The Second Essay: Malaysia 50 years of Independence

Reasons why Petronas had chosen such video scripts to celebrate Merdeka? This question really provides the food for thought, for every Malaysian in this world regardless of race, colour and religion. I would like to discuss about three things in these video scripts. First, unity among race. Second, interracial marriage. Third, The Malay situation.

1.0 Unity among Races.

One of the reasons why Petronas had chosen such video scripts to celebrate Merdeka is to portray unity value to Malaysian. There are five video scripts in total that shows unity values among children of different races. In the video clips, children from different races become good friends with each another.

Its being Malaysia 50 years of independent, as many Malaysian had known and mentioned again and again, I also had to mention it again. Malaysia is a multicultural society that comprises of three totally different races mainly the Malay, Chinese, and Indian. During the 50 years independent of Malaya which later become known as Malaysia in 1963. The issue of racial unity had never being stopped. Racial relations are still in the mood of tension. In here I would like to share a short part of article as I found in the Malaysia News Straits Times by Zainal Arifin(2007)

“For 50 years, we have done rather well, but obviously, things are not exactly where we hope for them to be. The older generations are likely to talk about the good old days of inter-racial unity, while the younger ones, the post-Merdeka generation especially, would talk about what is driving us apart. The problems of success, perhaps? This intense navel-gazing, as Malaysia turned 50, has led many of us to list down what we have or have not achieved, and, this being Malaysia, ultimately things would be weighed on racial scales - who has more and who has less. Unfortunately, many lists are drawn up using the rules of zero-sum - your win is my loss. The Malays, many non-Malays believe, have more, assisted unfairly by thumbs on the scale. The Malays will disagree, and say that despite being smaller in number, the Chinese have more, and their hold on the economy is stronger than ever. The Indians will say they are the most unfortunate of the three major races, being left out by policies and opportunities. Meanwhile, the Bumiputeras of Sabah and Sarawak feel they are less Bumiputera, and are treated as such, because they are not Malay or from the peninsula.”(pg18)

Racial unity was still in much of our discussion agenda after 50 years of independence, mainly in the point of view of the economy. The distribution of the national economic cake. The Chinese and Malay in particular had always accused each another for dominating the Malaysia economy, and Indian claim themselves sideline by the government. The Chinese are asking for more liberal in the business sector and the enrolment of university student based on performance. The Malay on the other hand, is asking for “Malay Special Right” due to their lack competitiveness in business and economy field compared with other races. The Indian is asking more attention and aid from the government.

Things have to be discuss fairly, the “Rights of Malay” privileges was a must in this nation in order to protect the best interest of the less privilege, less competitive majority population of this country, in which was consists of the Malay people. The distribution of wealth must distributed fairly and not equally to the three races. This is important to reduce the gap of rich and poor people in this country, which was characterized by races. Malaysia had tried before, to have racial riots during the May 13th incident due to increasing gap between the rich Chinese and the poor Malay.

Another thing I would like to discuss about racial relationship is the role of leadership in racial relation. Many scholar, had discuss about racial tension and riots not just in Malaysia but also all over the world, was due to numerous factor, for example number of representative in parliament, religious issue, economy gap, ethnicity, colour. It has to remember, that event does not happen by itself, it must done by “people”. In which this “people” was important actor and leader in the political scene. Until today sensitive racial sentiment was still played by political leaders in order to gain grass root support from their own communal group, jeopardizing the effort of unity[2]. For example the protest of bar council forum that discuss about the conversion to Islam was faced with large protest from the Malay community led by a opposition parliamentarian leader Zulkifli Noordin, as noted by The Strait Times(2008) “the situation was tense as several protesters, led by Parti Keadilan Rakyat parliamentarian Zulkifli Noordin, muscled their way to the front of the auditorium”(para 3). I traced back again to the year of 1969 May 13th, the racial riot. During the 1969 the general election, the discontent non-Malay voter had express their dissatisfactory through voting, the Alliance party loose badly in the general election, as response to poor Chinese votes, the United Malayan National Organization (UMNO) youth wing had launched aggressive protest against the non-malay people[3]. As reported by Bob Reece (as noted in Kua Kia Soong 2007). Refer to Appendix 1 for full article.

