Selamat Hari Raya ‘Idilfitri
Selamat Hari Raya ‘Idilfitri
“Selamat Hari Raya ‘Idilfitri! Ma’af, Dzahir dan Batin!” That is my wish for all my Malay readers; for my Indian readers, Happy Deepavalli; and to all, Happy Holidays!
Those words are more than just simple and obligatory adornments on our Hari Raya cards and greetings.
“Selamat” means peace or safe. Looking at the world around us, we cannot take peace or safety for granted. Nearby we see the wretched fate of the Sri Lankans; further away the agony of the Iraqis. Praise be to Allah, Malaysians are blessed for the country is at peace and our young are not at war at home or abroad. America may be prosperous but many an American family is in turmoil over the fate of their loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The wish for peace extends inwards. May we also be at peace with ourselves and with our family, colleagues and neighbors. May we renew our bonds of friendship and ties of kinship. For far too many, the season of holidays and festivities is also the time when familial and social bonds are severely stressed. Child and spousal abuse peaks during such times, bringing neither peace nor safety to the family.
A safe Hari Raya is what we all should strive for. Sadly, the rush for balek kampong far too often turns out to be a rush to meet our Maker. Hari Raya and other holidays are fast degenerating into a season of carnage on our highways, the anticipated joys abruptly and rudely replaced by mourning, the tears of joy turning to tears of sadness. So far this season is proving to be unusually lethal.
Where there is no peace, there is no safety. The “selamat” thus incorporates both meanings. We take it for granted that when we go to the store or movie house we will return safely. Not so for the poor Iraqis and Sri Lankans. They literally take their lives in their own hands when they leave the security of their homes. Even when they are at home, they are not always safe.
We may take the “Selamat” in “Selamat Hari Raya” for granted; for others less fortunate, it is the hope that helps them through their travails.
The ‘Idilfitri separates this Hari Raya from the one we celebrate together with the pilgrims finishing their Hajj. That Hari Raya Eid-ul-Adha is the feast of sacrifice, of thanksgiving for having completed the journey, both the literal journey of pilgrimage as well as our figurative journey of life we are now traversing. I liken Eid-ul-Adha to the American and Canadian Thanksgiving, a largely secular holiday that is fast becoming the premier celebration day for families.
‘Idilfitri (from the Arabic Eid-ul-Fitra) is the celebration of fitrah, the end of fasting (Ramadan). It is indeed appropriate that Ramadan, a month of piety, restraint and meditation, be capped by zakat fitrah, the giving of tithe that is mandatory of all adult and sane Muslims on behalf of themselves as well as their dependents. Fasting during Ramadan and the giving of zakat (charity) constitute two of the five pillars of Islam. Zakat means purification, of our wealth and souls. Zakat fitrah purifies our earlier fasting.
We celebrate by giving, by being generous with our wealth and of ourselves. The zakat is a manifestation of our generosity to those less fortunate. We must also be generous with our spirit.
The “Open House,” very much part of Hari Raya in the kampong, is a manifestation of this generosity. We open not only our homes but also our hearts to our friends, colleagues and neighbors. It is gratifying that what was once only a Hari Raya phenomenon is now very much part of the Malaysian holiday scene. This is what I treasure and miss most about Malaysia.
Leaders and citizens alike partake in this most Malaysian of holiday rituals. It is truly a marvel to behold, especially for non-Malaysians, to see ordinary citizens trotting up in troves to Putrajaya to see the Prime Minister. Yes, visitors may enter the White House but only on a tour, and only after going through the metal screening and personal search. If they are lucky, they may get a glimpse of its prime tenant.
This generosity of spirit and renewal of our inner being are encapsulated in the accompanying “maaf, dzahir dan batin” to our traditional wishes and greetings.
Ma’af means saying that you are sorry. In the spirit of the season, we seek forgiveness from each other, and we in turn should be forgiving. The morning of Hari Raya would see family members shaking each other’s hands, the children seeking their parents’ forgiveness; parents, their children’s. We do likewise with our friends and colleagues. It is these gestures, expressed more so during Hari Raya, that lubricates and nourishes our relationships.
After ma’af comes dzahir, the renewal of our inner being, our batin.
Let us practice them in our homes, workplace and roadways. If we are more generous and more forgiving on the roads and highways, we may even reduce the carnage.
Let us in the spirit of Hari Raya wish each other “Selamat” - peace and safety – and to be generous to each other and to ourselves. Let us practice the spirit of gratitude and forgiveness, and resolve for the renewal or rebirth of our inner being as implied in Maaf, Dzahir dan Batin during this joyful month of Syawal as well as throughout the year.
That is my wish upon my readers and myself.
November 1st, 2005 at 9:02 pm
Dear Bakri, Karen, and family, and friends in Faraway California,
Selamat Hari Raya Maaf Zahir dan Batin.
Let us pray that the economy will be better in 2006. But our prayers must be backed by bold policy decisions which can deal with rising inflation and unemployment.
I have been informed that Vietnam is doing better than Malaysia in terms of attracting foreign direct investment. Why? Policy uncertainties and the lack of clear direction are undermining investor confidence in our country.
Thanks.
November 1st, 2005 at 11:42 pm
Dear Dr Bakri and Bro Din Merican
Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin sekiranya tersilap kata atau tertulis. In the spirit of Idil Fitri, let us pray that Allah will shower us with his mercy, forgiveness and blessings and may next year be a better year. Amin.
November 2nd, 2005 at 4:06 am
Dear Dr Bakri,
Thanks for initiating this exciting blog which is an invaluable national service.
Ogre, your words of blessings very appropriate. The mercy and forgiveness we can render unto others depend on how much we actually realise the mercy and forgiveness of the Almighty.
In the same breath, I wish all my Muslim friends here Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Maaf zahir dan batin. Let any misgivings be bygone and start with a clean slate.
November 2nd, 2005 at 8:35 am
Dr. Bakri & family, Bro Din Merican and all my Muslim friends in this country and those far and wide, SELAMAT HARI RAYA PUASA.
