An Education System Worthy of Malaysia #3
Malaysian Education in Perspective
A measure of the importance of education is reflected by the fact that the ministry has always been regarded as very senior and prestigious.
The first Minister of Education was no less than the Deputy Prime Minister himself, Tun Razak. Every prime minister except the first had been in charge of that portfolio. The ministry consistently gets the largest budget allocation; in the latest year (2003) it received a whopping 27 percent of the total outlay.
Despite the generous allotment, there is general dissatisfaction with the results and performances. While the statistics are impressive, with more students in schools and universities today than at any other time, nonetheless there is a nagging feeling that while Malaysia has done well quantitatively, the quality remains much to be desired. The inadequacies are made obvious because Malaysia is an open society and citizens can readily compare their system to that of the rest of the world.
The first attempt at rationalizing the system was in 1956, with the release of the Razak Report. It was a comprehensive and daring initiative aimed at creating a uniform system of schools with a common national curriculum. Until then, schools were along racial lines. Malay schools were consumed with religious studies and limited to primary level only. Chinese schools were nothing more than fronts for the Communist Party, obsessed with glorifying the achievements of Mao Zedong and the dubious feats of the Cultural Revolution. Tamil schools might as well have been in Tamil Nadu, India. Only the English schools had a multiracial student body. But they were few, just enough to satisfy the social conscience of the colonial rulers. They were necessarily elitist. Their graduates learned more about old England than their homeland. No surprise then that their products were unabashed anglophiles, complete with their tweed coats and affected English accent. With the latter they consciously tried to distinguish themselves from the local peons who were products of vernacular schools; their tweed coats however, only made them look silly in hot tropical Malaysia.
I am a product of one such English school. While I am no anglophile, nonetheless I remember only too well learning about the English countryside through Wordsworth‘s beautiful poetry. But I learned very little of my own village and country. Only when I went abroad and actually experienced springtime and saw some daffodils did I appreciate the exquisiteness of his poetry!
The assumption of the Razak initiative was that if young Malaysians were to read the same books, know the same history facts, and speak the same language, then we would share the same common base and perspective, and national unity would be that much easier to achieve. It was a laudable and not an unreasonable assumption.
Bold and imaginative as the Razak Report was, its subsequent tweaking by lesser lights resulted in the gradual erosion and deterioration of the original core. Today the glaring deficiencies of the system are obvious, and the authorities are finally forced to address them. In October 2001 MOE released a comprehensive report, Education Development Blueprint 2001-2010, to address the issues. Just as one finished digesting its contents, the government announced a few months later the formation of a National Brains Trust to examine the whole system again. Not to be outdone, Prime Minster Mahathir announced in late 2002 yet another committee to be chaired by him to review national schools.
The flurries of reviews and studies merely reflect the general anxiety and dissatisfaction over the current system. They also prompted my writing this book because these reports fail to address the fundamental problems. Both say essentially, “We need more of the same” (more English, science, and mathematics), rather than analyzing why the current system fails miserably.
I bring two distinct perspectives. As I no longer live in Malaysia but a frequent visitor, I notice the deterioration much earlier. Also as a consequent of my being away, I can readily compare the Malaysian system with those of other countries.
I first voiced my concerns in private communications to the education establishment as early as the mid 1980s, and when that did not produce any response, I began expressing them in the popular media.
My interest in education however, dates further back to my high school days in Kuala Pilah in the mid 1950s. It was sometime in 1955, shortly after the Alliance Party overwhelmingly won the first general election, when Tun Razak undertook the first massive data gathering exercise aimed at identifying children who would enter school in the following few years. The whole country was mobilized, and I too was involved in trailing the village headman going house to house counting young bodies. Razak wanted an accurate count in order to plan how many schools to be built and teachers trained. He could have taken the easy way out and simply looked at the birth registry, but he was smart enough not to trust the official figures. That massive exercise was appropriately named Gerakan Lampu Suloh (Operation Torch). The survey literally touched every hut and every youngster.
Metaphorically, that operation would later bring light to a nation that hitherto been kept in darkness. I was truly impressed with and in awe of the intensive and extensive effort. It was a dramatic and tangible demonstration of the new government’s commitment to its citizens.
Sadly that was the first and only time I was impressed with the performance of MOE.
A few years later there was a Commission of Inquiry headed by Razak’s successor, Rahman Talib. This was over the lack of Malays in science, a problem that still grabs the headlines nearly half a century later. He was to visit our school and the few of us Malay students in science were eagerly anticipating the occasion to present our ideas. On the appointed day the man did show up, but instead of meeting us he was consumed with being feted and led around like a sultan. Up close he was nothing more than the run-off-the-mill pompous politician, his diminutive figure notwithstanding. We were piqued, partly in missing the opportunity to meet a top honcho but more so in not being able to present our ideas. When the commission released its report a few months later, it was full of nonsensical fluffs about worms, culture, and lack of science aptitude among Malays, but addressed none of the practical problems we faced. His report would set the pattern of future policy documents emanating from the ministry – full of blarney and far detached from reality.
To cite one dramatic example of the stupidity of that report, in 1960 in my science class of over 30, there were 20 Malays. Because of the severe shortage of Sixth Form slots, only four were admitted, two of whom were Malays. Six of the Malay students who did not get into Sixth Form eventually managed to get their degree through the circuitous route of technical colleges and other institutions. Among them, one received a master’s degree from an Ivy League university (Napsiah Omar), and another, a PhD (Tengku Azmi Ibrahim). Additionally, another six of my Malay classmates were potential university material, but because of the limited space in Sixth Form, their aspirations were thwarted. Had Rahman Talib and his fellow commissioners concentrated on providing enough Sixth Form classes and be less concerned about worms, nutrition, and culture, the number of potential Malay undergraduates then would have been 14 instead of 2, an astounding 700 percent (seven-fold) increase! And this was only from one rural school.
Rahman Talib and all those distinguished commissioners missed this crucial point because they did not listen to those in the trenches. They thought they could solve the problem by just cutting ribbons and being lauded. His present day successors are no different.
A few years later as a medical student in Canada, I spent some time reflecting on the issues that the commission so sorely missed. I put my thoughts into a letter to the Minister of Education (now another person), and mailed a copy to my representative in Parliament. Surely the minister would not toss out a letter from a Malay medical student abroad (at that time a sufficiently rare breed). If he did, then my Member of Parliament would not as he knew me. Imagine my surprise in not getting even an acknowledgment from either!
Soon after, I read about a dynamic and up-and-coming young doctor who had been appointed chairman of the Higher Education Commission.
On a lark and not having much expectation, I resubmitted my ideas to him. To my utter surprise he wrote back to say that my ideas were “interesting.” Then perhaps not meaning to be condescending, he urged me to concentrate on my studies first and wished me the best. That was the end.
Events in Malaysia and in my life then took divergent paths. Malaysia was consumed with the aftermath of the May 1969 trauma, and I was equally absorbed in pursuing my career. Years later, the young doctor to whom I had written earlier had by now, after a dramatic detour along the way, been made the Minister of Education, and much later, Prime Minister. But what pleased me even more was that many of the ideas I had mooted earlier were now being implemented. It would be presumptuous of me to claim credit, but at least I knew that there were others who shared my views. It reinforced my conviction that despite being away from Malaysia, my ideas were not on the lunatic fringe.
Here I digress momentarily to reinforce this last point. In 1997, I wrote a series of essays advocating the teaching of science and mathematics in English as a way to attract more Malays into science. This idea came about after my visit to a Malay secondary school. The science textbooks, written in Malay, were deplorable and of inferior quality. Worst was the content; opaque explanations and dense prose. The translations were erratic; where they were not silly, they were simply hilarious. I also watched with the students a videotape in Malay purporting to explain the solar system. The graphics were appalling, and the explanations convoluted. It was a local production, and even with my science background I could not follow it. I was certain the class was lost too.
I had viewed many such educational tapes in America. They were all professionally done and comprehensible, with imaginative and captivating graphics. If those Malay students could understand English, they could have viewed some of these excellent tapes instead of the amateurish local productions. They could also supplement that by reading the numerous excellent texts and reference books available in English.
