Reflecting on merdeka – the dilemma of the non-Malays
Come this August 31, we will be celebrating the 50th.year of independence of our nation. The countdown has already begun. The nation is gearing towards marking this auspicious day with much pomp and splendor. The government has allocated hundreds of millions of ringgit to celebrate the occasion in a very grand scale. Apart from the usual yearly celebrations, this year the golden anniversary National Day celebrations are in-cooperated to be the highlight of the Visit Malaysia Year 2007.
We want to show the world our great achievements since we took over the reigns of power from the British. We want to show the world how united we are despite our diversity. We want to show the world how the various races live peacefully with one another. We want to show the world how superior our political system of democracy is over even the sole superpower that preaches human rights and democracy to others. In short, we want to be a model nation for the rest of the world but are we really such a state for others to emulate?
As the nation prepares to celebrate its independence, are all communities equally excited and grateful for the developments that have taken place over the pat 50 years? Let us reflect on some of the changes that have taken place over the last 50years to see the direction we are heading.
Historical perspective
All citizens alike have contributed greatly to achieving our national independence from the British and subsequently in fighting the communist insurgents that followed. All races fought side by side like brothers, some even sacrificing their lives in the process. Despite our diverse origins we considered the nation as our motherland and together shared a common brotherhood. In the spirit of that brotherhood, we together formulated the Federal Constitution which was to be the guide for the peaceful coexistence of subsequent generations.
We have come a long way from a poor underdeveloped agricultural country to a highly prosperous industrialized one within a short span of 50 years. This is due to the hard and dedicated labour of all citizens.
In the process of achieving this rapid socio-economic development, we have also given way to the emergence of a number of undesirable situations that have begun to threaten the very foundation on which our nation had been built by our forefathers.
Deterioration of race relations
When we were young, we had friends from all races. We studied, played, ate and even prayed together. We cherish the pleasant times we had together as children. Those who performed well in examinations were allowed entry into local public universities without fuss.
We spent many years of our youth in serving the rakyat in remote areas of Sabah and Sarawak and in the dangerous border areas of Kelantan,Perak and Kedah. Irrespective of race or creed, we considered everyone as our own “Pa’chik” and “Mak chik”giving our very best to serve them. The thought of racial or religious difference never crossed us at any time. That was the spirit of our training in schools and colleges those days.
We worked hard to help bring the country to the present elevated state but unfortunately today we are now being seen as threats to the very institution we strived for. We are repeatedly reminded that we are kaum pendatang. It is ironical that our forefathers who actually came from elsewhere did not feel they were kaum pendatang but we and our children born and bred here are constantly reminded so. In fact many among us had never set foot on another land, how can we be kaum pendatang?
Today our children do not have real friends from other races. They are only comfortable mingling with those from their own community. They are fast losing the skills of inter-communal communication that came so naturally to our forefathers.
Although we are legitimate citizens, paying pay taxes, we are denied our rights to education at public institutions, civil service, armed forces and government-linked businesses. We are being increasingly marginalized from the mainstream of development. The Federal Constitution is being ignored and our rights enshrined in that sacred document are blatantly denied.
Increasing Islamisation
In recent times even our freedom of worship is being impeded. Millions of taxpayers’ money is spent on building mosques, suraus and religious schools but a negligible amount allocated to the building of churches and temples. Not only we are not allowed to erect places of worship but even existing such places are demolished indiscriminately.
Of late there has been number of incidence that indicate that we are moving towards a fundamental Islamic state where Islamic syariah laws are slowly being implemented even to cover the non-Muslims. Islamic values are being slowly assimilated into the civil service, armed forces, schools, sports and in fact into every facet of public life. This is causing anxiety and uneasiness among the non-Muslims who form a significant 40%of the population.
This is slowly but surely excluding us from all these institutions. In fact all these institutions and even sports are now dominated by Malays. We have no qualms about syariah laws but why impose onto us? There is real fear that soon it may be the supreme law of the land for all.
