A call for unity
I have a fear. It is a fear that has been nagging upon me for the past months. This fear relates to the well-being of our country, Malaysia.
What is this fear, one may ask? It is a fear that we as Malaysians are growing apart. That we are increasingly divided by reasons of race, religion and culture. That instead integration, we are segregating. That after almost 40 years of independence and living together, we still do not understand the concept of ‘being Malaysian’.
Sure, it will forever be that we are defined by our race, religion and culture. These broad strokes of diversity are what gives our country its colour, its identity. We are, ‘Truly Asia’, according to the Tourism Department.
Yet more and more, I see issues of race and religion being brought forward. I am all for discussion, that things like this cannot be swept under the carpet of ‘hush-hush’. But we need to understand that these are sensitive subjects. People all over the world are fighting over such things; Arabs and Jews, Protestant and Catholic Irishmen, Sunni and Shiite Iraqis, Basque and Spaniards… these are conflicts which are fundamentally caused by differences in races and religions. As such, when tackling such issues, we need to tread carefully. We cannot let emotions get in the way.
Yet, from my perspective, care and subtlety in dealing with such issues are thrown out of the window nowadays in Malaysia. Politicians and public figures are using race and religion as arsenals for their political firepower. Playing with fire like little kids when their parents are away.
Surely you’ve heard of the politician who used the word ‘keling‘ in Parliament? Or the politician trying to bring back the New Economic Policy (NEP)? Or the brandishing of a keris in Parliament? Or telling people to ‘get out of the country’ for not agreeing to some laws. And many other instances of fanning the racial flames. And I ask you, at what expense? Do we want another May 13 riots?
Everything seems to be about race and religion these days. The nude squatter issue, something which concerns ALL Malaysians have been turned into something racial. The dead body of a national hero has become an issue on religion. When a crime is committed, and the accused and the victim is of different races, it becomes a racial issue. Why? Have we gone nowhere after 40 years of being countrymen?
I have read somewhere that racial polarisation in public universities are appalling. If this is a reflection of the country as a whole, then my fears are not unfounded.
Why are we so intent of distinguishing ourselves by lines of religion and races? I am a proud Malay, I am proud of my culture and my language, I am a proud Muslim. Yet never have I chosen my friends by their race or religion. Some of my closest friends are not of my race. And if someone as lacking as me are able to do it, then why can’t the other Malaysians? Do we view ‘the others’ with so much suspicion we can’t even be friends with them? That we can’t even hang out together, sharing a drink and laughing together?
40 years of independence have given us our own identity as Malaysians. ‘Malaysian timing’ isn’t something that is defined by race. Or the notoriety of Malaysian drivers. And as far as I know, every race in Malaysia use ‘lah’ at some point when speaking in English. Why can’t we choose to celebrate our similarities, rather than to be hung up on our trivial differences?
I understand that there are some issues that will never unite us. I have never agreed with the whole ‘bumiputera‘ thingy, and I can understand why some non-bumis will feel aggrieved with it. Yet I also understand that this is something that is needed right now. It will be redundant 20-30 years from now, one day when my child cannot tell my friend’s child that he has ‘privileges’ just because our ancestors came to this land a few hundred years earlier. But right now, it is needed, and I’m sure if someone was to come out and explain it to the masses WHY it is needed, a lot of those aggrieved will understand and be placated. But what do we do? Whenever such questions are asked, the answer is "Because it is our privilege." I for one refuse to see it as a privilege, I see it as a way to help my race achieve an equal playing field, and when that playing field is equal, I am more than happy to relinquish my status.
And the non-bumis must understand this. Do not just simply oppose it and reject it at face value. Understand the reasoning behind it. Ideally what should happen is that everyone must play their part. Yet what happens these days are non-bumis raising a ruckus for being treated like second class citizens and the bumis on the other hand are raising a ruckus because their ‘privilege’ is questioned. And nothing goes nowhere, and unity takes another setback.
All is not lost. My time overseas have given me hope. It seems that Malaysians tend to stick together when they are outside of Malaysia. It’s beautiful to see Malaysians working together and spending time togather regardless of race and religion. I see it in my BVC course. I see it amongst Cardiff Malaysians organising for the our Festival of Diversity. And I also see it in Malaysia, when I last came back, Malaysians of different races and religions sitting on the same table in a mamak stall watching EPL together. And I also think that in private collages, unity is more prevalent.
I hope that such displays of unity are signs of things to come. That politicians and public figures and the media are the only ones trying their best to destroy unity, but at grassroots level, the people have come to accept ‘the others’ as their own.
Malaysia is home. And it is home to the Abus and the Ah Sengs and the Rajus and the Jugahs and the Andings and everyone else who has a Malaysian passport and an Identity Card (or is it MyKad now?) and a lesen memandu kereta.
I hope this post has not offended anyone. My views may not sit well with you, but understand that they come from someone who loves his country, and his countrymen.