November 2nd, 2005 at 11:24 am
Tina pun nak tumpang mengucap selamat hari raya lah. Itu pun kalau sudi menerima nya.
Selamat Hari Raya to all!
November 2nd, 2005 at 1:10 pm
Selamat Hari Raya.
Tina leh tak atuk tang umah . . .
November 3rd, 2005 at 12:39 am
Although we say Selamat Hari Raya, the celebrations have faded following the multitudes of death on the road…
Seasonal bliss have been reduced to daily sobs and tears…
November 3rd, 2005 at 10:59 pm
To All & Especiallu All Muslim Bloggers
Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.
Maaf Zahir & Batin and Happy & Joyous Season Ahead
Ajohore
November 4th, 2005 at 4:03 am
Dr Bakri, I like the idea of zakat fitrah. Only the generous deserve to be happy coz they give of themselves.
Tina, I am personally glad you came around. I admire your courage of honesty. As a journalist, I look at social impact more than a convincing academic argument. Truly, you are doing great with your sharing.
November 5th, 2005 at 3:46 am
Assalamualikum wmt wbt
Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Dzahir Batin kepada semua. I’m new to this blog; usually checked your and Jeff Ooi’s to see what’s happening. Kindly share other blogs, if possible. Like you, Dr. Bakri, I’m in “rantauan”, in Washington, DC area. Suah nak dapat suasana Hari Raya di Malaysia kat sini. I’m still trying, to take the good stuff and leave the not so good.
To those in Malaysia, kalau makan ketupat, rendang dan dodol tu, ingatkan kami disini.
November 5th, 2005 at 8:53 pm
Ummi,
What are you doing in Washington D.C? I was there many years ago (1968-1970) as graduate student at The George Washington School of Business, GWU.
You can make your own ketupat and rendang as I did when I was there. Go to China Town and get the pulut and spices you want and then go to an Iranian grocer for halal meat. It may not be perfect, but it is good enough under the circumstances. Next time, ask your friends to send you some cds of Malay songs (those by P. Ramlee, Saloma and S.M Salim, also Siti Norhaliza) to create the right mood.
Regards.
November 6th, 2005 at 9:59 pm
Ummi and Bro Din,
Nowadays the Ambassador will always host a Hari Raya gathering. In some cases they will have Idil Fitri Prayers at their residence or Chancery and then there will be open house. In this time and day, with Chinatown springing up everywhere and lots of Islamic Food Mart selling halal meats and the export of halal foods from Malaysia I feel Raya dishes are easy to come by. I’ve seen Brahim, Adabi, Lingam’s, Maggi, Nona and many others in stores in Chinatown. Cooking them and getting the recipes right may be the problem.
Raya songs and even takbir Raya can be downloaded thru the internet.
Selamat Hari Raya.
November 7th, 2005 at 1:53 am
Ogre,
Thanks and welcome to Globalization. Selamat Hari Raya to you and family too.
November 7th, 2005 at 3:59 am
I would like to respectfully suggest to Dr. Bakri, if I could, to focus on current issues like the falling standard of our tertiary education, the equally appalling standards among the Malay students – the cause and effect, where blame could be placed on our government and where the Malays must shoulder the blame.
A visit to limkitsiang.blogspot.com serves to confirm the storm that is brewing among the racists in this country.
To Din Merican
Where do we go from here?
Regards
November 7th, 2005 at 7:02 am
How long more do you want to be bullied by the racist in Umno?
How long more do you want to be treated like second-class citizens?
How long more before you can accumulate enough money to send your kids to study overseas?
How long more before 5% discount on houses is abolished?
How long more before we get to scrutinize the petronas accounts?
How long more before a non-malay gets to be VC at a public university?
How long more before racist MPs are forced to resign?
How long more before the Internal Security Act is repealed?
How long more before we get a free press?
How long more before all the tollbooths are dismantled?
How long more…………..?
November 7th, 2005 at 8:10 am
Malay Graduate
Please read Dr Bakri Musa books. You will find that Dr Bakri had addressed all those things you requested him to do especially the decline in tertiary education standards in Malaysia. Dr Bakri has also made several recommendation which as yet have not been implemented.
November 7th, 2005 at 8:12 am
Bro Din,
Thansk for the welcome but I am not a newcomer here. I’ve been around under a different pen name. Perhaps you may remember “keeping radio silence”. cheers
November 7th, 2005 at 8:13 am
First of all, are we (the non-bumis, that is) really to believe that the government will abolish or tone down the New Economic Policy in the near future? We must be realistic, if you have the right to buy a property at a discount and have scholarships for your children, would you let go of these rights?
With Chinese population dwindling in Malaysia, what needs to be done depends on the Chinese themselves.
There is nothing wrong with the brain drain. In fact, we should encourage our children to move to Singapore, Taiwan, China etc. if we disagree with Malaysian government policies that are based on race and religion.
When it comes to the matter of the dwindling number of Chinese Malaysians, we should talk about quality, not quantity.
We should resolve why the Chinese-Malaysian population is reducing. Official figures have more than one million Chinese Malaysians emigrating over the past 25 years. Why did they emigrate? I am sure the government knows.
Straight A students can’t get scholarships or university places. Nothing new, it is been that way for the past 35 years. Nowadays, even enlightened malay Malaysians are speaking up on this injustice. The MCA and Gerakan? Busy making money from private colleges.
What is so great about having TAR College or Utar which took more than 35 years of begging? Why should it be so difficult to set up an independent university when we have scores of public ones?
While we push young talented people away, other countries notably Singapore, the US and Australia welcome them with open arms.
Is it logical that we drive away our young talented ones and then invite retired Mat Sallehs to live here and exploit our low-cost of living?
Singapore’s success in particular owes much to these ex-Malaysians or their descendants including Hon Sui Sen, Goh Keng Swee, Goh Chok Tong, just to name a few.
About 30 percent of top management in both Singapore’s government and corporate sector are ex-Malaysians. We export them so that Singapore can compete with, and then whack us.
Korea and Taiwan, both way behind us in the 70s and 80s are now way ahead. Thailand is breathing down our necks.
