I hope none take offense in my observation. I am still very happy to be a Malaysian, for all the many other reasons that make this my home. I hope this doesn’t send me to ISA. LOL
Seriously what is the whole 1 Malaysia about? I’m truly curious. I see it everywhere, being raved about by local politician, Corporate company harping on it to get into good graces of certain influential parties, as community service messages on the radio and even as just etchings on newly built highway ramps!
Now what is this initiative all about? Could it be equality of the multiple races in Malaysia?? Or maybe it is awareness for us to come together despite our different races and creeds to stand together as citizens of Malaysia??? I hardly believe this initiative has much to do with anything it seems to stand for. Now if we Malaysians are to be known as just Malaysians, under the 1 Malaysia name sake, then why even state our race in the identity card? Isn’t this some kind of segregation, instilled from the time a Malaysian baby is born? We must be identified by our race! But why? If we are to be 1 Malaysia, Malaysians is what we should be known as!! If you are interested in my race or religion that I would say is just you getting to know me better. Something maybe you ask me during pleasant small talk.
Then again there is a reason to be identified by race. For example, there are special quotas to be filled in higher learning facilities, making sure the different races of Malaysians that are accepted abide by this quota. Why are there special discounts for a certain race to purchase houses? Special quotas a private company has to comply when hiring staff to a follow a certain percentage of a certain race? Why are there special shares that can only be purchased by a certain race? Isn’t this segregation? Isn’t this division? Isn’t this opposing the 1 Malaysia sentiments??? Or did I get my facts wrong? 1 Malaysia has a noble ideology of forming unity among citizens but with exceptions????
Maybe some people would say these quotas and special rights are imposed to even the playing field due to the segregation and division imposed by our colonial rulers. We have since gain independence from for almost 53 years, half a century, almost going into our 3rd generation, and we still need to even the playing field????
So I ask you again? What is 1 Malaysia’s hidden message because its current message truly conflicts with the current situation of the country. I have been pretty accustomed to the rules and the quota to know that I may need to fend for myself even if my race is a minority here (only some 7% of the country’s populations). This has made me not rely on special benefits and made me stronger independent person. For this i am ever grateful. Do we, the other races of the country, still pose such a threat in the initiative to even the playing, even after 53 years of independence, making up of only 31% of the country’s population?
I honestly love the diversity of the people of this nation, I am so lucky to be Malaysian and have friends from all races and religions. It opens ones minds to the cultures and good values practiced. Though i do feel smoke-screening with the Initiative of 1 Malaysia, just makes the current leaders of this nation look like hypocritical jokes! And Please oh PLEASE stop promising notions you are NOT ready to implement.
I agree with you esp on the race segregation in identity cards and forms. I still remembered looking through the available university courses/entry for SPM leavers after our SPM many years ago, I paid some money for that book and later realised that only few pages (less than 5 page i think) are relevant to us – most courses available are for THE certain race only. I was really devastated! Like you said, we were all instilled with race segregation since birth. We work hard and fend ourselves for what we are now. We cope well with difference races and culture because we are proud Malaysian who experience and appreaciate race diversity with open mind.
Nevertheless, whether the 1 Malaysia will work or not, I don’t know. But for sure not for our generation – maybe not be even for our next immediate generation.
You know SL.. you are so right. And i dont think the real Concept of 1 Malaysia will ever be fully realized. Even when a certain race is given so much opportunity, it will never be enough. But the rest of us are still very proud and happy to be malaysian. Even if we dont have all the extra perks, we are just happy to be able to work hard and earn it. And some of us are smart enough to manipulate this exact silly system for their gain. (like how my ex boss converted the whole company to a Bumiputra status, hiring only them to gain much for himself. Very smart guy)