When the government decided in mid 2002 to teach science and mathematics in English, many of my readers jubilantly wrote me, “See, they are finally accepting your ideas! Keep writing!”
Much as I appreciate the encouragement and presumed credit, I am realistic enough to realize that the government’s move has nothing to do with the persuasive powers of my earlier essays. I doubt whether the officials have even read them. It is just that the government is finally forced to see the errors of its ways and now has to adopt my sensible suggestions. Meaning, our officials do come to their senses eventually, it just takes them a bit longer!
Thus it can be said that this book has a long genesis. More practically, it expands on the chapter “Enhancing Bumiputra Competitiveness” in my first book The Malay Dilemma Revisited, and “Islamization of Education” in my second, Malaysia in the Era of Globalization.
January 18th, 2006 at 8:46 pm
The position of Minister of Education has been traditionally an important position – second perhaps only to the position of Prime Minister, not because it involves education but because as Minister of Education, besides being the largest ministry with a big slice of the national budget, you get to keep in constant touch with the voters of all walks of life etc and are able to put your hands on the nerve of the nation, able to feel its pulse and control its thoughts. The Ministry, for that reason, has been the traditional training ground for future prime ministers.
Sad to say, there has been too much tinkering with the national education system on a partisan basis. UMNO has from the very beginning been committed to making Malay the national language, Malay as the medium of instruction in schools and turning everybody else into “Melayu” – assimilation rather than integration i.e. playing politics with its national education system, playing to the demands of a narrow form of nationalism.
Though it is true Monday morning quarter backing serves no purpose other than to entertain, what if the Malay schools attended by Malays then had been replaced completely by the government English schools where the medium of instruction was English – the Chinese schools and Tamil schools continued in the form they had already taken, but given government aid and a good slice of the national budget with their own curriculum and Chinese and Tamil being their medium of instruction?
Where would the Malays be in the globalized world of today?
January 18th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
Dear Observer:
That is exactly the kind of “out-of-the-box” thinking we need desperately in order to solve the myriad of problems in Malaysia today.
You can get some clues. If Lee Kuan Yew had let the Chinese chauvinists in Singapore had their way and kept Nanyang University in its original form as envisaged by its donors and founders, where will that unvieristy be today? More importantly, where would its graduates be? Thousands unemployed and causing endless troubles to the republic.
Malay College briefly emphasized the sciences and merit in the 1960s and 70s. Out of that brief period of bold experimentation, we have the outstanding leaders in the sciences and medicine today who are Malays. Had that experiment been continued to this day, imagine the output of Malay scientists and doctors. Alas, some idiot stopped that wonderful experiment.
M. Bakri Musa
January 18th, 2006 at 10:50 pm
Believe the original Nanyang Uni went out of business because of market forces. Pay for Chinese educated graduates were much, much lower than that of English educated ones. Thus enrollment suffered over the years until the Uni was closed.
January 19th, 2006 at 12:27 am
” …Additionally, another six of my Malay classmates were potential university material, but because of the limited space in Sixth Form, their aspirations were thwarted. Had Rahman Talib and his fellow commissioners concentrated on providing enough Sixth Form classes and be less concerned about worms, nutrition, and culture, the number …..”
glad you mentioned it… and now the UMNO have done so much more to undo the mistakes of Rahman talib if it’s truly his ….now there is so many Malays are in U and doing well in Malaysia and for just a few who “merajuk” to the US .. the rest of us are doing just fine ….working very hard to reward the policies of the BN govt. …. and of course non-Malay does not like it but that is another discussion all together .
January 19th, 2006 at 4:24 am
Bakri’s little write up is a purely Melayu perspective. Any comment on the Malaysian education scene which does not address the blatant racial (and religious) discrimination practised in Malaysia - which places it next to South Africa (of before) as the only country in the world which has established legal and institutionalised racism - and its destructive, demeaning and evil force, is nothing more than a apology in praise of such racism.
Someone said that non-Malays don’t like it; well let me say that when Malays with Cs are refused places in universities etc and non-Malays with As are given entry, then I would praise any Malay who also enters with As and be thoroughly pleased with it.
Need I go on about those idiot Malay contemporaries of mine who got into university with Ds, and I could not with all my As. How decent Malays/Muslims can stomach this is beyond me.
And Bakri writes on Malaysian education as if a Malaysian version of “Apartheid” does not exist in Malaysia. Sick!
LJ
January 19th, 2006 at 6:50 am
LJ
I have not been back home for some time now.
You mean to say in Malaysia today, you have toilets which read “Malays and bumiputras only”??
January 19th, 2006 at 8:17 am
LJ…
Dude….you are one of the numerous reactionaries who complain on the internet. You and your kind always complain on the basis of that you cannot get something and thus the education system (an even the country) is not working or dysfunctional. Mmm…. Apartheid… hah…because you can’t enter public uni eh… Ha ha ha… I find your statements silly at the best… Hey…. Are you that cyber-identity who has this website… Oh I can’t remember what… but he makes the same statement as you too….
Anyway, I find M Bakri’s article a good read. I think the education establishment in Malaysia is too centralised; a classical example of a top down approach. The top down approach ignores initiative at the ground level. This approach in many cases has resulted in fabulous but un-implement-able policies.
I wonder whether M Bakri’s has ideas on how to make education establishment more responsive to local needs and local situation… after all they are the ones who are running the Malaysian education system and the best of reforms will fail if the mechanisms to implement the reforms are not up to scratch.
January 19th, 2006 at 9:11 am
Observer:
“LJ
I have not been back home for some time now.
You mean to say in Malaysia today, you have toilets which read “Malays and bumiputras only?”
___________________________________
Not toilets. But entrenched unwritten government policies that say:
1) Education/Finance minister must be a Malay.
2) Leaders of GLCs must be Malay, (though Idris Jala was a recent token non-Malay)
3) Government agency Director-Generals must be Malay.
4) Vice chancellor of public university must be Malay.
5) Applications for building non-Muslim places of worship must be made much harder than application to build a mosque.
January 19th, 2006 at 9:35 am
I applaud Bakri’s efforts at penning down his thoughts on education. At the same time, I do also understand why LC feels they way he does. Sometimes, it seems, everything in Malaysia has to evolve around the Malays. Malays may not understand but it seems to the non-Malays that they are invisible! Sometimes non-Malays feel that they are leaderless because the leaders of the country, especially in the past but this is slowly changing, talk so much about helping the Malays and hardly talk about helping the non-Malays. I often wonder if there should be two prime ministers, one for the Malays and another for the non-Malays, just so that the non-Malays feel like they actually have a leader. I do not begrudge aid to anyone who truly needs it. However, it is not helpful for nation building either, to focus on one race.
Anyway, on to the comments that touch on Singapore’s experience. Yes, making English the medium of instruction has served Singapore well. Just the other day, I was at a conference held by an MNC and employees came from all over Asia. One of the most senior people in from the Singapore office was a Malay and he was highly articulate, and obviously made it to such a high position based on his capabilities. And he is not the first Singaporean Malay I met that held an important position in an MNC. I always wondered why some Malaysian Malays in some other blogs say that if Malaysia adopts Singapore’s system they will not survive. The Singaporean Malays I met are doing just fine. Yes, many Malaysian Malays hate Lee Kuan Yew and indeed LKY may have been a racist (and from the Nanyang incident, a hated figure to some in the Chinese community as well) but the Singapore system existed before him, he refined it, and people who came after him keep refining it and it works well.
January 19th, 2006 at 9:59 am
bintang,
stop being a PAP = Lee Kuan Yew apologist. You quote only an anecdotal example….
Perhaps you should read Lily Zubaidah Rahim - The Singapore Dilemma…
You may call her biased etc…. but a number of Ang Moh academicians admit that Malays in Singapore are collectively at the bottom of the social heap…
Remember after 1965 PAP = LKY initiated a systematic (unwritten and entrenched) gahmen policy to “correctly” rebalanced the racial composition in the armed forces and other sensitive gahmen departments.
Many more facts my dear bintang but too much to tell…
Small wonder why Malays hate Lee Kuan Yew….