Sadly, there is just no integrity in the nation’s leadership.
November 7th, 2005 at 9:28 am
i think we are experiencing a spill-over of racists from limkitsiang.blogspot.com
November 7th, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Read my lips. What does it say??
The Malays had no say when the British decided to bring immigrant labour – Chinese from British Hong Kong and mainland China, and Indians from south India - to Malaya to work their tin mines and rubber estates which they needed for their factories back home. They destroyed the demographics of this country with just one stroke of the pen so to speak – without so much as a thought to what it could mean to the future of the original inhabitants of tanah Melayu. Then later, seeing the racial riots in British India after the War, and the blood letting which led to the partition and breakaway of Pakistan (West and East) from India, they felt they bore the moral responsibility of at least seeing, with their withdrawal after the Second World War from Malaya, the worst of such race riots avoided. They managed to extract an agreement of sorts from the leaders among the communities.
However, my father and grandfather had no say in the agreement that followed. The 1948 Federation of Malaya Agreement was forced down their throats. The Tunku acted hastily in agreeing to independence from the British on those terms, giving citizenship freely to the immigrants in exchange for special Malay privileges – giving inter alia self government to Singapore, the first step towards the separation and eventual usurpation of this Malay island off the tip of the Malay peninsula by immigrant races which today make up the majority. Native Malays in Singapore were reduced to being an oppressed minority in their own country, their sultan given a pension and robbed of his position and his descendants forced to live in obscurity.
I would like to see Malay economic and political sovereignty over the Malay peninsula restored.
In the 60s, with MARA a plan was devised to send as many Malays overseas for their education – at the time the country had only one university, the University of Malaya and the student population was mainly Chinese. The Malays made up less than 35% of the student population at best and all of them were concentrated in the Faculty of Islamic and Malay studies. The number of Malays attending sixth form in government schools were miniscule and I was among the few – but given a second chance many of these Malay students who were sent to study at universities in the United States, did well and returned to hold positions in the private sector as well as the public sector. They are the ones now reaching retirement age. We were able to show that Malays are not stupid or inferior in any way to the Chinese. They were just handicapped by their rural background, having been born to poor parents, who were for the most part padi growers and fishermen living at subsistence level in rural Malaya, who grew up in the kampongs without the modern facilities such as electricity, roads and good schools etc. that one would associate with the urban areas.
The seeds of this policy have begun to bear fruits today. We must be prepared to accept that the long term effect of this policy, which is referred to by some and understandably so as being “discriminatory” and “blatantly racist” – but which I would add other adjectives to it i.e. policies which are “discriminatory”, “racist” and “just” in our struggle to restore Malay economic and political sovereignty over what was once ours - the Malay peninsula and what was once a centre of Malay and Islamic civilization
I submit to all, that if it leads to large scale migration of the Chinese from Malaysia, so be it. I would be pleased to mortgage my house to help provide the tongkang to help them through the difficult times.
November 7th, 2005 at 4:03 pm
Forty-eight years after Independence, the people of Malaysia are still searching for an identity. Are they malays or Muslims first; are they Chinese, Indians or Malaysians first?
This identity crisis is a result of the failure of the BN government, which has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957, later as the expanded Barisan Nasional.
The truth is that the malays of this country partly owe their independence to the non-malays. The reason was that the British refused to give independence without an agreement from the non-malays.
Another argument put forth by the pro-malay special rights group is that, they made a compromise by giving the non-malays their citizenship and in exchange the malays must be given their special privileges.
This argument is the most ridiculous I have heard thus far but in their ignorance some Malaysians still think that citizenship is for a certain race to give. This logic would mean that the minorities will always be seen as foreigners who will never be equal to the malay bumis.
The Chinese and Indians must accept they are immigrants and they were given citizenships in 1957 on the agreement that the malays are given special rights and privileges.
Stretching your logic a bit further, are you also suggesting that in America, the Negroes continue to be slaves to the whites otherwise they give up US citizenship and go back to Africa?
This is stupid idiotic logic. Even if the so-called contract was valid, it was so only in the 50s and 60s.
We are nearly 50 years after Merdeka and all Chinese and Indians have begun citizens. They are no more bound by the so-called social contract which enslaved their ancestors.
Umno is afraid to give up Ketuanan melayu because it is bankrupt of ideas in competing with others in this 21st century democracy.
Umno’s warped logic is that it is better for country to be backward so long as malays benefit than for country to prosper, where malays are marginalized.
This warped logic is in fact the beginning of the end of the malays who will never progress and compete with others on equal footing and level playing field, so long as they subscribe to Ketuanan melayu and have crutch mentality in forever relying on special privileges……….
Malays will crumble from internal weaknesses and disappear in era of globalization……….no need for others to colonize them as Mahathir had constantly raised this bogey.
My dad is a racist; so is my mom. Similarly racists are my brother, sister and relatives. All the Malaysian friends I now have are, and those I had were or at the least had been, racists too.
Well, perhaps thanks to all these people, I have become - and remain - a racist as well.
You see, we are the members of a much larger community: Malaysia - the racist nation!
The term community is somewhat misleading. We are not united as such as a nation should be. We are only united by the fact that all of us - at one time or other - had been are or will become, racists……
All of us formally became racists in the year of 1971, when racism was institutionalised in Malaysia. Not that racism didn’t exist before: it did; it lurked underneath, which — as everyone knows — erupted as the May 13 ethnic riots. Hence came the New Economic Policy, set up to divert the winds off the sails of racism. Ballasting the boat, and listing it in favour of the economically disadvantaged malay-Malaysians may lead to Malaysians seeing each other as equals, it was thought.
Then came the 80s, which also gave Dr Mahathir.
Still, racism remained somewhat otherworldly to me. All of us practiced racism, on the streets, in shops, in schools and in the house, but racism was never blatant - at least in my life. That changed as the 80s came to a close.
…………
Please tell me, can anyone even imagine a multi-cultural Malaysian nation — where no one discriminates the other on the basis of race, where everyone treats the other as a brother or sister - being run by the same racist parties that exist now? Is such a future even conceptually possible?
