This line or some other equally distasteful one was recently used by a government official to gain cheap popularity amongst hardline malay supremacists and other Malay opportunity seekers. Justifying the statement, it was said that the Chinese locally don’t really engage and identify themselves as Malaysians anyway.
The only reason the Malaysian pure blood argument has come into place is because of the NEP (New Economic Policy) introduced in the 60′s to safeguard the rights and bolster the economic development of Malays in what was then a time of economic change, markets were emerging, the local economy was developing immensely and along with it came success from and in communities that were more adept to urban industrialisation and were commercially savvy.
The Malays then found themselves utterly out classed because they had never used an abacus in their lives and sickles that were used in the paddy fields were of so little value that even the pawn shops then didn’t want to take them in.
The government at that time saw no other option but to placate the mass Malays by introducing biased policies designed to enable even orangutans to achieve some measure of success in this country, so long as they were born of the predisposed lesser race. The fool proof policy was meant to last 20 years.
Lo and behold almost 50 years later the policy is still enforced and far from raising the standards of the Malays, it has plunged the standards of all Malaysians.
Look at Singapore, broke away from us and is now a sovereign nation, a country that has literally no resource and has to buy WATER from us today reports double digit growth figures industrialised nation status and one of the lowest tax rate in the region all achieved with no bolstering policies.
Why?
While others have made positive growth movements, the bolstered group here has become lazy socio-economically. They have come to expect to buy houses at 7% discount, land ownership rights, access to better government backed investments and quota protected education opportunities.
The fact that these privileges are given purely based on ethnic considerations, has caused a vicious movement amongst the malays to protect what they recognise as essentially the ticket to a free meal… the continuance of the “I Am Underprivileged Syndrome”. So much so, this is how they think…”even if I am STUPID, I deserve the right for admission into local universities, it is my right under the NEP (it does not matter that the NEP is no more in force, I’ll just threaten the current Malay Government that I’ll vote for the opposing Malay Party if they actually consider that it’s time to level that market and work towards meritocracy). I don’t actually have to understand English although the world speaks it… Malay will do fine just as long as I stay in Malaysia and become a Jaguh Kampung”.
Nett result?
Fucked up education system that produces scum.
These and a series of other tragically hilarious ironies are the cause of so much shame Malaysians bare.
I am not proud to be Malaysian. There is really nothing to be proud of. It is a country of lecherous leaders and a lazy majority.
Now can you blame the Chinaman in Malaysia for not wanting anything to do with the Malays?
It has taken a lot from all Malaysian (note I said Malaysian) quarters to get to wherever we are now. Wherever now is.
Many assume that there is such a thing as a "Malaysian Identity" to begin with.
The concept of a collective Malaysian identity must be justified true before it can be recognised as a valid term. For lesser arguments I would normally let the concept fly. I would normally say its ok to recognise the ability to produce "a warm and friendly smile" as a Malaysian trait. But in truth it is common courtesy. I believe that for a trait to be unique to us it needs to not just be substantial but also harder to replicate. Perhaps the use of the "...lah" is a good place to begin.
Being Malaysian is simple... be born in this country. Buying into the concept is a little harder. It requires one to understand the parameters of being Malaysian, primarily its laws and socio-economic practices and subsequent result of these laws and practices.
The notion that the NEP benefits non-Malays is offensive. How do you see that playing out? Just because a Non-Malay aligns himself to a Malay for a better chance at a contract hardly constitutes a benefit. All it does is it further inflates the fake value of, in this case, a Malay "property" whilst all the time ignoring that real value of merit and ability.
This is also not consistent with class communal politics as you may like to point out the problem to be. If it was class communal the ruling rich would just simply make it more difficult for the masses in general to achieve affluence and therefore independence. Push me for a term, I’m more inclined to offer diluted ethnic enginnering.
I never said that there were no non-Malays that were well off, neither have I said that Malays don't have problems, just that the scenario is grossly and unjustifiably biased. Nothing more.
The argument that problems are not of a racial nature but rather economic is also a non issue (or the crux of the issue, depending on how the government commentator is feeling that day).
Taking the Class communal route, to solve the problem, lets level the bar and allow equal opportunities to education and subsequent success, with a smattering of welfare equally across the board. That would pretty much solve your problems.
Can it be done? Will it be done? Answers? First a "Yes" then a "No", with a resounding cry of "What about the (unequal) opportunity rights of the Malays?" form PERKASA.
The reality is, spin it whichever way you like, being "Malaysian" boils down to what, on the race classifications fields one ticks on a form, Malay against any other race.
This plays huge role in determining the make up of a "1 Malaysian" society, you cannot call it one thing - simply close you eyes and say that it exists but not work at it. The talk has to be walked.
Because of a pre existing biased disposition in society, people of lesser opportunities have banded together to create a stronger form and offering to remain relevant. How is this reaction unjustified? To distrust and question and oppose a biased system.
Malaysia is made up of many things, from the people to the culture to the natural resources. The context has to be right. Pride has to be owned for it to have any value.
The people in all the wrong places in government and opportunists enjoying a biased system would love you to continue feeling proud of our ability to smile while we are literally robbed under our noses, while they enjoy pride for OUR NATIONS natural resources and tax ringgit.
Since this to me is the real context of Malaysia and being Malaysian, I have no choice but to be repulsed and least of all proud of my country.
2 comments:
Aw, this was a really nice post. In idea I would like to put in writing like this additionally - taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and by no means seem to get something done.
Thanks Anon. When you finally get that article out make sure you send me a copy.
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