" traditionally meant a lack of education or insufficient upbringing. However, in modern times, I have observed Malay people falling into the category of "not ashamed." I apologize, I am not trying to insult or belittle our nation, but when I see the reactions to the Tabung Haji issue, the three former PMs being charged in court, and now the Felda issue, I see that the two largest Malay factions are only doing it for show.

They continue to come up with creative excuses such as dishonoring the Malay race, selective actions, and the agenda to undermine Islam in Malaysia. To me, if Malays want to be the leaders of the Malay dominance concept, there must be high and demanding expectations and key performance indicators (KPIs). When expectations and KPIs are not met, then there should be a sense of shame, and statements for improvement in the future.

I recall Dr. M's reaction when he was PM for the first time. At that time, there was a nationwide power outage, or just Kuala Lumpur, I'm not sure. Electricity was cut off continuously for a whole night, if I'm not mistaken. Later, it was fixed and electricity came back on. On TV, I saw Dr. M's face looking sad and a little "angry," but his words still echoed in my ears.

When asked by journalists about his reaction to the incident, he looked at the camera seriously and said with a sense of shame, "I am ashamed!" Just one line, a very short one. "I am ashamed." When we read Tun M's book like 'A Doctor in the House,' we will respect his working style. Tun M is a no-nonsense and hands-on person. Unlike his previous boss Tun Hussein Onn, who didn't like him much.

He would go to the factory floor to see the production problems firsthand. He would walk to look at traffic lights and ask why some were not working. Those who usually cause trouble are Malay people who become municipal chiefs or Yang di-Pertua. I have also heard stories from Pakatan Harapan ministers in 2018 to 2020. They said they were busy when Tun M brought out his little black book and started criticizing them.

Usually, the relevant ministers would get flustered and quickly WhatsApp relevant officials to take immediate action. That is Tun M's style. He believed in knowledge-based and hard work. Failure is not an option. That is what I respect about Malay people. Dr. M's 'I am ashamed' statement means he feels responsible, even though he is not the one who controls the electricity switches.

But unlike other leaders who might say 'it's just a trial for the Malay party' or 'I don't see any government incompetence in this issue, maybe it's being targeted by a lightning bolt.' Not at all, Dr. M takes full responsibility with the statement 'I am ashamed.' Malaysians today, whether they wear a songkok or a white headscarf, I see only one shame they cannot bear.

What if they can't? Even with a songkok or a white headscarf, there is only one shame I can see. When the RCI Tabung Haji shows the management incompetence of a Malay entity, Malay leaders are busy defending Islamic narratives by quoting Quranic verses. This is how Malays will feel ashamed. How can Malays feel ashamed when there are other Malays discussing the RCI Tabung Haji issue in WhatsApp groups, and even at mamak stalls?

Later, we see a truly unique scene. Three former PMs are facing court charges for dishonoring the nation. As expected, this issue got little attention on social media. People were mostly posting reversed flags and DAP endless issues, what more? There's one party ready to take over the federal government, with a candidate PM and deputy ministers already lined up, ready or not, important or not.

When we all wait for policies on education, health, and eradicating poverty, some say 'this is too much to ask.' Only the leaders of parties that claim to represent Malays can have such a foundation. So, for those of us who have nothing but time, what is our hope for the future of Malaysia and all its people if leaders of the two largest parties dare to say, "I am ashamed"? This article is a personal opinion and does not necessarily represent FMT.