It is time for me to descend to earth and crawl back into my racist carapace, and be a realist again. And heap praises on our nation and on the ideals that are so central to its psyche: long live, racism! Long live, racist Malaysia - the model racist nation!
It is no wonder our civil participation is as backward as it is.
Do you have any idea why Singapore is almost the first world country or 20 years better than Malaysia?
One could argue every country has its own policies and laws that place prejudice on certain parties - yes, that is true, but none so shamefully as those who (Malaysia) not only boast about it, take the credit for the successes of these people whom they slam their discriminatory abuses on, and have no intention to change it (and that said with a smug look on the face).
Bangsa Malaysia? Bah, humbug!
November 7th, 2005 at 4:51 pm
Racist. Racist. Racist.
Now almost 50 years of Independence, we really should review the social contract because it has not served its purpose. Somewhere along the line, it got twisted further and a religious dimension was brought in.
This is because 3rd generation non-malays born and bred on this soil is considered ‘pendatang’ and second class citizens. Whereas recent Indonesian newcomers and Pakistani husbands to malays enjoy better privileges.
Now this agenda is religiously skewed and that is how the Indonesians and the Pakistanis are enjoying better privileges at the expense of 3rd or 4th generation non-malay Malaysians.
This also probably explains why the Orang Asli still do not fully enjoy the privileges of the social agenda.
The NEP has only served a few. Its original motives were noble because weather you or I agree malays do need a lot of encouragement but not the sort that have been getting as opposed to the ones in Singapore.
In the 1970s in Singapore, O and A levels pass marks for Malays: 28%, Indians: 65%, Chinese: 75%, others: 50%.
This NEP discrimination only made the non-malays smarter and the malays more dumb. Pass mark for Singapore malays in state: 50%.
Singapore allow them to leave Singapore any time they want but they choose to stay because their kids are properly educate, got better opportunities, housing and health care……….And they are truly loyal to Singapore.
I would like to add further to what has mentioned.
(1) Singapore’s first president was a malay. The republic has also had two Indian presidents including the present one.
(2) The republic Singapore has had two Indian deputy prime ministers including the current one.
(3) It has had two Indian foreign ministers.
(4) The country’s present minister for education is an Indian.
(5) A former police chief (equivalent to Inspector-General of Police) was, yes, you guessed it, an Indian.
Can we ever expect such important government positions in Malaysia to be occupied by those representing the minority communities in Malaysia? I am afraid the minorities here can only dream.
As I said, the racial disharmony in Malaysia is not the cause of Chinese, Indians or Malays.
The fault and blame lies squarely and directly on Umno and Umno Youth leaderships, and their barrel of race-based politics and policies.
Are the malays so impoverished in intellect and ability that they need handouts to survive?
The alternative already exists - the day the malays rely on themselves, not Umno, is the day they write their own destiny.
Protection for the malays means isolation for the malays. As long as they ask for more protection, they will be isolated from the progress of the world.
In the end, they will be hiding in caves like the Taliban. Nowhere to go because of inadequate skills, or skills that are not useful to the society and humankind at large.
Income and employment statistics show the Chinese are still ahead of other races but nowhere near pre-NEP levels.
The aids and opportunities provided under the NEP, if given to non-malays would propel them sky high in half the period.
The hardship makes us better, stronger and wiser. Hence we always try our best for the better of our next generation.
If you malays don’t like it here, then go back to Sumatra, Jawa, or wherever your ancestors came from and give this land back to its rightful masters, the Orang Asli!
November 7th, 2005 at 4:53 pm
Imagine our prime minister lecturing on the real facts of peace and unity in Malaysia.
“We (government) do not practise meritocracy and social fairness. We practise discrimination and racism in our education system, housing allocation and discount, jobs, university entry. We extort and blackmail non-bumis through Approved Permits and shares equity. We dish out handouts to bumis, etc. That is how we achieve peace and unity in Malaysia.”
The only reason why there is peace and unity is because the non-bumis are tolerant, progressive, peace, moderate, magnanimous and loving, despite the racism, keris wielding and discriminatory policies.
If the future leader is bollocks then the future of this country is also bollocks.
The education system in this country from top to bottom is going from bad to worst, we are producing robots, incompetent, hapless, crony and brainwashed leaders.
Going by that, the track record of the Umno government is nothing less than embarrassing and shameful.
While the rich and famous in the Umno coalition is feasting off the richness of the land christened Malaysia, thousands more are languishing in poverty, sickness and adverse social circumstances.
I care for my fellow citizens regardless of race and religion and there is nothing more I wish to see that for them to be able to lead a decent life through diligence and honesty. But such values are of no worth in a corrupted and racist system like the Umno government’s.
The current debate is not about race, religion or political ideology. It’s about good values or rather, the lack of them in the current Umno politicians.
One must not mistake hatred against racism with hatred against race. The former is admirable, and the latter deplorable.
From the comments of you malay, I can conclude that he is either delirious and confused or he is simply a typical Umno politician - colored-vision, conceited and paranoid.
Your comments clearly show your insecurity as well as your inferiority complex. Unfortunately, your comments suggest that your views represent all the malays.
It also shows that you, as representing the malays, concede that you are not prepared and will never be prepared, even in the future, to meet with competition. You suggest that you need to be wrapped in cotton wool for all time.
You may be the ketuanan of Malaysia but what kind of Malaysia will that be by then if you continue with your tunnel vision and refuse to meet and compete with the rest of the world.
The world does not owe you a favour and will not wait for you. A big problem is that you expect the world and everyone to owe you a living. Get real the world owes you nothing!
You will be in a very small country and a small world of your own. You may be the ketuanan of such a country which may be weaker than a banana republic in time.
Under those circumstance, it may not be important whether you are the ketuanan of such a country which is not third rate but fourth rate, and which may be open to be taken by a stronger force. By then you will be too weak and friendless to defend yourself.
