It’s not blind people who are blind – it’s those racists who see a colour with their eyes wide open, then have a problem with it.
– Jimmy Tudeski, comedian
Why is it that I have this feeling some politicians in this country thrive on controversies? Looks like they have nothing else better to do than turn minor matters into national issues and controversies!
Don’t just point the fingers at Opposition politicians; those in the ruling government are equally guilty too. We elect assemblymen and members of parliament (MPs) every five years to help run the country smoothly and resolve pressing issues, not create more problems for us or worse still pit one race against the other or one religion against another.
If we are not careful and do not stop these politicians and allow them to continue pursuing their agenda, I am afraid this beautiful and beloved nation will be torn apart in the next 10 or 20 years. No, I am not engaging in fear-mongering; let’s say I am just doing my duty as a concerned citizen to warn what will happen if we, the voters continue to vote in these narrow-minded political animals.
Early this month, Parliament turned chaotic after a Pakatan Harapan MP from the ruling coalition, Jimmy Puah Wee Tse, raised the topic of elevating a Malaysian popular herbal soup, bak kut teh, to a national or heritage dish.
Opposition Perikatan Nasional MP Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah questioned if the dish usually cooked with pork ribs – but is also prepared with chicken, mutton, seafood or vegetables to suit Malaysians – is appropriate to be featured in the heritage dish list.
He directed his question to Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, who said for a food to be included in the national or heritage dish category, it should be enjoyed by all Malaysians of different racial or religious groups.
“I, somewhat, agree with Langkawi MP’s (Mohd Suhaimi) point of view. If the bak kut teh is prepared with chicken, it is okay. But as for the bak kut teh brought up by Tebrau MP (Jimmy Puah), he didn’t give specifics of what kind, and I can’t answer specifically either.
“The main thing here is for us to include a food as a heritage dish, it should be able to be savoured by all races in our country,” he said.
I couldn’t agree with the deputy minister more; yes, for bak kut teh to be accepted as a national dish, the mutton or chicken or the seafood versions can be considered.
But former culture, arts and heritage minister and Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Rais Yatim made an ‘unceremonious entry’ into the debate by urging the authorities to study the sensitivities of Malaysians first, stressing that the proposal to recognise the soup as a heritage dish does not spark a religious or cultural controversy.
Rais cited unnamed language advisers, saying bak kut teh carries the meaning of pork for the word ‘bak’, followed by bone (‘kut’) and (‘teh’) means special herbal soup.
He questioned what the Department of National Heritage was doing about the proposal, asking if the department dared to advise the minister in charge of culture to not be hasty.
A riled up federal Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing ticked off Rais’ view on the dish as “outdated and narrow” since ‘bak’ in Chinese refers to meat (any type of meat).
“The dish has evolved to include mutton, chicken, seafood, and even vegetarian versions so that all Malaysians can enjoy this simple dish.
“Everyone can use the protein they prefer. There is no need to complicate this matter. Let’s stop making statements for small political gains; it only sows hatred and destroys the foundation of unity, he said.
Talking about deputy minister Khairul Firdaus’ statement that any Malaysian dish that is to be considered as a heritage dish should be able to be eaten by all races brings forth another issue.
Some Malaysian Indians and Chinese do not eat beef as it is against their religious beliefs, but beef is a main ingredient in the popular rendang and satay.
Therefore, for the authorities not to be seen as practising double standards and if they are serious about enforcing the policy that all dishes in the national or heritage dish list are consumable by all races, the current list needs to be re-examined to take the sensitivities of all races and religions into account.
The question is will the people in power rework on the list? Or will the narrow-minded and controversial politicians pounce on this suggestion and turn it into yet another racial or controversial issue?
A few years ago in 2017, Malaysia Airlines stewardesses’ uniforms became an issue when several Umno politicians viewed their attire as “too sexy” and insisted that they be changed to better portray country’s “strong Eastern values”.
And just last week, a PAS MP complained about nurses’ uniforms being “too tight and revealing” as their attire showed their body shape.
Wan Razali Wan Nor raised the issue in Parliament during a debate on reforms to the public health sector.
His comments drew flak when a Facebook user said: “Even if the nurses wear gunny sacks for uniform, PAS leaders will find fault with it.”
Some politicians allow their imagination to run wild.
Several Twitter users ticked off the Kuantan MP, saying he has demeaned the nursing profession and asked all nurses to boycott him when he’s sick and has to be admitted to hospital.
The problem with some of our elected representatives is that they are not focussed! They should be touching on the workload of the nurses and the future of the medical profession and healthcare. Not on nurses’ uniforms.
There are several pressing issues which our politicians should focus on – corruption, education, food security, cost of living, crime and justice, economy, gender and sexual equality, political reform, jobs and wages, labour shortage, rights and discrimination, race relations and culture and identity.
Focus on these critical issues and leave food and women alone! There is still time for wayward politicians to return to the right path.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
