Discussing “Malay” issues is problematic. The race discourse in this country - as it is everywhere else - is toxic. Non-Malays either venerate Malays who think their way or mock those who are on the opposite side of the political divide. Malay oppositional politicians have to navigate between conforming to mainstream non-Malay expectations and Malay communal concerns, which is often mischaracterised by people who claim they are not “racist” but have no problem attributing damaging stereotypes on the Malay community in their war against Umno.

Zaid Ibrahim’s book - its various editions have been translated to Chinese and Malay but sadly no Tamil version (yet) - is a narrative that seeks to explore his “Malayness” that goes beyond the constitutional definition of his community and reaffirm values, both secular and religious, in a time when the country is at a crossroad. Since this is the latest edition, what we soon begin to realise is that the country has always been at a crossroad.

Nothing is off limits in this book and Zaid Ibrahim pulls no punches when it comes to Umno, “Malay” supremacy, Islam and the future of the Malay community. This is a book by a political insider who has no problem burning his bridges in an effort to expand upon his greater truth. While some view his “not playing well with others” reputation as detrimental to the groupthink of the opposition or establishment, I believe the unpredictability serves a purpose.

The problem with Zaid Ibrahim is that he is a politician who believes in ideas when he is operating in an environment that rejects grand ideas in favour of banal pragmatisms and political bromides.
One of the best chapters in the book, ‘What happened during Ramadan (2016)’, is a chronology of public events that show the mean-spiritedness of public officials and religious bureaucrats at a time when they were supposed to demonstrate piety and compassion. It is a description of events that is related in a matter-of-fact manner, but underneath the placid prose is a disdain for the hypocrisy of those who claim to have the moral high ground but are willing to use the low road to achieve their goals.