Please don’t think that Malaysia belongs to one particular race, you are insulting yourself, and your race, don’t ever forget that some key leaders in top government are with mixed blood, not pure malays……….please know your mission as a Malaysian, to live united with the other races and fight independently with the globalised world.
Don’t be narrow-minded anymore, do correct thing to make things right.
The “bumiputera” stole the land from Orang Asli. By right all of Malaysia should belong to them. If recall history as the current generation of malays came over from Sumatera, Jawa, and the island around.
If your thinking remains the same - please go back to Indonesia where you can proudly call yourself bumis there.
November 7th, 2005 at 4:56 pm
Does anyone really expect Pak Lah to full frontally outright challenge the malay special rights?
Even if he wants to, he can’t; Umno will disown him. I like to think that when he mentioned subsidies he was thinking of the special ones the malays receive as well.
Everywhere I go, it’s the same. The malays expecting the government to enforce this or that special privilege. The Chinese expecting the government to pull back those special privileges.
Nobody ever bothers to look at themselves; nobody points the finger at us. The buck never stops being passed around.
The problem now is, the politicians are talking the talk but not walking walk. Unfortunately, so are the citizens.
We all say we want a fairer, more just, less corrupt society. But how many of us put this into practice? How many don’t rely on the government subsidies? How many refuse to bribe the police officer who just caught them speeding? It’s like the old saying goes - charity begins at home.
Malays are deteriorating in social and moral values so fast in the last few years that we shudder to think what is going to happen in the next few years!
Apostasy, incest, molest, rape, sodomy, unwed pregnancies cases are getting out of hand and spreading throughout the country!
So many malay youths are incarcerated in drug rehabilitation centres, prisons, and that so much money is being wasted on these social delinquents!
Islam in Malaysia is a total disgrace. Malays are a disgrace lot. In due time they will take their proper place among the Orang Asli and the Orang Asli will have moved on.
A genetically flawed race cannot be fixed politically. Nature will take its course and globalization will put them out to pasture.
What have we got now?
Brain drain, economic disparity getting wider, poor education system, racial segregation, widespread corruption, uncompetitive, inefficiency in government departments and others.
Likewise, fixing the nation’s problems begins with you - all of us.
November 8th, 2005 at 12:32 am
Thank God.
There is still humanity in human beings.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10353961
November 8th, 2005 at 2:29 am
Assalamualikum to my Malay, Chinese and Indian fellow bloggers.
I bring a message of peace, the same message all the prophets bring from our Creator.
Oh my goodness, I guess the devils are out of their chains now that Ramadhan is over! Let us not forget that we are not the enemy of each other, the devil is our enemy. He is rejoicing now that mankind is fighting each other, the way I see here.
Unfortunately, there is no country in this face of the earth which is non-discriminatory, NONE. The discrimination in Singapore is subtle; and I think the Malays in Malaysia watched and learnt from the fate of fellow Malay brethens in Singapore. We do not want to become like them — reduced to insignificant nothing. You and I know, the President’s position in Singapore is ceremonial. Has there been any Malay who hold important post in Singapore? Let’s not kid ourselves; the devil has whispered and we listened; we distrust each other.
The Chinese is not superior to the Malays, and vice versa. The best among us is the one who is most God-conscious. We need to do dakwah to non-Muslims and Muslims need to do tabligh within themselves if we want peace and harmony. Malay Muslims have more responsibility if they truly have faith, knowledge and wisdom. Allah and the Rasullah (saw) said, do not oppress each other. Name calling (baboon, hog eating, etc) is childish. We are all descended from one man, Adam. If you cut me, I’ll bleed red blood, just like you. Allah has shown His Grace and Mercy to Malaysia for all of us, Alhamdullillah. Please do not disgrace yourself and your race by disrespecting our Creator who created, provide and bless you with your life and provisions.
Getting back to Hari Raya in the US. I think we are still trying to create our very own tradition. Coming from Johor and from a family full of cooks and chefs, I enjoy cooking and do cook Malaysian dishes for Iftar and Eid. This year I cooked both Malay and American dishes. My Malaysian donuts and American brownies are big hit.
Brother Din Merican and others, kalau sampai ke Washington DC, singgah ke rumah Ummi.
November 8th, 2005 at 3:33 am
“Let us in the spirit of Hari Raya wish each other “Selamat” - peace and safety – and to be generous to each other and to ourselves. Let us practice the spirit of gratitude and forgiveness, and resolve for the renewal or rebirth of our inner being as implied in Maaf, Dzahir dan Batin during this joyful month of Syawal as well as throughout the year.”
The above is Dr.Bakri’s wish upon all his readers.
So let us respond to Dr.Bakri by wishing all my Muslim friends here Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Maaf zahir dan batin.
Let us ignore all those who posted the negative racialists’ comments ; their comments do not represent Malaysian Chinese Community or Malaysian Malay Community !!!
Let us share our views for the betterment of Malaysia with the spirit of gratitude and forgiveness !!!
November 8th, 2005 at 4:08 am
Hi Mr Lim,
You’ve been spending a lot of effort and time on the higher education issue recently. I respect your energy and your concern regarding issue. However, I’d also like to advise you that the proportion of voters that have great interest in this area is not high at all. Putting TOO much effort in issues related to higher education may not pay very well in election. Please keep on doing jobs in areas that affect the majority’s daily living.
Anonymous | 11.08.05 - 2:48 pm | #
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Well, here is one for you if you think that economic grounds is the only reason for many to migrate.
I will be leaving this country within the next one year.
If you must know, currently I am earning a five figure salary, living in a luxury condo in the heart of KL, own another landed property in Bangsar and have two kids who are three and five respectively. I also have a maid, who for a mere RM400 a month, helps my wife to look after the home and kids.
Yes, I will be migrating to the land of the white-man soon. And guess what, I don’t even have a job to go to yet in this white-man’s land. But you know something? It doesn’t matter to me as I know that with my skills, I can get a job there if I look in the right places.
They do not ask me if I am Muslim or a bumiputera before giving me a job. All they look at is my CV which speaks for itself. And I don’t need to be connected to a ‘Dato’.