I urge you to read Singapore history…not only from PAP apparatchiks and their apologists…. but also from more neutral and balanced sources… most likely Ang Moh academicians from US or Oz….
Singapore system existed by and large due to the dictatorial policies of LKY… the previous British system is kept in as much as it suited the interest of PAP… don’t believe me… look at the Singapore parliamentary system… and you know how much it has changed….. and need I say about the draconian laws inherited from the British…??? LKY and his PAP apparatchiks keep them…. of course….
January 19th, 2006 at 11:16 am
amit: “bintang,
stop being a PAP = Lee Kuan Yew apologist. You quote only an anecdotal example….”
Huh? Why only me? What about Bakri?? He’s the one who mentioned Lee Kuan Yew.
Anyway, yes it is anecdotal, but nonetheless, these Malay Singaporeans I met are doing well. Whenever I go to Singapore I see Malay Singaporeans working productively, and everyone in Singapore is virtually guaranteed a decent house. They have access to world class transportation, world class education, world class working environment, world class landscaping, world class government planning, world class public safety, world class medical facilities, world class shopping (and due to Singapore’s high per capita income and strong Singapore dollar, they earn enough to afford good stuff too).
January 19th, 2006 at 5:25 pm
” …….Not toilets. But entrenched unwritten government policies that say:
1) Education/Finance minister must be a Malay.
2) Leaders of GLCs must be Malay, (though Idris Jala was a recent token non-Malay)
3) Government agency Director-Generals must be Malay.
4) Vice chancellor of public university must be Malay.
5) Applications for building non-Muslim places of worship must be made much harder than application to build a mosque ……’”
welcome into the world of reality …. might (majority) is right !
January 20th, 2006 at 2:57 am
At least Sam - “might (majority) is right!” - is honest, unlike the dishonest and hypocritical Bakri who pretends that just because there are no signs in Toilets - “Malays and bumiputras only?” - there is no de facto Apartheid.
I am sick of third class bumis (with 3rd class brains) parading as if they have brains. They don’t!
Someone said that we need snoop squads because we don’t want people to degrade Islam and paint it an a bad light. Actually if you want not to degrade Islam stop bombing and killing in the name of Islam; stop rampant incest, rape, prostitution, drug taking, adultery, child abuse, divorce and all the ills of a low grade society that thrives more in Islamic society in Malaysia than any other.
Then you might not degrade Islam - which any non-Malay/Muslim (if put through a lie detector test) in Malaysia has only disrespect, disgust and disdain for.
I need not say anymore than stick the examples given by Bintang.
Moreover consider what one learned (meaning non-Bumi) professor recently said about Malaysian Apartheid:
“The Malaysian state is racist state. It is the state that is largely responsible for the present state of affairs in the country. Not only are non-Muslims denied space and discriminated in the cultural and religious realms, they are also victimised by the state. Today, non-Malays are discriminated in employment and promotions in the public sector, their children are denied important academic disciplines in the universities while the NEP requirements has made it difficult for non-Malays to obtain contracts and licenses from the state.
Moorthy’s case is not an isolated one. It provides an important barometer to gauge the nature and character of Malaysian society. Moorthy’s corpse would have been returned to his wife had there been religious and racial equality for the non-Malays. But alas, despite all the propaganda, Malaysia practices neither democracy nor human rights. A kind of Apartheid thinking has developed amongst those who control and manage the society.”
Go figure!
LJ
January 20th, 2006 at 2:59 am
LJ: “Moreover consider what one learned (meaning non-Bumi) professor recently said about Malaysian Apartheid: ”
LJ come on, that is definitely awful and beneath you to say things like that.
January 20th, 2006 at 3:17 am
OK I concede to a little hyperbole.
However, as an ex-lecturer of a Malaysian public university (I don’t know who you are bro) please believe me when I say that the vast majority of my former bumi colleagues we holding positions they were not worthy of holding in the least and held them simply by virtue of their race & religion. Whereas the non-Bumi academics (including me) were outstanding scholars.
Get it!
LJ
January 20th, 2006 at 3:32 am
LJ,
I’m also sick of people like you who have nothing good to say about this country. You mentioned “At least Sam - “might (majority) is right!” - is honest”. Well, let me be also honest to you ~ as much as you didn’t chose to be born in this country, I also didn’t chose to have you in this country! So, give me reasons why should I entertain your whining? Hmm…I know, you’ll talk about you paying taxes etc. What if I say that I’m okay if I were to go back to pre- British times where I’ll have everything by myself? I don’t mind to back to work as a farmer or fisherman or anything. At least I’ll not become sick like I’m today!
What say you LJ?
January 20th, 2006 at 3:40 am
Is asking that I with As should get a university place and you with Ds should not mean whining? Only in the land of “farmers & fshermen” I am afraid. Only in the land of “farmers & fishermen”!
What say you bro!
LJ
January 20th, 2006 at 4:24 am
List of racial discriminations in Malaysia, practiced by government as well as government agencies. This list is an open secret. Best verified by government itself because it got the statistics.
This list is not in the order of importance, that means the first one on the list is not the most important and the last one on the list does not mean least important.
This list is a common knowledge to a lot of Malaysians, especially those non-malays (Chinese, Ibans, Kadazans, Orang Asli, Tamils, etc) who were being racially discriminated.
Figures in this list are estimates only and please take it as a guide only. Government of Malaysia has the most correct figures. Is government of Malaysia too ashamed to publish their racist acts by publishing racial statistics?
This list cover a period of about 48 years since independence (1957).
List of racial discriminations (Malaysia):
(1) Out of all the 5 major banks, only one bank is multi-racial, the rest are controlled by malays
(2) 99% of Petronas directors are malays
(3) 3% of Petronas employees are Chinese
(4) 99% of 2000 Petronas gasoline stations are owned by malays
(5) 100% All contractors working under Petronas projects must be bumi status
(6) 0 percent of non-malays staffs is legally required in malay companies. But there must be 30 % malays staffs in Chinese companies.
(7) 5% of all new intake for government police, nurses, army, is non-malays.
(8) 2% is the present Chinese staff in Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), drop from 40% in 1960
(9) 2% is the percentage of non-malays government servants in Putrajaya. But malays make up 98%
(10) 7% is the percentage of Chinese government servants in the whole government (in 2004), drop from 30% in 1960
(11) 95% of government contracts are given to malays
(12) 100% All business licensees are controlled by malay government e.g. Taxi permits, AP permit etc
(13) 80% of the Chinese rice millers in Kedah had to be sold to malay controlled Bernas in 1980s. Otherwise, life is make difficult for Chinese rice millers
(14) 100 big companies set up, owned and managed by Chinese Malaysians were taken over by government and later managed by malays since 1970s e.g. UTC, UMBC, MISC etc
(15) At least 10 Chinese owned bus companies (throughout Malaysia, throughout 40 years) had to be sold to MARA or other malay transport companies due to rejection by malay authority to Chinese application for bus routes and rejection for their application for new buses
(16) 2 Chinese taxi drivers were barred from driving in Johor Larkin bus station. There are about 30 taxi drivers and 3 are Chinese in October 2004. Spoiling taxi club properties was the reason given
(17) 0 non-bumis are allowed to get shop lots in the new Muar bus station (November 2004)
(18) 8000 Billion rnggit is the total amount the government channeled to malays pockets through ASB, ASN, MARA, privatisation of government agencies, Tabung Haji etc, through NEP over 34 years period
(19) 48 Chinese primary schools closed down since 1968 - 2000
(20) 2637 malay primary schools built since 1968 - 2000
(21) 144 Tamil primary schools closed down since 1968 - 2000
(22) 2.5% is government budget for Chinese primary schools. Tamil school got only 1%, malay school got 96.5%
(23) While a Chinese parent with RM1000 salary (monthly) cannot get school-text-book-loan, a malay parent with RM2000 salary is eligible
(24) 10 all public universities vice chancellors are malays
(25) 5% The government universities lecturers of non-malay origins had been reduced from about 70% in 1965 to only 5% in 2004
(26) Only 5% is given to non-malays for government scholarships over 40 years
(27) 0 Chinese or Tamils were sent to Japan and Korea under “Look East Policy”
(28) 128 STPM Chinese top students could not get into the course that they aspired i.e. Medicine in 2004
(29) 10% place for non-bumi students for MARA science schools beginning from year 2003, but only 7% are filled. Before that it was 100% malays
(30) 50 cases whereby Chinese and Indian Malaysians, are beaten up in the National Service program in 2003
(31) 25% is Chinese population in 2004, drop from 45% in 1957
(32) 7% is the present (2004) Malaysian Indians population, a drop from 12% in 1957
(33) 2 million Chinese Malaysians had emigrated to overseas since 40 years ago
(34) 3 million Indonesians had migrated into Malaysia and became Malaysian citizens with bumis status.
