OUR NEW COLONIAL MASTERS
“Gandhiji says unless we improve the conditions of the poorest of the poor in India, home rule would just replace the British rulers with Indian ones.”
This downward spiral from the high ideals of independence into the corrupt abyss of self enrichment achieved through pillaging and oppressing the poor has became the hall mark of UMNO for 55 years and that of Taib for over 30 years.
No where does this statement apply more accurately than to the ruling elites of Malaya and its 2 colonies Sabah and Sarawak.
“Independence in Malaysia” has meant the creation of an elite class of ruler by the departing British. This elite only stepped into the shoes of their colonial masters and they have similarly been using race and religion to control everyone especially the Malays to maintain UMNO’S 55 year of power and virtual dictatorial rule.
“Power should instead be based only on people’s unity and people’s unity should be based on justice on the one hand, and, people’s dignity and rights on the other. Our democracy has not taken even a first step in that direction.
Gandhiji rightly pointed out in the discussion on home rule that without people-oriented politics we would be simply replacing the British with Indian rulers. Gandhiji could not be more correct.”
We should however note that Gandhi’s non violent approach was only a tactic to win state power and independence – it was the means to an end. It did not challenge the status quo but only re-creating a mirror image of the British political system. Thus the British also resisting Indian independence finally gave India its independence.
Malaya has passed this stage while Sabah and Sarawak remain colonies. The 2 colonies only achieved nominal independence just prior to the inauguration of Malaysia by Britain and Malaya and immediately got a new colonial master.
Whether by non-violent or otherwise, the people of Sabah and Sarawak are still to fully gain and enjoy real independence.
Seldom in history has a colonial power willingly give up its power and control over a colony.
Sabah Sarawak represent the crown jewels in the Malayan crown and Malaya will not give them up without some bloodshed. That is why Malaya has a large army in the 2 colonies. This is always the symbol of foreign colonial occupation