I wouldn’t even mind taking up a lower level job as long as I can look after my family and at the same time give my kids the option of a better and fairer future. There is no guarantee that my kids will become doctors or scientists. But merely knowing that they have a fair option is more then enough for my family to decide to take this giant step to uproot.
My lifestyle in this white-man’s land will definitely be different. But just as I had strived for 10 years in Malaysia to create my wealth from nothing at all, what is there to stop me from doing it all over again? In fact with the same effort, I should be much better off.
To put it bluntly, I am prepared to take the risk of emigration at the age of 38 with my family ‘on tow’. The question arises - why should a person in my capacity want to leave when I have all that a person can wish for?
should stop looking with malice at people like me who make a choice to migrate for the betterment of our family’s future. He might want to do a proper study on how much Malaysia stands to lose from skilled people leaving this country simply because they have had enough of it.
Please crawl out of your tempurung and look around at the amount of money that is being wasted in this country to make the well-connected bumis rich. They have nothing to complain about as the government is prepared to give you anything even when in many cases you might not deserve it.
If you want to talk about fairness, then look at the titles that have been given to bumis who had not done much at all. The round-the-world sailor who had to be assisted by the Royal Malaysian Air Force with an expenditure of about a million ringgit and the swimmer whose feat is not accredited by organisations monitoring English Channel crossings.
What about the first Malaysians to make it up Mount Everest, where are their ‘Dato’ titles? Perhaps a title for the medical student who recently crossed the English channel in almost half the time of the former ‘hero’?
I know of bumi students in Universiti Malaya. I know them well
noneedname | 11.08.05 - 3:17 pm | #
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I know of bumi students in Universiti Malaya. I know them well. You see, I didn’t get the chance to do a proper science course locally and had to struggle to fund my overseas education by begging and borrowing.
You might also want to find out the real reason why the 128 students were not given medical seats in local universities even though they had very high scores. Are you saying that these students are inferior to the matriculation students?
Do you know the pains of studying in order to score excellent results in the STPM? Please, feel free to furnish me facts so that poor souls like me would be convinced that the policies of this country are just and fair.
If you have ever heard of the simple saying, “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach him how to fish and he eats for a lifetime,” you will realise that many non-bumis have learned how to fish but the government is still handing out fishes to the bumis. One day the fish will run out.
noneedname | 11.08.05 - 3:20 pm | #
November 8th, 2005 at 4:18 am
To noneedname,
My best wishes to you. You are doing the right thing despite some may term you as traitor.
After all, the real traitors are those who plunder the resources of the country that belongs to its citizen. The fact that you are treated as 2-class citizen in Malaysia does not mean only non-bumi face such discrimination.
Our corrupt government and those in power have very cleverly manipulating the issues of NEP, Ketuanan Melayu and Islam for their own selfish greed.
Look around, you will find those aligned with the ruling party (BN) are doing very well including non-Bumis. Unfortunately, the Malay mass cannot see the effect of evil deeds when religion and emotion are used to blind them of any rational thinking to support social justice. Enough have been said about the hijacking of affirmative actions to help the poor Malay by UMNOPUTERAs.
Non-Bumis alone will not be able to change the current situation, but in time the Bumis will realise that to compete in the globalised market they will need more than just natural resources and their own kind to succeed. Meanwhile the prospect of children’s future is definitely brighter outside Malaysia. I know, because I have gone through that process some 20 years ago.
My two kids are now foreign citizens and have equal opportunity with better healthcare, a higher standard of education and living.
In my opinion, there are more opportunities outside Malaysia for non-bumis if you dont have the right connections at home.
The pasture is definitely greener on the other side!.
Visitor | 11.08.05 - 5:58 pm | #
November 8th, 2005 at 6:36 am
Researcher
You have just crossed the line by insulting the Malay Race and the Islamic Religion. It’s people like you that cause all the problems in this world. You may be upset with a few Malays but decide to insult the whole Malay race. How about those Malays that never received a handout?
It’s people like you that cause the tarrorist to react with violence when you insult Islam and Prophet Muhamad. If you had carefully studied Islam you will not have the skewed vision. You are a vile and dangerous person with very poor values, no respect for others and a bad attitude.
November 8th, 2005 at 7:38 am
Dear bad_man, malaysia_is_no_future_country, Persekutuan_tanah_melayu, the_model_racist_nation, racist_king, low_class, genetically_flawed_race, researcher, no_brain, limkitsiang & visitor,
I put all of you together because I consider the comments made are similar in “quality”. And when I say “quality”, I am really referring to the fact that the entries share a close affinity with a compound that is routinely excreted by the human body.
Peddlers of filth and purveyors of lies share a common trait - they know what crap they are circulating, but it is just in their nature to try and throw shit everywhere hoping some of it would stick. Afterall, it is the sentiment that we are really dealing with here, not facts. Some might argue that outbursts as such do not warrant a proper response.
I disagree.
Rants and shrills can be properly dismissed, and as we can see, the level of reasoning presented is minimal. True racists cannot imagine others giving up an assumed advantage that they themselves (if their situation is reversed) would have clung on to their dear lives. It is a classic example of a miser unable to fathom the generosity of others. Similarly, couched in terms of “realism”, real racists are the ones who project their own mentality to others.
The number of people of Chinese descent is not dwindling. The number of Malaysians, of all ethnic groups, are increasing. The proportion of the Chinese Malaysians, however, are in decline. It is a normal demographic trend that is a combination of fertility, mortality and migration patterns over the past few decades. The topic was a subject of many seminars, and it is natural of the common man to fear for the dilution of their political voice. The worry might have any basis is Malaysians vote en bloc by race, but we don’t. Our voters are more diversified than that. In particularly in the urban areas, informed citizens are able to weigh their options and exercise their right to vote. It is more often a case of choosing the lesser devil (or as some might say, the known devil to an unknown one).