(35) 0.5 million Tamils Malaysians emigrated to overseas
(36) 600000 are the Chinese and Tamil Malaysians with red IC and were rejected repeatedly when applying for citizenship for 40 years. Perhaps 60 % of them had already passed away due to old age. This shows racism of how easily Indonesians got their citizenships compare with the Chinese and Indians
(37) 15% Discount for a malay to buy a house, regardless whether the malay is rich or poor
(38) 2% is what Chinese new village get compare with 98% of what malays villages got for rural development budget
(39) 50 road names (at least) had been change from Chinese names to other names
(40) 1 Dewan Gan Boon Leong (in Malacca) was altered to other name (e.g. Dewan Serbaguna or sort) when it was being officially used for a few days. Government try to shun Chinese names. This racism happened in around year 2000 or sort
(41) 0 temples/churches were built for each housing estates. But every housing estates got at least one mosque/surau built.
(42) 3000 mosques/surau were built in all housing estates throughout Malaysia since 1970. No temples, no churches are required to be built in housing estates
(43) 1 Catholic church in Shah Alam took 20 years to apply to be constructed. But told by malay authority that it must look like a factory and not look like a church. Still not yet approved in 2004.
(44) 1 publishing of Bible in Iban language banned (in 2002)
(45) 0 of the government TV stations (RTM1, RTM2, TV3) are directors of non-malays origin
(46) 30 government produced TV dramas and film always showed that the bad guys had Chinese; face and the good guys had malay face. You can check it out since 1970s. Recent years, this tendency becomes less
(47) 10 times, at least, malays (especially Umno) had threatened to massacre the Chinese Malaysians using May 13 since 1969
(48) 20 constituencies won by DAP would not get funds from government to develop. Or these Chinese majority constituencies would be the last to be developed
(49) 100 constituencies (parliaments and states) had been racist re-delineated so Chinese voters were diluted that Chinese candidates, particularly DAP candidates lost in election since 1970s
(50) Only 3 out of 12 human rights items are ratified by Malaysia government since 1960
(51) 0 elimination of all forms of racial discrimination (UN human rights) is not ratified by Malaysia government since 1960s
(52) 20 reported cases whereby malay ambulance attendance treated Chinese patients inhumanely, and malay government hospital staffs purposely delay attending to Chinese patients in 2003. Unreported cases may be 200
(53) 50 cases each year whereby Chinese, especially Chinese youths being beaten up by malay youths in public places. We may check at police reports provided the police took the report, otherwise there will be no record
(54) 20 cases every year whereby Chinese drivers who accidentally knocked down malays were seriously assaulted or killed by malays
(55) 12% is what ASN/ASB got per annum while banks fixed deposit is only about 3.5% per annum
There are hundreds more racial discriminations in Malaysia to add to this list of “colossal” racism. It is hoped that the victims of racism will write in to expose racism.
Malaysian government should publish statistics showing how much Malays had benefited from the “special rights” of malays and at the same time tell the statistics of how much other minority races are being discriminated.
Hence, the responsibility lies in the Malaysian government itself to publish unadulterated statistics of racial discrimination.
If the Malaysia government hides the statistics above, then there must be some evil doings, immoral doings, shameful doings and sinful doings, like the Nazi, going on onto the non-malays of Malaysia.
Civilized nation, unlike evil Nazi, must publish statistics to show its treatment on its minority races. This is what Malaysia must publish……….
We are asking for the publication of the statistics showing how “implementation of special rights of malays” had inflicted colossal racial discrimination onto non-malays.
January 20th, 2006 at 4:38 am
Dear Human Book
Do you think that the Melayus elsewhere and on this site like Bakri et al don’t know about these details? Of course they do. But they have no conscience or regard for others except themselves and their greedy ability to acquire - by fair means or foul - anything think they can grab.
You have a first class honours from Cambridge but you are not suitably qualified (”tidak layak” ber) to teach at a local university. But Mat Islam Bin Muslim has a 2nd lower from some half-past-six university and he is eminently qualified to be a local “Don”.
What might the response of these Muslims (or so great and faithful) be - not that such injustice must be put right but - “might is right”, “I’d rather be a fisherman”, “Apartheid? What Apartheid?”
This demeans their race. This demeans their religion. But they don’t get it.
LJ
Oh p.s. Stop whining. It makes apanama the fisherman sick! LOL!
January 20th, 2006 at 6:59 am
Ha ha ha…
yeah… human book… you are really a whining and complaining person…
Bintang… you just could not see the facts…. Hey… why not go to Singapore Department of Statistics and collate the figures….. you see what I mean…. Anyway… your reply statement is indicative of your nature: as a PAP apologist….
LJ… I think you are arrogant… so you got a first class hons from Cambridge eh….???? Is that so?
Oh well…what ever….
I agree with Apek… I have to say this too: to LJ and those reactionaries in this blog topic … I’m sick of people like LJ and other reactionaries who have nothing good to say about this country… and those commentators who are hung up on the race-discrimination issue…
By the way.. I am not a pure Malay… I am of mixed race parenthood…. I tell you this: I strongly believe that in Malaysia, Malays and pribumi must be given special attention… after all a country is as strong as the welfare of the majority of its people…. in Malaysia it is the Malays…and the bumis…
If the Malays are secure economically and socially, then they will not see the other races as “threathening” their position….
Unfortunately people like LJ, human book and others are playing up to all the Malay insecurities by openly saying how better they are or by saying how much they suffer so much discrimination.
To people like LJ, human book and others… you are all damn stupid… you are all crazy….you will never get what you wish for if you insists that you are the victim of discrimination or apartheid of whatever…. and then say bad things about Malays and equating the govt like the Nazi.
I think it would be better for people like LJ, human book and others give suggestions on how to improve the education sysytem rather than complaining this or that….
Hey LJ, human book and other reactionaries… if you want to complain in such ways…. go to Lim Kit Siang’s blog… there you can hentam the govt as much as you want…..
January 20th, 2006 at 7:17 am
Human Book & LJ,
If you are still in Malaysia, you are wasting your bloody time talking on discrimination of rights & privelege in Malaysia. You should just follow me steps migrate to Australia or go back to the country of origin - China / India??
Why complain when the following top rich people in Msia are still non - Malay??? :
Robert Kuok
T. Ananda Krishnan
Quek Leng Chan (Hong Leong Malaysia)
Lim Goh Tong (Genting Group)
Teh Hong Piow (Public Bank)
Lee Shin Cheng (IOI Corporation)
Lim Kok Thay (Genting Group)
Tiong Hiew King (Rimbunan Hijau Group)
why?? whY???
January 20th, 2006 at 7:32 am
“why?? whY???”
Because - and migrating to Australia has not helped you much has it, dog? - a few swallows make a spring not! That is why. I suppose that just went over your scalp - whizzzzz!
Arrogant? Moi?
Ist Class? I when did I say I had one? Read carefully lah anak bumi. Read carefully! Next you will ask who Mat Islam Bin Muslim is. LOL! What a crock!
Einstein says: “you will never get what you wish for if you insists that you are the victim of discrimination or apartheid of whatever…. and then say bad things about Malays and equating the govt like the Nazi.”
Hello is anybody home! But it is true Amit-chamather!
See ya!
