For a nation that evangelises the need for democracy, the re-election of Donald Trump as US President raises fundamental questions.
Would a convicted candidate be eligible to stand for elections in any democracy? Not in many democratic countries.
Trump’s return
Yet today we have a convicted individual, whose past credentials should have debarred him from politics, as US president.
The idealism many had about the US presidential system and the votes picked up through the electoral college system has been crushed.
Despite the country’s two-party system and open debates, the emergence of Trump as a candidate and his election victory have fuelled cynicism towards US democracy.
What comes thorough is that a leader’s mindset is so important. Candidates may be on the extreme right or extreme left. The choice is left to voters.
Voters will then have to face the consequences of the majority’s choice. The winning candidate may hold conservative, liberal or extreme right views or may practise identity politics. These are the consequences of electoral democracies.
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Voters must ask themselves what they want. They must understand that the democratic process promotes the majority view.
Yet despite the notion of a separation of powers and checks and balances, it is the elected leader and his or her mindset that ultimately determines direction and policy. A lot depends on how autocratic or inclusive the leader is in managing power.
Trump, more than anyone in recent years, exemplifies this. A sound, credible individual will enhance and add value to existing systems and institutions, while one with a dubious background could pollute and even defame the system. A system is only as good as the person who speaks in its name.
Confronting dangerous mindsets
Under the circumstances, the question of the mindsets of the leader and the majority of voters becomes an important factor. The events in Gaza and Ukraine highlight this for us. Modern warfare and the genocide we witness in our sitting rooms epitomise this crisis of mindsets.
We have lost a sense of humanity and the ability to use humane measures to resolve conflicts and disagreements. The UN’s failure is massive, both in its structure and set-up. This suggests an immense global leadership failure.
Crisis management, conflict resolution, mediation and arbitration could have been used. But we see scant regard given to international law, the International Court of Justice and the need for a respected rules-based approach.
While many die before our eyes, others suffer a living death. Their numbers become just statistics. We witness vicious cruelty that is unacceptable in this age of heightened education, information and knowledge.
The failure of Europe, the US and the Middle East, along with the inability of the UN to make a difference, shows up the state of international relations today.
Aerial bombardments take war to another level while the use of drones further devalues life. So many die – families, wives, children – their homes demolished while the future of survivors is devalued. Where is the sense of conscience for ‘the other’? Surely, there must be a sense of proportionality when a state is at war with an occupied territory. It is so tragic.
But this underlines the significance of ideologies and their total grip on people’s minds. Whether it is Nazism or Zionism, those espousing these ideologies see ‘the other’ as less than human, justifying in their minds the actions taken to decimate them.
Good people are sucked into these ideologies through their own biases. Many from a Judeo-Christian background, for instance, are biased towards Israel. Christian Zionism holds sway – despite the presence of Christians in occupied Palestine. A similar tendency can be seen with Narendra Modi and the Hindutva political ideology in India.
Minister Aaron Ago’s crucial role
This is why we in Malaysia should be cautious of those who champion sectarian ideas in a multi-ethnic society. We are caught in this web. Despite all the talk of national unity and Rukun Negara (National Principles), we are no further forward after over six decades of highlighting ‘unity in diversity’.
Recent issues surrounding the Mufti Bill and the interfaith ‘guidelines’ (now shelved) are warning signals for us.
One of the most significant ministries presently is the Ministry of National Unity, led by Aaron Ago Dagang. The minister has to be firm and clear in his position. Under the “Madani” (civil and compassionate) government, he has the power, responsibility and duty to live up to the Madani principles.
The minister has to ensure that the Rukun Negara tenets, which govern his ministry’s policies, are upheld by all, including MPs and state assembly members. He has to speak up candidly and quickly for aggrieved communities on issues that affect national unity.
Coming from Sarawak, Aaron Ago should have a broader mindset and must affirm his position and give it more teeth and bite. He has to caution his fellow ministers that things like the ‘guidelines’ should not be promoted without his knowledge.
The minister must also speak out against those MPs who belittle issues relating to ethnicity, religion or language. He must be heard championing the cause of national unity and he needs to get the cabinet behind him.
Aaron Ago is the voice for unity and should therefore speak up without fear of favour. Hailing from Sarawak, he should have the moral strength to do so. This is what we expect of a national unity minister. Otherwise, he will become another decoration, like previous ministers who held this post.
The minister can educate the likes of the minister for religious affairs on the multi-religious landscape in Malaysia. He can take immediate steps to chastise those who speak ill of another community or religion. The various religious leaders must understand this reality in Malaysia.
By creating a national unity board, as was done previously, Aaron Ago could garner support and feedback. He could invite representatives from the G25 group of prominent former civil servants, the MCCBCHS inter-religious grouping and NGOs like Aliran and Accim to help him navigate through contentious issues like the ‘KK Super Mart’ crisis and others.
We must be cautious of the narrow mindsets that promote “ketuanan Melayu” (Malay supremacy), which does not sit well with the Malaysian identity.
Religion in Malaysia should pull people towards a sense of unity and purpose for the common good. Any religion that undercuts such a goal denies its transcendent appeal and fails humanity.
K Haridas
Co-editor, Aliran newsletter
9 March 2025
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