It is important to note that differences in patterns of fertility is the prime factor that accounts for the changing demographics between the communities. Charges of migration among the Chinese due to the search for greener pastures are not unique to Malaysia, as the collective movement of the new wave of migrants from Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Indonesia and Singapore to western societies (US, UK, Australia & New Zealand) are well known as the “huayi” phase in the latest history of the Sino-diaspora. In these countries, there are clearly a mix of push and pull factors at play. Ignoramuses are quick to cite these movements as evidence of broad discrimination, and their own personal failures are blamed on the government.
It is indeed true that human mobility is not a crime. However, the interesting issue is how some migrants are really bitter over their experiences back home and cultivated an axe to grind whenever the subject pops up. I say it is interesting because for a citizen to have given up on their old country, they are sure hell bent to make sure the society fails - as if to justify their uprooting of their home from the land of their birth. It is a form of active self-fulfilling prophecy. It is in the interest of some bitter migrants to make sure Malaysia will never rise beyond its season of communal politics. It is vindictive, but it also shows that those who have left usually do not contribute to the solution back home, especially when they have already decided that they have been treated badly.
Broad statements such as “Straight A students can’t get scholarships or university places” are known to be patently false. The issue has always been charges of quota fiddling, not flat denial of access to public scholarships. While funnily enough it is true that the predominantly Chinese political parties and organizations are extorting the community for money to support private education alternatives (i.e. the Dong Jiao Zong). And it is also true that Singapore has been enjoying a windfall of talent which they snared on very nicely worded contracts which gains them both money AND labour.
Malaysia has not been a competitive and efficient nation. We should be. We should be more calculative and take these issues as attacks on the matters of interest to the State. Brain drain is a very serious loss to our country, as the government invested money to provide for free education up till secondary levels. We must be able to retain our investments, and it involves more than just lip service. Only individuals with no comprehension of state sovereignty can claim that brain drain is okay.
History has shown that the ruling elite has convinced the masses (as evident through elections) to agree to a compact, a social contract that resulted in the admission of millions as citizens of a new state and the acknowledgement of the heredity rulers and special position of the Malays and the Bumiputera in the Constitution. It is a contract of equals, as all Malayans (subsequently Malaysians) are citizens to a new country. We go back to the Constitution when we have problems, and it is the guiding force of the nation. Recently, many are disputing the relevance of the social contract. I believe that the Constitution is sacred, but the nature of the compact (as seen in the policies in a post 1969 Malaysia) has been corrupted beyond recognition. You have political parties declaring the aim to establish an Islamic state, and you have groups who decry the special position of the Malays and bumiputeras, even to the point of suggesting the country be turned into a republic. These are all assaults to the original spirit of the Constitution, including the get-rich-schemes under the NEP which was used to enrich cronies to the ruling elites.
Malaysia belong to her people, not the Malays, not the Chinese, not the Indians, not even the Prime Minister or his/her cabinet and certainly not the kings and their various offspring. Malaysia is a country where the Constitution reigns supreme. We are all subjects of the crown, but that is because the Constitution has expressively stated so. The conferring force is the Constitution, not history. Ketuanan Melayu is as dead as the various ideas of supremacy propagated by our communal leaders. The spirit of the special position of the Malays and the bumiputera is to ensure that they are not marginalized in their own country, not lordship or the preferred son.
Malaysians, regardless of their descent, or land of origin (as expressedly mentioned in the Constitution) are equals. Inter-ethnic relations is not couched on landlord to tenant terms. We are proud of our forefathers who came to Malaya as migrants. Politics corrupted the spirit of the Constitution to the core, and the Rukunegara, a post 1969 product, is the best example of the defilement of our founding principles. Instead of taking corrupt politicians to charge for the various discriminative policies, we are now zeroing erroneously on the Constitution. Various pseudo-theories arise to account for the differences between the communities. The problem with the good doctor and the various well intentioned statesmen is that they are all poor social scientists who believed they found the reason why Malays are “underperforming” or why the Chinese are “overperforming”. They pointed to culture, religion, genetics, nutrition, climate - all making it an INHERENT quality and flatly crushing the role of nurture in nature, and devised horribly illogical policies to sustain that hypothesis.
And it becomes the favourite whine of the nation to rely on broad stereotypes of the various communities.
If you do not believe that change is possible, make your own plans but leave those who genuinely believe in finding a solution together to work on these issues. You cannot engage and then decided that only a community is responsible for Malaysia to change. The various communities must be able to come to a renewed compact guided by the basis outlined in the Constitution, and forge the path ahead. For those who advocate to throw in the towel and decided to not work for the harvest, be your grasshopper as you please. However, there are Malaysians of all ethnic background who believe in working with each other to make this a better place for ourselves and our children. Yeah, it sucks when you have to work for a fairer, better and more prosperous home, but nothing is served on a platter for us Malaysians. We survived the communists and we survived May13. We will definitely survive the communal politics and the errors of UMNO, MCA and MIC (and others) to find a way. If you are not going to be part of the solution, at least don’t be part of the problem.
There are Malaysians who believe in finding a compromise, not secession. That’s why Lee Kuan Yew is a Singaporean.
November 8th, 2005 at 9:33 am
Reading these comments. I just realise how ethnocentric Malaysia is become in the 21st century!
They sit in parliament to make laws, head ministries who they themselves have no confident in, fail to raise it above level and send their own children to overseas because they know, the quality of education in Malaysia is not good.
First, Malaysians……….you have been cheated by BN politicians and second, Malaysians……….the BN leaders sucked you, they use your tax money to finance their children overseas but your children have been neglected…………double fools.
Have commented that malays including intellectuals want non-meritocracy and NEP to stay or implemented. Even malay intellectuals distrust feelings against multiracial parties even though they are against Umno.
They believe that only Umno can protect malays rights. Therefore it is imperative that non-malays vote opposition to change the present system otherwise non-malays will continue to send their children overseas for education because they have no choice, whilst malays politicians and wealthy ones will continue to send their children overseas because the education standard here is low.
How ironic.
MAS case is only the tip of the iceberg. The whole country administration machinery, privatized or not privatized, is governed by a bunch of incompetents.
