COMMENT | 'I'm still Sarawakian first, Malaysian second'

COMMENT | So, has Muhyiddin Yassin decided to change his position? Is he no longer “a Malay first, Malaysian second” – an infamous statement he made in 2010 when he was deputy prime minister?

Launching the National Unity Policy and National Unity Blueprint 2021-2030 on Feb 15, Muhyiddin cautioned Malaysians against politicians who use race for personal gain. Now, who’s talking?

From being publicly labelled a racist a decade ago to a preacher of national unity today, that is a 180-degree turnaround for our backdoor leader. The pertinent moral question to ask now is his motivation for the about-turn.

Well, I am not Muhyiddin Yassin. He is the prime minister, the most powerful guy in the country.

His decisions matter. People pay attention to what he says. The prime minister’s words and actions affect all of us, Malaysians, one way or the other.

Me – I am nobody, a country bumpkin from Sarawak. I originated from the jungles of Borneo. No one bothers about what I say or write. I am irrelevant.

Why, some think that Sarawakians like me are still living on trees and the only material covering our bodies is the cawat (loin cloth).

That is okay. I’m not offended. I can only afford a loin cloth because ...