LJ
January 20th, 2006 at 8:32 am
“Moorthy’s case is not an isolated one. It provides an important barometer to gauge the nature and character of Malaysian society. Moorthy’s corpse would have been returned to his wife had there been religious and racial equality for the non-Malays. But alas, despite all the propaganda, Malaysia practices neither democracy nor human rights. A kind of Apartheid thinking has developed amongst those who control and manage the society.”
Go figure!”
says LJ.
Re: Moorthy died as a Muslim – maybe not.
The Article at the center of the political controversy now raging through Malaysia is Art. 121(1A) Federal Constitution 1957.
It is a case of poor drafting which has given rise to the controversy. In my opinion the courts have been wrong in their interpretation in the past over a number of cases mostly on the issue of conversion and perhaps some custody cases – aided perhaps by overzealous judges sitting on the bench who were bent on trying to secure a promotion for themselves or at least not jeopardize their promotions. The trend is disturbing to say the least.
But it has nothing to do with race.
Some time ago, the wife for many years of the former and distinguished Lord President Tun Suffian, a Jewish English lady who never embraced Islam, has also not been spared the same discriminatory treatment as far as due process is concerned. Her dead body was quickly removed by JAWI officials from the hospital morgue for burial in a Muslim cemetery – without the permission of her husband.
Let’s not talk about Moorthy who probably died a Hindu.
Now the issue is seen as one between non-Malays and non-Muslims and Malays and Muslims –thanks to politicians like Lim Kit Siang and the DAP. Race is once again in the eye of the storm.
The truth is Malaysia cannot be compared to apartheid South Africa of yore. It is not.
January 20th, 2006 at 7:59 pm
While I agree with Observer that Malaysia definitely cannot be compared to apartheid South Africa, I feel that Malaysia may be headed in that direction. UMNO’s “ketuanan Melayu” principle is clearly based on racialism. Affirmative action is made to right old wrongs; “ketuanan Melayu” is made to repress the other races so the Malays can have their “ketuanan”.
January 20th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
LJ& the Gangs,
You still didn’t get. Let me put it in capitals : I DONT MIND TO START IT ALL OVER AGAIN if that is what you want. I’ll be happy as long as people like you are no longer here. Got it? Ever wonder why voting right doesn’t come with your definition of meritocracy ? Ever wonder why people with 10 As have only one (1) vote and not ten votes? Lj…LJ, you’re such a troll! Until you change that voting right, you’re whining.
January 21st, 2006 at 6:06 am
I think LJ and the Gang meritocracy refers to the exam meritocracy… the kind of meritocracy being practiced by the PAP Singapore state…
And that is a crooked kind of meritocracy…as even in down south Singapore, honest people….that is people who are not PAP apologists are arguing that the Singapore education system is not producing the best brains to compete in the private (non-govt, non GLC sectors).
Unfortunately in Malaysia…and especially in the cyberspace…so many people are hung up on the race issue…. and they whine and whinge like wankers because the system is not fair to them just because they got better exam scores (that is what LJ is arguing about….) than others…. and then they start to list down all their complaints…..
And unfortunately this complaining and whingeing have hampered more crucial discussions on the stste of Malaysian education system….
Johnleemk… aha… you are the one who compare Malaysia to South Africa’s apartheid….
I came across with one of your other topics too: http://www.iroatm.cjb.net/forums/index.php?fid=2&pid=203
Hmmm…typical reactionary….. similar to LJ and the Gang
January 21st, 2006 at 6:10 am
LJ .human book and others can say what they like , but dont worry because at the rate the malays are reproducing the malays will be 90% of the population,not too many years more.
But its, ok to let people from China come to Malaysia and overstay and maybe become PR holders or maybe it is a grand design to balance the population and maintain the current percentage!!
Its ok if the YTL and the QLC and LGT and K bros employ 99.9% Non malays in their organisation, or even the MNC which has been brainwashed to employ only non-Malays. The private sector is given the licence to discriminate against the Malays. Well, this is ok because the nom malays are supposed to be the superior race… or is it?
The Malays ,which now has 60% of the population only seeks 30% of the economic cake! Its ok too because they are supposed to be stupid and cannot handle business.
If LKS or LKY is Prime Minister , you think the Non Malays can be as comfortoble as they now? Ask yourself these question before we all become racist.
This attitude or racism has developed because of our education system and some policies of the Government , but also policies of the private sector who because of certain imposition give the Malays employment as jaga, drivers and coolies to fulfill the requirement. Its ok because its done by the non malays!!
What the govt think they are doing is to develop a Nation, be it wrong or rightly implemented. At least their intentions are sincere and honest.
Ask yourself whether your intentions are sincere? What else do you want? To take over the country and run it? Too bad you cannot do this because the Malays are still in the Majority!! So bring more people from China as tourists and let them overstay!!!
Compare the Malays in Thailand as a minority,and the non malays in Malaysia… and you will notice the difference between the Thai Govt and the Malay Govt. We treat the minorities a lot better to the extent that they now want to rule the malays…what next. Maybe its already happening with the 10 rebel Ministers…. but thats another story…they do that because they are so downtrodden!! They are so poorly treated by the Malays. Ha Ha
Lets go back to basics and stop this rubbish. Lets put our heads together to improve the education system instead of sending memos to the PM on racial issues.
January 21st, 2006 at 8:12 am
Hmmm… I think I know why the non-Malays think they are superior than Malays…at least in the commercial sector….
If we review the literature on the commercial sector in South East Asia…. During colonial and post colonial period….. authors always refer to non Malays as the commercially apt race.
In particular there is abundance of literature on overseas Chinese business networks in South East Asia. But surprisingly very few on indigenous business enterprises….. I can vaguely remember reading about some study of Minangkabau (Padang) entrepreneur written by Japanese author…. But that study was set in the 18th or 19th century….
I can name major works on overseas Chinese i.e. by Gordon Redding (The Spirit of Chinese Capitalism) and even Yoshihara Kunio (The Rise of Ersatz Capitalism)… The abundance of such works may paint a false picture that the Malays and indigenous in south east asia have no business acumen. Worse Yoshihara paints a bad picture on pribumi businesses… by making a sweeping statement that pribumi capitalists in Malaysia and Indonesia are overwhelmingly rent-seekers…
And then even pseudo academic works such as James Clad’s Behind the Myth : Business, Money and Power in Southeast Asia which explicitly comes out with the term Malay Malaise when discussing the bumi capitalist class…and Clads equates the overseas Chinese as being more efficient in the commercial sector…. No wonder we have people like LJ and the Gang with a kind of superiority complex. And of course Lee Kuan Yew’s view on the superiority on one race over the others re-enforces this belief.
But LJ and the Gang forget that the current malaise of the Malays and bumis are due to the years of repression and arrested development under the colonial yoke. The colonial British in Malaysia (and Dutch in Indonesia) prefers to deal with a group of people who they think are less likely to threat the colonial govt…and thus elevate them to being compradors in the colonial economy…For the bumis…. The colonials give the bumis “reservation lands”…and legislate special laws in the name of “protecting” them…..yes… a few elites are produced… but this is to run the govrenmental mechanisms of the colonial state…. alll this cuts the majority of bumis (save this very few Westernized elites) out of the modern economy….
And until today, much of this legacy still lives….
January 21st, 2006 at 9:31 am
Dear Sir,
I would like to bring this to include a bigger picture of Malaysia and not just about Malay and non-Malays in peninsular.
If we look at East Malaysia, we can all see an imbalance in development. If we look at Sarawak and Sabah, Malay is not the majority race. In Sabah, Islam is not the majority religion.
Why do I bring this up? To highlight how other Bumiputras are also sidelined in Malaysia. Orang Asli in peninsular is also in a bad shape.
While some can say go back to China, India or whereever to the non-bumis. We can see for sure that the Malays in power are also not treating the orang aslis very well.
KH
January 21st, 2006 at 10:08 am
Ha ha ha…..kampongbouy…
what is your point in bringing that? To bring shame to the “*** * **** for not treating the orang aslis very well”…
Dude this is opportunism….just like Lim Kit Siang and the DAP !!!
In Sarawak, the Chinese based SUPP bitterly opposed Sarawak’s entry to Malaysia in 1963… and need I say about the economic structure of the 2 states during that time?