We can’t trust our schools and universities as the BN leaders also send their children overseas to study, as they themselves also can’t trust the education system.
In case of sickness, our BN leaders also rush to Singapore or overseas to seek treatments, as they themselves also can’t trust our own medical system. The only thing we can hear is the boastfulness everywhere in this Bolehland.
If we correct from our mistakes we are still men. But the trouble is that we keep on repeating mistakes, and instead of correcting, we keep on fining excuses.
Worst still we want to imagine that we are great, sending astronaut to the space using other people’s spaceship.
In the end, the money come from the taxpayers again to fund these losses while the political leaders and top management get away with huge pay packages, and to make matters worst, they will just run away with it.
Yes, this is the secret recipe called ‘Boleh’ - only available in Bolehland!
November 8th, 2005 at 7:54 pm
To All
A request.
Please remember that this thread is on celebrating Hari Raya Aidil Fitri and this is extremly discourteous to both religion, creed, race and custom to have such inflammatory comments.
This is disheartening to see such screeds, overhyped rheoteric in the most recent threads. Further, this does not profit any party or convince any party of whatever or whichever “race” or “persuasion” or “ideology”.
Please take it to some other thread where it can be properly contexted or at the least flamed down or up.
Agree or disagree on the ideas, not on the persons, nor generalised race.
Wishing to all again of goodwill, Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Maaf Zahir & Batin.
My sincere sympathies to Tuan Bakri Musa & Tuan Din Merican who try to argue on ideas pragmatically & agree to disagree.
Best Regards
Anak Johore
November 9th, 2005 at 3:21 am
Hi ajohore,
You are right. There can be agreement or disagreement but taking anything to a personal level or stoop low on racial matters definitely is sad and disgusting. That essentially show bankrupt ideas. All those who argue on the basis of race would, undoubtedly be racists themselves. It takes one to rocognise another and it borders on cheap thrill.
It is fortunates to have likes of Dr. Bbakri and Bro. Din joining in the discussion and I am sure that they have the wisdom in ignoring unwarranted remarks. Personally, I have disagreed with some of what they have to say but therein lies our maturity and understanding - but a great deal of what they have written had enhanced my learning curve - we need that open mind. It matters to me. Even when we disagree, which is our right to do so, do so with respect. Incidentally, they have taken criticisms and disagreements in their own stride and respect. That is something about them.
November 9th, 2005 at 5:31 am
for a moment i thought racists from limkitsiang.blogspot.com encouraged by their spin master had hijacked this blog!
November 21st, 2005 at 12:50 am
I’m a MALAY and a proud RACIST. What’s wrong with that? Afterall, the world is made of various races! Think honestly again, what’s wrong with that?
March 7th, 2006 at 2:36 am
The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. just my 2c…
October 13th, 2006 at 2:30 am
To Badman and Malaysia is no future country & the model racist nation:You guys take my words:Lets leave mr. badman with his how long more until he drops dead and to the rest of anti Malaysia clan please note that nomatter how much you guys beat your chests,your heads and your china great wall,you cant change the landscape of Malaysia politics.The controlling power will always remain and shall ever be in the hand of malays and bumiputras.We Malays are absolutely confident that we have sufficient numbers of people with good education from overseas instituitions like me from Tennesee, class of 1980s who can design and carve this country’s politics suitable for the sons of the soil and the rest of other people to live happily .
Let me tell you from my experience:not all chinese are good in education.In my days at Tennessee there were good numbers of chinese students from singapore “flung”,”fumble” and drop dead without getting any grades from my college.My major prof. was seconded from Harvard graduate school and by default Im at par with those Harvard graduates.We Malay sail thru’ smartly.This one piece of pride that stick to me until now.
If you folks can compromise, stay put here and if you cant, go away like mosquitoes fleeing from poisonous Bygone repellant.
October 13th, 2006 at 2:31 am
To Badman and Malaysia is no future country & the model racist nation:You guys take my words:Lets leave mr. badman with his how long more until he drops dead and to the rest of anti Malaysia clan please note that nomatter how much you guys beat your chests,your heads and your china great wall,you cant change the landscape of Malaysia politics.The controlling power will always remain and shall ever be in the hand of malays and bumiputras.We Malays are absolutely confident that we have sufficient numbers of people with good education from overseas instituitions like me from Tennesee, class of 1980s who can design and carve this country’s politics suitable for the sons of the soil and the rest of other people to live happily .
Let me tell you from my experience:not all chinese are good in education.In my days at Tennessee there were good numbers of chinese students from singapore “flung”,”fumble” and drop dead without getting any grades from my college.My major prof. was seconded from Harvard graduate school and by default Im at par with those Harvard graduates.We Malay sail thru’ smartly.This one piece of pride that stick to me until now.
If you folks can compromise, stay put here and if you cant, go away like mosquitoes fleeing from poisonous Bygone repellant.
October 13th, 2006 at 2:31 am
To Badman and Malaysia is no future country & the model racist nation:You guys take my words:Lets leave mr. badman with his how long more until he drops dead and to the rest of anti Malaysia clan please note that nomatter how much you guys beat your chests,your heads and your china great wall,you cant change the landscape of Malaysia politics.The controlling power will always remain and shall ever be in the hand of malays and bumiputras.We Malays are absolutely confident that we have sufficient numbers of people with good education from overseas instituitions like me from Tennesee, class of 1980s who can design and carve this country’s politics suitable for the sons of the soil and the rest of other people to live happily .
Let me tell you from my experience:not all chinese are good in education.In my days at Tennessee there were good numbers of chinese students from singapore “flung”,”fumble” and drop dead without getting any grades from my college.My major prof. was seconded from Harvard graduate school and by default Im at par with those Harvard graduates.We Malay sail thru’ smartly.This one piece of pride that stick to me until now.
If you folks can compromise, stay put here and if you cant, go away like mosquitoes fleeing from poisonous Bygone repellant.
June 14th, 2007 at 2:18 am
This one makes sence “One’s first step in wisdom is to kuesstion everything - and one’s last is to come to terms with everything.”