How To Comment

If you wish to comment and have already registered with WordPress, please go into any of the Key Themes (see right) or Synopsis (below), scroll to the bottom of the section,  and then proceed to login, where indicated. You can then leave your comment to the section that you are in. If you have not yet registered with WordPress, please register here.

Please note that much of the contents in the Key Themes are simply excerpts of chapters in the Book which bear the same name. For a complete understanding of these themes, we suggest you pick up a copy of RESET at your nearest bookstore (or purchase it online)!

RESET – synopsis

In this new book, Suflan Shamsuddin asserts that Malaysia is ill, and that unless her citizens can agree on her ailment, she cannot be cured. To agree on a diagnosis, we need a common understanding as to how all her people fit into her social fabric and how they relate to one another. In the book’s early chapters, Suflan ignores the proclaimed taboos around discussing the social contract’s more controversial elements in order to distill a common view that all Malaysians can share. He then uses this viewpoint to diagnose the country’s political funk, and to propose a new democratic landscape with which to “reset” the country’s political bearings.

Excerpt – Why Bother?

“……..Firstly, there are some fundamental principles that are unique to our country with respect to the rights and obligations that communities have to each other and to the country within the framework of nation-building that we are told are absolute taboo to discuss. These principles are commonly and collectively known as the “social contract”. And because we don’t discuss them, we each end up holding to our own views, without knowing, appreciating or caring for the views of others…”

Excerpt – The Notion of Hospitality

“……The community that has settled upon any piece of land would expect to be recognized and treated as the host to any other community which comes to settle on that same land thereafter, even though the latter is not strictly speaking a guest. Even though the latter community is entitled to be there, the former community would expect to be treated with the appropriate level of courtesy, respect and dignity to be accorded to such a host, according to their own subjective standards and norms. But with that right comes the responsibility to extend graciousness, support and hospitality, to the newer community that is to be hosted. The extent to which this relationship is robust is a function of the circumstances upon which the parties have been brought into this interaction, their behaviour towards each other, and the impact of such interaction….”

Excerpt – The Malay Struggle

“…. Whereas in the fight for Independence, we were looking to strike a balance between the forces at play to enable the community to pursue its happiness, today we must be looking at liberating our soul from similar forces within ourselves to enable the individual to do likewise. And unless we can master and control the demons that put fear, doubt, and inhibitions into us, then we will never stand on our own, nor will we ever find true fulfilment. Tok would have called this a jihad….”

Excerpt – Democracy Vs. Special Rights

“……… In conclusion, Article 153 does provide specific safeguards for the Malays, which the Yang di-Pertuan Agong can deploy on the advice of the Cabinet and Prime Minister of the government of the day. Although the meaning of “special position” may be a function of political beliefs, which every citizen and political party is entitled to have, the application of such safeguards for the protection of such purposes must remain constrained by the limits placed on such Article, and should be read in light of other Articles (such as Article 8) of the Constitution…. “

Excerpt – Communal Prejudice

“…….. Chauvinism is felt at an individual level but because this displeasure strikes at the heart of the relationship between communities, the strength and spread of the chauvinism is driven by the worldview and expressions of its communal representatives and leaders. Even if the sense of displeasure varies from one member of a community to another, the chauvinism will be expressed collectively through these community channels. If not managed properly, then this chauvinism can become institutionalized, even if not necessarily truly representative of the community’s views. Unfortunately chauvinism by one community begets chauvinism by the other, and a dangerous spiral can develop if unchecked. Any political party that resorts to chauvinism for whatever reason is playing with a loaded gun.

Excerpt – Race Politics

“……….. Ani said that if that is the premise of the argument in negotiations, UMNO must be able to prove that this premise is not a fiction. Therefore, it will do what it needs to influence the Malays to manifest the truth of these statements. It is this very influence that will end up holding the Malays back, or instigating racial chauvinism. To help the Malays by negotiating for a position that best looks after their interest, you have to prove that they deserve this position. By proving the case, you entrench the very things that serve the community the least. So the Malays will always be what UMNO needs them to be, for the sake of negotiating successfully on their behalf; and that would only lock the Malays into retaining a mentality of narrow-mindedness, parochialism, and blaming others. In a way, UMNO must have Malays remain as it defines them to be to justify its own long-term relevance. So why should UMNO liberate the Malays from their shackles of dependence on subsidies and their fears of marginalization if to do so would mean its own demise?……”

Excerpt – Sailing With The Wind

“……. The Nation-Building Principles are:

• Support, champion and be accountable for safeguarding democracy, transparency, accountability and the rule of law;
• Develop a high quality and accountable power-sharing leadership that can manage the complex challenges of a multi-ethnic and culturally plural society;
• Adhere to an ethic of intercommunal dialogue, such as the notion of hospitality, and dismantle any forms of chauvinism;
• Ensure that any affirmative action plan is carried out in an equitable manner and within a specific time horizon;
• Inculcate in the beneficiaries of affirmative action programmes, an ethics of self-determination;
• Facilitate the recognition of distinct roles and responsibilities that communities and segments of society play in the deliverance of nation-building and inspire the right attitudes to ensure a strong national esprit de corps;
• Protect the interests of all segments of Malaysian society and to ensure that their needs are adequately taken care of in a just and equitable way; and
• Ensure that the country continues to develop, progress, and compete in the global market place.

Excerpt – Maintaining the Equilibrium

“……… The net effect of all of this is that BN and its supporters recognize that there is an inherently unstable and volatile environment in which this coalition can form and maintain the government of the day and to develop and implement policies to fulfil its political mandate, which is to manage the communal dynamics. The environment, if not properly managed, will not just prevent government from functioning effectively, but it may result in grave political and communal instability. A state of equilibrium of communal tensions needs to be maintained at all times…..”

Excerpt – Meeting the Principles

“…….The purpose of the commentary in this chapter is to point out risks that we will be faced with for so long as power prerogatives and patronage are part of our landscape. And to also demonstrate that these risks are by no means insignificant. If we can appreciate the risks without taking political sides, then we might be able to collectively think about a way forward how best to manage these risks. There are three concluding points that I would like to make which I think are critical:

Excerpt – The Proposal

“….In Malaysia, most people still vote according to what best serves their parochial communal interests, even if the party they vote for appears to be desirous of looking after the interest of all communities.

This is a reality we must accept. We must also recognise that such voter behaviour poses risks of social instability. This risk is not mitigated even when two or more parties form a coalition, if their manifestos are diametrically opposed to one another and each party is perceived as being a threat to the interests of its partner’s constituents…..”