Contrary to popular perception, it appears that ‘apologies’ are not in short supply these days, particularly in the wake of the controversy that revolves around Bukit Bendera UMNO division head Ahmad Ismail.
In the news today, ‘apologies’ have been demanded by various individuals and groups across the country, including Ahmad Ismail himself. And there are, of course, the counter-demand that no ‘apologies’ be offered to anyone.
Let’s begin with Ahmad Ismail. He now demanded that Gerakan acting president Dr. Koh Tsu Koon and other leaders of the Chinese community should instead apologise to him for having unnecessarily ‘inflamed’ the issue. This was in response to the demands made by Koh and also others such as MCA and DAP leaders that Ismail apologise for the hurt that he had caused to the community concerned.
Ahmad also insisted an apology from the reporter of a Chinese newspaper, i.e. Sin Chew Daily, because of the alleged misquoting of his statement made at a Permatang Pauh by-election ceramah that had sparked the outrage of the Chinese community and others in the country.
But Sin Chew stood its ground and backed the reporter concerned. If I may wonder aloud at this juncture: is this Sin Chew’s action very much inspired by the recent exhortation of PM Abdullah Badawi that Malaysia’s mainstream media should not be afraid to uphold truth?
Of course, before this UMNO deputy president Najib Razak had already offered an apology on behalf of Ahmad Ismail ‘if it has incurred the insensitivities or unhappiness over the statement’. He added, ’We apologise, Umno apologises although it is not our statement but it is a statement made by one of our division leaders. It is totally unwarranted and does not reflect the position and the attitude of Umno or the leadership of Umno. We regret it very much.’
To be sure, it was this very statement of apology that provoked ex-premier and ex-UMNO member Dr. Mahathir Mohamad to respond. He questioned why Malay leaders had to be apologetic over a remark deemed as racist by an UMNO leader. As an apparent justification for his comment, he claimed that non-Malay leaders never apologised when similar racist remarks were made by members of their community.
Now, assuming that it was true to some extent that certain non-Malay leaders never apologised, is he suggesting that two wrongs make a right, two wrongs that are equally divisive and destructive? When will all these racist remarks end, and when can the ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ that he proposed be a reality?
Can we all, by the way, grow up (after 51 years of ‘independence’) and move on with our nation-building efforts that are more inclusive?
Apologies should be offered by anyone (especially from both sides of the country’s political divide) after a deep introspection, soul searching, remorse and after the realisation that one has indeed made a mortal mistake. (Or are we asking too much here in a world of power-craze and material intoxication?)
There is obviously value in apology, and thus it must not be bastardised for political expediency because apology, as we know it, can go a long way towards cementing human relationships and, in a larger Malaysian context, fostering interethnic, intercultural and inter-religious understanding, respect, tolerance and harmony.