Anyway, the current definition of Malay includes the bumiputras of Sabah, Sarawak and orang asli…..
Well… I think kampungbouy and others should stop all this debate on bumi and non-bumi grievances… which is turning malicious and seditious at times.
January 21st, 2006 at 10:45 am
apek: “LJ& the Gangs,
You still didn’t get. Let me put it in capitals : I DONT MIND TO START IT ALL OVER AGAIN if that is what you want”
__________________________
Fine. Invent a time machine, go back in time and change the course of history. We have no problems with this either.
January 21st, 2006 at 11:04 am
Amit and GK, do you think we like to complain? That it is so much fun that we complain for the sake of it? Do you think it is fun to have your own government treat you like a 2nd class citizen? If you see non-Malays as a threat that you need to make them 2nd class citizens and yourselves 1st class citizens then I can truly tell you there is no hope for this country as a multi-racial society. It becomes a dysfunctional society because in healthy countries, everyone is treated the same. It’s end will come, it’s just a matter of when and I think more and more people are beginnning to realize this - they can feel it their bones. How multi-racial Malaysia ends, whether via secession of the East Malaysia states, the vast exodus of non-Malays who are able to immigrate and probably the rest will seek refugee status or unfortunately, forced to remain behind because they have no other options but to continue their existence as 2nd class citizens.
January 21st, 2006 at 8:22 pm
Well done bintang, you are beginning to realise that if we continue to think purely from a one sided standpoint we all know where Malaysia will be in the future!!
So what do we do about it? One option, let’s all inter-marry and make everyone happy; two, we create two seperate states..oops this was already done when Singapore was allowed to be a seperate country; three, we get together, kick out UMNO,MCA, GERAKAN, MIC and the rest of the BN gang and form another multiracial party , to enable a two party system that can be effective in a proper democratic system, like UK; four we let the rot stay and end up as maybe nine seperate countries each country ruled by an ethnic type; five we all sit down and understand each others problems and we develop and improve our already good government system to accommodate all peoples living in the country but not forgetting the rights also of the minorities and also the majority.
Me, I’m in favour of option five and three together, but can it be done? Its for the rakyat to do, not the govt or any vested interest group.
Before any other option can be undertaken;
Let’s understand the cultures and various religions in the Country
Let’s understand the democratic system that we inherited from the Brits
Let’s understand the History of the land and the legal system that we inherited from the British and the Pre British Islamic Malay Rulers of the earlier Malay Archipalego
Let’s understand the Constitution in both the spirit and the letter of the Constitution
Let’s go back to the root of the existence of Malaysia and develop the Nation and be proud of it.
Do you realise why we call ourselve Malaysian Chinese, Malaysian Malays, Malaysian Indians etc and not Chinese Malaysian or Malay Malaysian? Ask the politicians!!!
January 21st, 2006 at 9:51 pm
amit:
I do not endorse the opinions of random buggers who register and post shit on my blog. This (incidentally an amended version of a recent post on Dr. Bakri’s blog) is a more accurate representation of my views.
January 22nd, 2006 at 5:19 am
Excuse me guys,
We are on a membership drive. Please sign up - and we can meet at a night spot in Bangsar.
Membership is free.
Cindy
January 22nd, 2006 at 11:09 am
Cindy : “We are on a membership drive. Please sign up - and we can meet at a night spot in Bangsar.
Membership is free.”
Serious? What does this fan club do?
January 22nd, 2006 at 1:32 pm
To Cindy: Does or will this fan club provide real life mujra dance as one of it’s entertainment itineraries……
mujra dance: I mean real life dancers from Pakistan or India (Mumbai esp)…. the real ones ok…..no fake ones !
_____________________________________________________________
To others as indicated:
Hey Bintang, it is funny that you discuss our relationship as us versus them… i.e. Malays vs Non-Malays or Pri vs Non-Pri etc….
Dude, I am a rational person…..and a realist to the core….. I am not going to inflame anyone in this post….nor would I waste my finger by typing something that you will either reject or ignore…. Yeah what a waste typing all those things when you can’t even discuss things properly… all you know is to harp on complaints….
To Bintang and LJ and the Gang etc….including Johnleemk: I strongly urge you all to read Benedict Anderson’s - Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism… read that book carefully….
And please reflect on your previous posts… i.e. what you have posted… this applies especially to LJ and human book….and Johnleemk with his views on Malaysia.
Tell you a hint: In Malaysia… the core is Malay nationalism… whether we like it or not whether you are Malay or non-Malay… Muslim or non-Muslim… that will be a crucial factor if we want to consider changing the system…..
Another hint: if you can change the Malay attitude, it will be easier to change the Malaysian attitude….
January 22nd, 2006 at 7:37 pm
That is perfectly common sense, amit. Malays are the majority in Malaysia, and while democracy is not supposed to be a tyranny of the majority (as Dr Mahathir imagined it to be), you still have to convince a substantial number of them to believe in reform. Likewise, there can be no economic progress if the Malays themselves do not progress.
However, the Malays being the majority does not mean they can ride roughshod over the minorities. Malay nationalism should be as defunct as Chinese or Indian nationalism for the Chinese and Indian Malaysians. We should all think of ourselves as Malaysians first, and if our fellow Malaysians (who may happen to be Malay, Chinese or Indian) are not progressing economically, Malaysia cannot progress.
This is why I feel the NEP was a good idea, despite all its warts which people like LJ love to criticise. This is also why I believe that any ultimate solution to Malaysia’s most chronic problems, namely a lack of national unity, a corrupt governance system relying on political patronage and all those things we love to blab about, must rely on Malaysians (which especially includes Malays, as they form a majority of Malaysians).
Unfortunately, I’ve all but given up hope on this of ever taking place. The comments I’ve seen from chauvinist Malays and Chinese (with the Indians being surprisingly dormant) indicate that as far as Malaysians are concerned, we’re Muslim, Buddhist, Christian or Hindu first, Malay, Chinese or Indian second, and Malaysian a very, very distant third. Those of us who view ourselves as Malaysians first and foremost tend to be the pariahs who nobody will accept because we “betrayed” our religion or “betrayed” our race.
I don’t view all this as a zero-sum thing. We all must live or die together. It is not a betrayal of your race or religion to support your nation first and foremost. Indeed, supporting your nation is the true way to ensure your race and religion will continue to thrive, because only a united nation can ensure peace and security for all its inhabitants to perpetuate their respective cultures.
I am still waiting for a Malaysian leader who is capable of convincing Malaysians that this is so. Unfortunately, it seems this wait will be futile for a long time to come.
January 22nd, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Dear Amit Et Al
If the current malaise of any race occurs after its own racial politicians has been in power for over 30 years, you definitely cannot blame any party other than your own list of politicians.
Please note the problem is not in affirmative action but rather has been pointed out the entitlement attitude/policy.
You highlighted Tun Razak, yet he did define a deadline because he identified that somethings should be reviewed or changed.
Frankly, I am getting tired of all the racialistic sloganning from all sides as all sides will have their own set of complaints. Argue the policies.
Be pragmatic, suggest policies which will grow the economic cake for all and let the best persons win whilst taking care of the not so well -off economically. All the latest arguments does not help as Malaysia and/or Asean will be just a backwater or as the OZ pollies highlight, a outpost for MNCs if the corrective actions are not taken soon.
Regards
Ajohore
January 23rd, 2006 at 3:16 am
Hello Malay/Muslims (not one non though) enjoy!
You members of a perfect religion of justice, fairness, equality!
Ya right!
LJ
Top posts for 22 government staff
PUTRAJAYA: Three women were among 22 senior civil servants who have been promoted to top posts in several ministries and departments.
Datuk Halipah Esa is now the director-general of the Economic Planning Unit while Asmabi Mohamad is the director-general of the Judicial and Legal Training Institute (ILKAP).
Datuk Siti Balkish Shariff was appointed Information Ministry secretary-general.
Halipah: New director-general of the Economic Planning Unit
They were among 34 senior civil servants who received their appointment letters from Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Samsudin Osman on Friday.
