Challenges facing the 1Malaysia concept
The first of the challenges comes from vested interests with a stake in perpetuating ethnic dichotomies that are inimical to national unity. Among the Malays and Bumiputeras, there are groups who abuse the Special Position embodied in the Constitution and in certain public policies to advance their own interests. They alienate not only the vast majority of non-Malays but also a significant segment of the Malay and Bumiputera populace.
Comment:- I agree so far ....
Likewise, the pronounced push for Chinese primary and secondary education within the Chinese community, in contrast to its passive approach to education in the national language, has created a great deal of disillusionment among Malays who feel that the former are not inclined towards integration that acknowledges the identity of the land.
Comment:- False. When Umno has created an education system riddled with lies & subversive ideas/policies with the intent of subjugation/ Malay-Islamic Supremacy, I honestly believe that it is Umno and its BN allies who perpetuate this situation in the interest of its continuing racist and divisive polity.
A second challenge emanates from partisan politics. Some individuals and groups within the political opposition view 1Malaysia as a propaganda tool of the Barisan Nasional. They ignore the fact that 1Malaysia was presented to the people as a national mission on April 3, 2009 by the prime minister in his capacity as the sixth prime minister of Malaysia.
Comment:- False. Judging from the debate on Ketuanan Melayu propaganda, its refusal to condemn racist ideas and the belligerance of the Umno-sponsored supremacist "neo-Nazi NGOs", nobody actually believes that the "1-Malaysia" slogan is presented as a "national mission". Not even their allies!! They simply use it as a political slogan in the much publicized "rebranding" exercise, in the interest of hoodwinking voters & garnering power after their losses.
Besides, right from the outset, 1Malaysia was anchored in the Constitution and linked to the Rukun Negara and Wawasan 2020, which are instruments of nation-building, not political party manifestoes. If it had not been for this negative attitude of some politicians, which has an impact upon a portion of the populace, 1Malaysia would have gained more traction.
Comment:- If it has been in the Federal Constitution, wouldn't it suffice to promote "The Rukun Negara" with exhorts the Supremacy of The Federal Constitution (Keluhuran Perlembagaan) thru actions of MYConsti to educate the people on the Spirit of the Constitution?
Certain unhelpful religious sentiments also impede 1Malaysia. There are influential elements in the religious establishment who do not realise that their narrow, bigoted interpretations of rules and regulations undermine that universal, inclusive spirit of Islam which reinforces the notion of common humanity that 1Malaysia envisages. On the other hand, there are non-Muslim politicians who are totally insensitive to Muslim feelings about Islamic etiquette, practices and institutions.
Comment:- You aren't gonna shift the blame, Chandra- not when Umno's mouthpiece in Utusan spreads these words!! It is not that they aren't "helpful", but just that Umno (fears them and) capitalises on them & refuses to condemn the bigotry to further their political agenda. It certainly helps their brand of "politics of Fear".
1Malaysia is also hampered by certain communal pronouncements and ethnic distortions and misconceptions which are ventilated more frequently than before in the public square. Words such as pendatang and penumpang directed at fellow non-Malay citizens are not only demeaning and degrading but also utterly reprehensible from the standpoint of our quest for national unity.
Comment:- Accepted.
They are, to some extent, a reaction to the constant attempts by a section of the non-Malay intelligentsia through the cyber media to question the Malay position. Ludicrous arguments are trotted out, such as that the presence of small pockets of Chinese on the Malay Peninsular for hundreds of years delegitimises the Malay position. On the contrary, the very fact that they were well integrated into what were essentially Malay milieus, sustained by Islam, the Malay language and the Malay sultanates, proves that the Malay polity was the precursor of the Malayan, and later, Malaysian nation-state.
Comment:- The constant barrage of attacks against Umno's frequently nonsensical racist stand, stem from Umno's refusal to grant the rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution (or even openly debate it). So don't come around shifting the blame again, Chandra. And take note that "Malay polity" was no precursor to the "Malaysian" nation-state- Sabah & Sarawak had nothing to do with the "Malay polity" you speak of.
In spite of these formidable challenges, there are certain achievements that one should attribute to 1Malaysia.
