Today 16th September 2008
Hari Malaysia
Let us agree that …
There are thirteen states, and only one Malaysia
There are many parties, but we are one nation
While we may differ, we are not enemies
We can be critical, but not offensive
We shall seek and embrace truth, and reject deceit
We shall not take sides based on partisan views
Because wrong is wrong and right is right, no matter who does it
Let us all oppose corruption, racism and bigotry
Unite for one future, free from sleaze, discrimination and poverty;
Multiplicity is God’s creation; let us replace race with Unity
Let us see Unity in diversity, and learn to love all, because
When we dislike the other, we dislike part of God’s design,
We are One
We may greet each other in different ways,
what we are all trying to say is:
I am pleased to meet you, my brother, my sister Malaysians
For there areMany lamps,
One LightMany hearts,
One SpiritMany prayers,
One GodMany Colors,
One Race.
Have a meaningful Hari Malaysia
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This was sent to me and the friend asked for a favour for it to be spread around. At this time when we are somewhat facing racial issues it may be timely. However, I know many may not agree with this one voice and one unity concept. In the end we all have to look inside ourselves and ask what we all want from our beloved Malaysia.
As a Malay there are many questions that I have unanswered and even my leaders are not the ones to answer them for me because I don't think they are capable of actually being radical and seeing out of their little velvet boxes.
Our forefathers had formed our constitution and the rights of Malaysians in such a way that there are many loopholes but none of the leaders who took from their reign after had seen the weaknesses of it. Or did they?
What we need now is for someone to "see", "hear" and "feel" out of this box. They need to see how it went wrong and what it takes to make things right. We are all Malaysians they say, yes that is true. But say what you want we all want to have an origin and a place to run to which we call home in times of trouble. Is this place Malaysia for you? Do you truly believe that you have the rights to your country and its belongings?
I have always lived here in KL and was raised in a multi-racial society, in a multi-racial school and I have multi-racial friends but now I think of the future for my children. Because where they are now is not what it used to be when I was their age. There are discrepancies and there is racism. I was never subjected to these elements growing up but now that I am older there are certain elements that I see and hear.
Things that I do not wish for my children to grow up to or with. We are Malays, the supposed orang asli of this land we call Malaysia. But what right do we have of it? There are many sensitivities to this issue that maybe I should not voice out here but if you were to sit and analyse maybe you will understand. Look at out economy, look at our society. What is truly the Malays?
I will give you one very simple example. Malaysia is an Islamic country. When a Muslim wants to open a restaurant they have to make sure they get halal certs and what not, if not cannot operate. What about the Chinese stalls that sell pork ball noodles. How come they don't have to get certs to open a restaurant. Shouldn't the Government make it harder for a non-Muslim to operate a restaurant instead of a Muslim to operate?
A thought for you to ponder on this lovely Monday morning.....
2 comments:
are you sure we are the originals on this land? .. :)
did you know that the Malay royalty used to take the orang asli - jakuns etc - as slaves, and then raped and pillaged their villages, mocked their culture and finally tried to kill them all, wipe them off the face of this earth, just like the white men did to the Indians..
statement of fact. its historical. check it out sis..
so now how?
2. let's look at radical proposals shall we? i'm on a role:
say a proposal is made: the "social contract" as it were, will be relooked at formally in Parliament when
a) the public service sector - and this includes all branches incl the military, Police etc - achieves (not an average but an absoute in each public servie arm) a 30% make up of Chinese and Indians - to prove that they are as invested in this country's well-being not just economically but at least in some ways, administratively,
b) in return the public services - incl the Universities and hospitals - agree to do away with the "unspoken rule" of all Deans, HoDs and the like be done away with, and things fall to total meritocracy incl in promotions.
c) the private universities contribute to national research and development as well through perhaps at least 50% of their post-graduate grants, scholarships and programs have to be research-based, to contribute actively and constructively to the country,
d) all so-called Class C and Class F Bumi contractors will have a maximum 10 years under their protected status beginning now, before they lose it and have to compete on an even keel (that's the only way they'll actually start learning and adopting "best practices" - how else can you go for global when even against fellow Malaysian (Chinese) you can't muster?
eh, dah berapa eh? ah, ok lah. at least these, err.. something.
then if we can make it compulsory for non-Malays to pass Malay in schools, be should also make it compulsory to pass English AND maths OR science in SRP well (or we will forever accept mediocrity as de-rigeur in our children. of course there will be a furor, but so what - aren't we as parents supposed to be pushing them for their own good?
set the bar high and they will jump. set the bar low all the time, and they'll just learn to walk over it, one step at a time, not even hop. isn't that what they've finally got down to?..)
and if they don't pass, they can stay in "remove class" with everyone else. true Malaysians - tak pass, tak boleh. tak kira bangsa.
THEN after moans and groans and all sorts of tantrums you can say, you see some SERIOUS soul searching and they get to work. don't believe me?
remember how hard and radical it seemed then for Tun Mahathir to implement the "punch card system" in the early 80s?
it was his first idea, and it was designed to SHOCK Malaysians out of their stupor and start appreciating value of time. remember how much difference it made?
we've slackened since. its time for more shock treatments now..
any leader capable of doing this?
theSBM
Thank you very much for your comments. At times like this sometimes I am not sure if coming or going. And somehow nobody seems to want to talk about it cause afraid of treading on people's toes....There is nothing wrong with a positive discussion. We need to think of the future of our children. I hope our leaders see it that way!
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