Others newly promoted as directors-general were Datuk Abdul Rahman Abdul Hamid (Customs), Datuk Prof Dr Wahid Omar (Works Ministry), Dr Abd Shukur Ab Rahman (Mardi), Datuk Moha- med Fauzi Md Daud (Research Division, Prime Minister’s Department) and Sabran Napiah (National Anti-Drugs Agency, Internal Security Ministry).
Joining them were Datuk Abdul Halim Muhammad (National Registration Department), Datuk Suroya Selamat (Youth and Sports Department) Mohd Dzaki Jusoh (National Civics Bureau), Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid (National Service Department), Nasir Mat Dam (Civil Defence Department), Mohd Zakri Jussin (Wakaf, Zakat and Haj Affairs Department), Shuib Md Yusop (Intellectual Property Corporation of the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry) and Dr Ramlan Ab Aziz (National Sports Council).
Those promoted to the secretary-general post were Datuk Rastam Mohd Isa (Foreign Ministry), Datuk Mohd Arif Abu Bakar (Youth and Sports Ministry), Datuk Muhd Sarafuddin Muhd Sidek (Transport Ministry), Mangsor Saad (Entrepreneurial Development and Co-operative Ministry), Datuk Dr Zulkefli A. Hassan (Higher Education Ministry) and Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail (Housing and Local Government Ministry).
January 23rd, 2006 at 3:21 am
60% have 30% of economy - members of perfect religion of justice, fairness, equality, very upset (not fair konon).
60% have 99% of government jobs - members of perfect religion of justice, fairness, equality, say: very fair, very just & vey Islamic.
Lagi sekali LJ says: Ya Right!
January 23rd, 2006 at 3:47 am
Apek why not go back to the stone age instead and really start all over again. It won’t make any difference you know, you guys already have a stone age mentality so you’ll fit in nicely.
Actually this is what was meant when it used to be said: “Balik kampung”, but, alas, it is not politically correct to say such things, but since Apek you really want to, be my guest! LOL!
LJ
January 23rd, 2006 at 8:57 am
Johnleemk, ajohore and others
IN Malaysia, each ethnic group identifies with their ethnic group…..more than they identify with the country…. that is the social reality…. and it is easy to offend the other ethnic group… that is a social reality….
Anyway… I do hope you all will read Benedict Anderson….…. The concept of Malay (and Malay nationalism that drives the govt) in Malaysia is an imagined concept…. If you understand what I mean… based on Benedict Anderson….. and this concept is very powerful as it has been continually re-enforced by the media and the elites…of course you know what I mean….
Unfortunately many of us…. Non Malays and Malays- (in particular the so-called Western educated Malays) do not understand or are refusing to understand this….
Allright….., many commentators here like to vent their anger….and complaints …. And they are homo ignoramus par excellence…. Only capable of inciting hatred and anger…. Of course they (some) give suggestions based on what they think is the best i.e. economic efficiency… normative arguments…. i.e. you got to do this because it is economically sound or economically efficient…. This is like ajohore….(so you ask me to be pragmatic eh… ha ha ha) But they are ignorant of the social reality nevertheless.
Given the social reality… those who present such arguments (based on economic efficiency) are likely to be disappointed… No Malays would accept the reactionaries’ arguments as you know… no one likes to be berated especially when it comes to the core concept of the Malay idea… [Oh.. a good example… LJ’s comments on the “stone age mentality”…]
But not all is lost though…. That is if you are really into changing Malaysia for the better.
For Malaysia, given the social reality….the way to move to move forward is not to argue on normative concepts i.e. economic efficiency…… and then berate those who are seemingly against this idea (of economic efficiency)
But rather, the way to move forward is to understand how the social dynamics and then change the mentality of the majority at the grass root level…. never antagonize the Malays and the Muslims….
That is the best you can do….… Let’s be pragmatic guys….. After all many of us are not part of the ruling elite…. If we are part of the ruling elite who can influence govt policies … we won’t be spending time to write comments in this blog !!!
January 23rd, 2006 at 9:47 am
amit: “But rather, the way to move forward is to understand how the social dynamics and then change the mentality of the majority at the grass root level…. never antagonize the Malays and the Muslims….”
so what do you have in mind?
January 23rd, 2006 at 7:09 pm
Dear Amit
What is your proposal/s which is both pragmatic and takes care of the Malay social dynamic? What is the gist.
Are you now saying that just because the person is orang “Melayu” or orang “asing” that they are “automtically receive”.Even in Malay pantuns or proverbs, the rewards goes to the smart and the hardworking.
If you really feel as such, advice so since I believe you did agree that GLC’s should be more efficient/effective so that they can employ more people and/or Malays/bumiputra which I personally do not have an issue.
If this is the real prevalent attitude, it will not help in the medium term.
Why do you think I state as such so that economically all are viable, so that the fight is over the “luxuries” rather than the “basics”.
I personally have no wish to see Malaysia decline or any comunity there to decline but to heed the warning signs of greater globalisation.
Further, what are your arguments to rebut on the imagined concept. I do dispute that its there, the query is where does it wish to head to.
Regards
Ajohore
January 23rd, 2006 at 7:10 pm
Correction
Further, what are your arguments to rebut on the imagined concept. I do not dispute that its there, the query is where does it wish to head to.
January 24th, 2006 at 6:28 am
Amit says: “never antagonize the Malays and the Muslims….” Why? Is it because you guys are a bunch retards and uncivilised people who will go amok and grab the Parang Panjang because you do not know how to debate like intelligent people and when you cannot rationalise your unfair & unjust positions, you chop off necks - like you did on May 13 1969.
You rule by force, you grabbed power by force and will remain where you are until greater force is applied; after all Amit does say “never antagonize the Malays and the Muslims….”
You guys are evil and the good news is that history is replete with examples of evil being defeated. It might take a while in the end you will be defeated.
LJ
January 24th, 2006 at 9:51 am
Dear ajohore and bintang… and to you LJ
Introduction
This will be a long reply. Mmmm….. I can’t have an editor for my blog comments. This comment was typed in about 10 minutes - have to thank LJ for that (esp comment on January 24th, 2006 at 6:28 am )… LJ you make me so angry with your remarks……but I will keep my word not to inflame or incite racial hatred.
Anyway as this comment was typed in about 10 minutes it may not be polished and refined like M Bakri’s postings…. ha ha ha…
So have fun reading my comments:
About GLCs
I agree that GLCs has to be made more efficient and rational – in the Adam Smith sense….But I think M Bakri has to first clarify what does he mean by GLC. He said in the blog topic “Remembering Tun Razak” that it was Tun Razak that started the GLCs. Well truthfully I think the term SOE – State Owned Enterprise is more appropriate as during Tun Razak’s time a lot of wholly owned govt corporation were created. GLCs or parastatal in the usual meaning refers to partially privatised SOE. And I think in discussing about SOE or GLCs M Bakri has gone beyond his expertise. The topic of SOE or GLC management is a discipline of its own. In particular SOE and GLCs cannot be like private sector firms profit maximization (and efficiency maximization) is not the only goal. GLCs are glorified SOEs in which partial privatization brings in the illusion that it should operate like a private sector firm. But this is meaningless as the govt has control of a GLC. Of course one may cite Singapore GLCs as being successful. But Singapore GLCs can be said to be autonomous parastals which enjoys less interference in their operations compared to SOEs from other SEA countries. But my current readings of the GLC affairs in Singapore have created doubts in this regard.
There are many other factors that affect SOE/GLC performance. The most salient is political interference. Perhaps in Malaysia being what it is, we can expect more political interference in the running of GLCs. That is why….if you remember, in one of my earlier comments with regards to govt involvement in business: I stressed that govt should only be involved in providing public goods as theoretically it cannot compete with the more efficient private sector if it (the govt) were to provide competitive goods. So the best way forward in this regard is to restrict govt involvement to in the economy to public works, public welfare, internal security and national defence.
On the imagined concepts
Well…. you should read Benedict Anderson’s book.
Applying Anderson’s ideas- Malay ethos and nationalism is a created concept. Surely many may feel this when looking at the definition of Malays which include indigenous ethnic groups such as Kasazans, Bajau, Iban, Kayan etc…..
