On the Akmal-Kerk exchange, the chips are getting better bluer
From Terence Netto
The latest exchanges between Umno Youth leader Dr Akmal Saleh and DAP Ayer Keroh assemblyman Kerk Chee Yee show signs of heading towards where democratic discourse could become – a prod towards alleviation.
In response to Kerk's challenge to Akmal to be 'a leader for all Malaysians', Akmal has asserted he is already such a leader, citing how he has helped his constituents in Merlimau regardless of their race or religion.
The good thing about the tenor of these exchanges is that they induce the protagonists to expand the ambit of their concerns.
This is a plus point because it goads them to want to be seem bigger than the concerns that impel them: in Akmal's case, the issues that concern the Malays; and in Kerk's case, the ones that typically consume the attention of a DAP rep – mother tongue education and the like.
This invitation to be expansive gradually draws the protagonists to see the bigger picture, a process that would make them soften the edges of partisanship and see people as individuals and not as members of a bloc.
In fact, one can see the effects of this process in Akmal's posting on Facebook: 'I have no issues with the Chinese or Indians. In fact, I help everyone equally, regardless of their race.'
Sceptics may see this kind of talk as rhetorical exaggeration, normative to politicians.
But in a polarised society, this hyperbole is preferable to bald assertions of fact.
What is at work is that the speaker is being tempted to go beyond the boundaries of his core concerns.
Akmal lambasts Kerk as a 'narrow-minded' politician who keeps on 'threatening the racial harmony that we share'.
This claim is a bit tricky because it's loose and lacks substantiation, but it is excusable because in our racially divided polity, this kind of talk is difficult to banish.
However, if the speaker does not confine his spiel to only this kind of porousness, but instead leaves room for alleviation by claiming he has gone beyond narrow sectarianism in his actions, you have the beginnings of fruitful dialogue.
After implying that Akmal is an 'extremist', perhaps Kerk should go beyond mere criticism and think of some endeavour or project that invites collaboration between DAP and Umno Youth.
He could obtain the help of the chief minister of Melaka, Ab Rauf Yusof, of whom Kerk has a benign view.
He describes Rauf as an 'inclusive' politician.
The latter has been in politics for a long time and should have some ideas to encourage Kerk in a quest for collaboration rather than just criticism of Akmal.
Just as Kerk has challenged Akmal to rise above sectarianism, so he should also rise above mere antagonism towards the Umno Youth leader.
Terence Netto is a senior journalist and an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
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