One, it has helped to foster -- to a limited degree at least -- a feeling of togetherness among a lot of young Malaysians. They understand 1Malaysia as an all-inclusive idea that embraces the nation's diverse communities. Our accomplishments in regional and international sports throughout last year have also contributed to this feeling.
Comment:- That is 1- laughable & pathetic lie, which I believe even my dog wouldn't believe!! Accomplishment in sport contributed to this ""1-Malaysia" feeling??? OMG, Chandra- what have you been smoking??!!
Two, 1Malaysia has also been associated with the present emphasis by the government upon extending assistance to the poor and needy, regardless of ethnicity. That social justice is a more important consideration than ethnic or religious affiliation is a critical 1Malaysia message.
Three, for the first time, there is an earnest endeavour on the part of the government to recognise and reward ability and excellence, irrespective of ethnicity. The award of local and foreign scholarships to all 9A-plus scorers in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) in 2010 was testimony to this.
Comment:- Big Deal .... Shame on you for using this as a plus-point- Singapore has been doing that for Malaysians, FOR AGES!!! Anyways- like I said, A Swallow doesn't make a summer
Four, through 1Malaysia, efforts are being made to increase the intake of non-Malays in the civil service, the police and armed forces, and to ensure that there is greater mobility for them in these public institutions. Certain private enterprises dominated by one community at the managerial level should emulate this and also become more multi-ethnic.
Comment:- Nobody would refuse to hire you in the private sector, should you be willing to WORK HARD and PERFORM. For a minute, I thought you were speaking of meritocracy ... now you have reverted to the same old racial paradigm. (Judging from the morose faces of jobless civil servants and the difficulty I had at the MPS office today when I wanted to (do my job as a citizen and) get licences for my pedigree dogs- I seriously doubt that is the culture UMNO wishes to inculcate among certain "pedigrees" thru "1-Malaysia" although I saw it all over the place .....)
This year and beyond, apart from building upon our 1Malaysia achievements, the government, the opposition and civil society groups should do much more to overcome the challenges that confront 1Malaysia. Raising public awareness should become a more systematic and organised enterprise with the capacity to rectify serious inter-ethnic misunderstandings.
Comment:- I agree. However Chandra, I must say that any effort towards achieving this will be subverted by the Umno hordes, unless it subscribes to their feudal and supremacist political agenda.
For instance, Ketuanan Melayu is not -- as erroneously interpreted by the English language media -- "Malay Supremacy". It is more accurately described as "Malay Sovereignty".
Comment:- Really? How then do you explain the brain-drain, absence of "Nons" in higher positions in the civil service despite their ability, or even the low ratio of "nons" in the security/defence forces?
The fight against the Malayan Union in 1946 was an attempt to restore Malay sovereignty, crucial elements of which were later incorporated into the Malayan and Malaysian Constitution in the form of the position of the Malay Rulers, the status of Malay and Islam, and the Special Position of the Malays.
Comment:- So be it. I have no problem with that part. Just stick to "special position of the Malays", instead of calling it "special privileges or "special rights" as Umno & Perkasa choose to. Just go on & educate the ognoramuses, instead of protecting them, okay, Chandra .... and oh- please tell the morons that the Non-Muslims aren't Dhimmis.
It should be sufficient to emphasise loyalty to the Constitution today, without harping upon Ketuanan Melayu, which from a 1Malaysia perspective is divisive and detracts from our noble endeavour to strengthen inter-ethnic unity and harmony through common Malaysian citizenship.
Comment:- Yes- the Fed Consti is good enough- plus we don't need the Syariah Courts dictating terms to the Civil Courts. We also don't need a "1-Malaysia" perspective to know that Ketuanan Melayu is a stupid idea to begin with, if you had nationhood in mind.
Dr Chandra Muzaffar is chairman of the Board of Trustees of Yayasan 1Malaysia and professor of global studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia
Conclusion:-
Chandra is scraping the bottom of the barrel to justify "1-Malaysia" in his endeavour to continue to be the exemplary bootlicker of his "Umno Mastah", that he is!!
Case closed.
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