Secular or Islamic state
Now on the brink of our 50th anniversary we are once again reminded that Malaysia as an Islamic state. This declaration comes from none other than our Deputy Prime Minister himself. When we try to air our displeasure, all such protests are banned. Even cabinet ministers are forbidden to discuss the issue. How are we to solve our problems if we are forbidden to even discuss them?
So the debate continues on the quiet, are we a secular or Islamic state? To the ordinary man on the street it is the least that matters. It is the politicians who keep bringing up this issue over and over to garner support, and they do it at the expense of unity and harmony among the races.
The vast majority of Malaysians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, are busy with their lives, slogging away to make ends meet. The escalating price of commodities like food, petrol and toll is taking a heavy toll on the average wage earner. To make matters worst there is the increasing cost of housing, health care and education which can run into thousands per month. Under these prevailing conditions, they neither have the time nor interest to indulge in politics especially racial politics.
They are least interested as to whether the country is a secular or Islamic state. All they want is peace and freedom to practice their religion in the way they see it fit. They want others to respect and not belittle their religion. In fact it was the way it was and it should be the way it should always be.
Politicization of religion
We have already come to accept the special privileges of the bumiputras, Islam as the official religion and Bahasa Malaysia as the official language. These are already non-issues today and we have to go ahead from here, not bring back the past to create uneasiness and tension among the people.
It is the ambitious politicians who indulge in such divide and rule policies to gain popularity. They are the ones whole initiate, indulge and perpetrate disunity by repeatedly harping on these issues of the past that divide the people. The Islamic-secular state controversy is the latest of such issues.
Malaysia has enough resources for all and it would be selfish and unwise to make them exclusive to any particular community. To do so would also be against the teaching of all religions, which advocate goodwill and kindness to all mankind. As citizens, we are not asking anything that belongs to others, but what is ours as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
Criteria for true independence
A truly independent nation should fulfill the aspirations of all her citizens alike. No distinction should be made based on ethnicity, religion, political alienation or socio-economic status. It must meet the following criteria:
1. A parliamentary form of government based upon the concept of one person, one vote. All groups must be proportionately represented.
2. Rights of the minorities must be assured and protected. Their language culture and religion should be respected. There is a need to emphasize on universal moral values that are shared by all religions.
3. The rule of law must be upheld at all costs. All trespassers must be dealt with fairly without prejudice of favouritism. An independent police and judiciary force are of utmost importance.
4. Eradication of poverty should be above race and religion. The poor from all communities should be equally entitled to special assistance.
5. True meritocracy must be employed in the recruitment to the institutions of higher learning,public service, police and armed forces.
Based on these criteria are we really independent? There has been progressive erosion of these rights over the years which have resulted in the disruption of racial integration, increasing Islamisation, marginalization of minorities, rampant corruption, increasing crime rate, traffic chaos, decline in quality of education, indiscipline especially among the youth, poverty, escalating cost of commodities, health care, education and housing.
In fact we have lost most of what we possessed at the time of our nations independence. Real fear is gripping us as many are even contemplating emigrating to greener pastures. Will that solve our problems? Won’t we also be another kaum pedatang in the new land? What will merdeka mean to those who reluctantly and with heavy hearts are considering emigration as a way out of their perils?
Conclusion
For the ordinary rakyat,merdeka will only be meaningful if he has a decent job, decent food, proper shelter, proper transport, affordable health care, reasonable education for his children, freedom to worship, an independent justice system and a safe and secure environment for him and his loved ones. Above all he needs to be appreciated and respected for his contributions to his country, however meager that may be. In short he needs to be treated as a legitimate citizen and not a stranger or alien in his own land – the kaum pendatang.
Until these can be achieved, merdeka will not and have any meaning for the ordinary man on the street. To him it will just be another public holiday to witness the various celebrations that have been lined up.