Now look at Indonesia…. In Indonesia: the Javanese is a distinct and separate ethnic group compared to the Malays in Riau and Minangkabau and Achehenese in Sumatera.. But in Malaysia…. these three ethnic groups becomes Malay… do you get what I mean?
If the beliefs surrounding Malay ethnic group and its accompanying nationalism are imagined concepts… they can be de-constructed….. theoretically of course…
But it will be difficult as you got to have a dedicated cadre and a mechanism such as the media to bring forward your alternative ideas. There is a short cut though….Given the situation in Malaysia… I think it may be wise of you to convince a group of well connected people in UMNO to adopt your alternative ideas… if you can do so, i.e. by having well placed patrons who believe in you…. You are in a better position to spread your ideas….
Of course you can do it with out powerful patrons… but…. That will be the more difficult way…..alternatively you can spread your ideas using the alternative elites (or elites in waiting i.e. the opposition) or in collaboration with NGOs…… Of course these options have advantages and disadvantages…. Advantages is that you can tap into their organisational and networking resources…. But you may have to sacrifice your ideas to accommodate the other side(s)….
On globalisation
Yes… there are definitely benefits of globalisation….particularly when Malaysia is such a small country… (the population of Beijing or Tehran is more than half of Malaysia !)
Dude… no need to lecture me on the urgencies of formulating sound economic policies with regard to globalization…. But the real challenge is to persuade the masses to accept globalization…..
I personally wish the Malaysian govt to embrace globalization wholeheartedly rather than in the manner that is going on right now… in particular the govt should empower the people to reap the benefits of globalization than fighting against globalization. But the reality in Malaysia is…well…. You know what it is…
Now…. govt and ruling elites must accommodate the will of the people to stay in power…. If the people can be made to embrace globalization and forget ethnic identification, then the govt has no choice but to do the same….
Sadly at the grass root level there is an insular feeling (you may called this protectionist attitude) among the Malaysian public and Malays especially. In my opinion, this is attributable to the media who tend create false impressions on globalization…Of course one the contributing factor esp for the Malay mainstream media is that they want to project a certain kind of image i.e. an image of how and what a Malay should think…. This of course goes back to the core idea of Malay ethos that the ruling elites wish the Malays to have…ergo the imagined community…..
Now as I mentioned in my previous comments… to change Malaysia, you must change the attitude of the Malays… and to do this you must create a grass root based organization that can capture the imagination of the ordinary Malays. I have discussed how you can do this. Now lets talk about what do I mean by grass root Malays. Grass root Malays are the ordinary Malays….
In this regard…my suggestion is to project an alternative view of Malay ethos that is relevant to the ordinary Malays… a sort of Melayu Baru… have you read Rustam Sani’s book?.. but my vision of Melayu Baru is different from Rustam Sani’s…. While Rustam Sani think of corporate Malays and mostly western educated cosmopolitan elite … I am thinking of the ordinary wage earners and salary persons….and the ones educated in national schools and national tertiary institutions….
Of course, if you want to change the attitude of the Malays, antagonising the Malays will not help. Some may think that this is pandering or “bodek”…. But you got to remember…. To change a nation… you have to change at least the majority of its people…. In this got you have to make the ordinary Malays accept your alternative view(s) of Malaysia.
This is the challenge to M. Bakri and to anyone out there who wants Malaysia to be more prosperous in the future. It is not enough to regurgitate the obvious i.e. sound economic policies..good education policies and acceptable social policies….. It is equally important to think how are you (–who are not in the position to change policies –) going to make others share your vision.
So what do you think?
January 24th, 2006 at 11:09 am
Amit: “Sadly at the grass root level there is an insular feeling (you may called this protectionist attitude) among the Malaysian public and Malays especially. In my opinion, this is attributable to the media who tend create false impressions on globalization…Of course one the contributing factor esp for the Malay mainstream media is that they want to project a certain kind of image i.e. an image of how and what a Malay should think…. This of course goes back to the core idea of Malay ethos that the ruling elites wish the Malays to have…ergo the imagined community….. ”
Interesting. I read Malay papers from time to time and blog comments from various Malay posters. But perhaps not enough to form a definitive opinion. Maybe I can hear from you what is going on inside the mind of the Malay? You said false impressions of globalization. What are these false impressions? And what is this image of how a Malay is supposed to act?
Anyway to share my own personal experience, there is a difference between a Malay in UMNO and a Malay who is not an UMNO member. I don’t know how widespread is this phenomenon. But the non-UMNO Malay is usually concerned with daily life while the UMNO member is usually quite concerned with politicking, even in daily relationships and among friends - any comments?
January 25th, 2006 at 4:03 am
Amit I’d rather you be agree with me for the following:
“LJ Says:
January 23rd, 2006 at 3:21 am
60% have 30% of economy - members of perfect religion of justice, fairness, equality, very upset (not fair konon).
60% have 99% of government jobs - members of perfect religion of justice, fairness, equality, say: very fair, very just & vey Islamic.
Lagi sekali LJ says: Ya Right!”
NO you won’t because you are just a Melayu with no conscience!
January 25th, 2006 at 9:19 am
There was a nice piece on MGG today: ‘UMNO got rid of Tunku with a riot, but did not think through its plan afterwords’.
He ends by stating that ‘As Proton goes, so shall the NEP and Malay Dominance.’
How wonderful if those twin evils (NEP and the Fascistic “ketuanan Melayu”) do one day disappear as MGG predicts. Alas, however, he has got so many things wrong before, I do hope he is right on this occasion
Hoi Bakri kenapa diam je, ber? I will accept “ketuanan Melayu” in Malaysia if you can honestly say that you would accept “ketuanan orang putih” in the US.
You won’t and so don’t I.
Parang Panjang & beramok!
LJ
January 28th, 2006 at 8:40 am
Bintang: But the non-UMNO Malay is usually concerned with daily life while the UMNO member is usually quite concerned with politicking, even in daily relationships and among friends - any comments?
Well… yes…I’ve seen them too often… but then…. I am not an anthropologist…. my observations would be at best annecdotal.
Perhaps Bintang may want to refer to works on Malay culture written by anthropologists and sociologists…
Its good that you raise the issues of misconception about globalization in the mainstream Malay media… it would be very long to describe them here… but a careful reading in the op ed and the foreign news section of Berita Harian and Utusan yoeld fruitful insights on how the media is trying to potray the globalization to the Malays…
Having read similar sections in New York Times, Washington Post, The Guardian, Financial Times, AWSJ, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, Jakarta Post, Republika, etc (so many papers I read…but I read at least 3 a day… print versions not online….) I got this feeling that there is a coherent message that the editors of BH and utusan are trying to convey to their readers….
February 6th, 2006 at 1:38 am
Hi, I think you are totally right. Great! -
Susan.
March 9th, 2006 at 7:55 am
How sad. And we call it Malaysia. What can we do? (A little late in reading though. But I came across it while looking for information on GLCs.)
1. Go back to the land of your fore fathers land and leave the Malays alone. China seems to be booming with growth. India has a lot of specialized professionals who conquer the job market in Malaysia. Streamin’ in like Water.
2. Help the Malays and get something in return at least you get the satisfaction that it was your doing that he became rich and famous.
3. Just keep quiet. God, if there is one, will give us what we deserve when we die.
Not siding anyone on this.I don’t find it necessary to waste brain cells on issues like this.
Just a thought.
September 26th, 2006 at 12:04 am
Err…..I thought malays in malaysia were decendants of Parameswara and therefore are not bumiouteras either. the original folks of this land were the orang asli and the natives in both Sabah and Sarawak. in fact, malays, indians and chinese were all from elsewhere.
April 30th, 2007 at 2:35 am
Dear M. Bakri Musa.
In my opinion the teaching of science and mathematics in English as stupid. Rural Malays is hardly catching up science and mathematics in their own mother tongue and ou expect them to understand science and mathematics in English?
I say that is a stupid opinion anf Mahathir another doctor followed your advise, well I cannot say he was too smart either.