“Late on Tuesday afternoon (May 13), young Malays from the whole of Selangor began to assemble outside the residence of the selangor Mentri Besar, Dato Harun. A retaliatory march had been planned by the UMNO youth to end in a rally at Suleiman Court Batu Road….More vehicle are smashed and Chinese shop-houses was set on fire. The Chinese and Indian shopkeepers of Batu Road formed themselves into a ‘district defence force’ armed with whatever they could find”(pg44)

Again I took another turn into contemporary Malaysia, how about today? UMNO president will have an emergency meeting to take action against Datuk Ahmad Ismail for his remark noting that Chinese is “squatter”, which cause discontent among the Chinese, in which Datuk Harun had never the intention to apologize and accuse UMNO coalition partner Party Gerakan to pull out from the coalition government. Yesterday, during his press conference, his supporter was so furious that they pull down Party Gerakan acting president Datuk Koh Soo Kun picture and tear it. His inflammatory speech was having the support of all his division leaders and grassroots Malay support. Through this way he had gained his popularity among the Malays, sacrificing racial unity.

All three episode of the story was real and true stated in newspaper. there is nothing wrong with the “Malay Special Position”. Commoner man and woman is emotional, without clear understanding among other races needs. Leaders and intellectual are man and woman that no longer common, because they understand each other needs. Our forefathers, was man that receives the trained and educated in the western education, highly intelligent being. The Malay needs the privilege they need to stand up on their feet. The Chinese and Indian forefather knows this. But the problem is, not with the Malaysia economic system. Is with the leaders themselves, they know there is only one way to gain popular in their communal base party, that is become a fighter for their own race, inflaming racial tension rather than cooling them.

The unity of Malaysia for me, no longer lies on the Malaysia economy system. On the other hand, it relies on the people that are explaining the Malaysia economy system. The commercial of children from different race point at each other as best friend, show the Malaysian adult, leader and politician especially. Unity was that simple. But it is simple for their children parent whom they have to fight with each other races to gain more economic pie? The children future about how they will progress was still unknown. Will they still be united when they enter into society, which they need to compete with friends from other race for university submission, government employment and Government contracts? These again depend on the people making the policy and explaining it.

2.0 Interracial Marriage.

Another of the reasons why Petronas had chosen such video scripts to celebrate Merdeka is to portray a simple yet complex interracial marriage. In the commercial, Tan Hong Ming a Chinese boy falls in love with a Malay girl named Umi, in which both of them like each another and that’s the end of the story. So simple it seems, for primary school student.

On the other hand I would like to introduce another movie named “Sepet” which was story about a Chinese man named Jason falls in love with a Malay girl name Orked. Unlike Tan and Umi, Jason and Orked was not a primary school student. Both Jason and Orked, are above 18 years old. Seemingly more mature and they have to face more challenges. Their love story was not an easy and simple one as compared to Tan and Umi. Interracial relationship and marriage was never and easy and simple thing in Malaysia. Pure love is simple like Umi and Tan, but politics add to religion make things complicated at least in Malaysia, like Jason and Orked.

There a lot of controversy surrounding interracial marriage.

First, I quote directly from the Malaysia Government official portal website clearly stating the marriage procedure between a Muslim and a non Muslim. It quote

“A non-Muslim must convert from his/ her religion to Islam in order for him/ her to marry a Muslim. He/ she must refer to the State Religious Department or seek help from an Imam at the nearest mosque in the area. After which, the same marriage procedures for Muslims apply.”(para 1)

In other words, if primary school Tan wish to marry Umi when he grows up, he have to become a Muslim like Umi. Abandoning his own culture practise and religious belief.

Secondly, when a Muslim converts was old and pass away, his Chinese parent, friends and relative all could not go and pray for him. He will be buried according to Islam ritual and in Islam cemetery. This had sparked numerous of controversy in Malaysia, where relative of the deceased going to court to fight for the deceased body. Beside from that, if a convert Muslim deceased and did not have a will mentioning his or her non-Muslim relative whether child or parent, then they will be no inheritance to them[4]. As noted by Aniza Damis(2008) “If the deceased was found to have been a Muslim, and he died without a will specifically mentioning his non-Muslim relatives, then they get no inheritance, regardless of whether the heirs are the children or the parents of the deceased.”(pg29)

Thirdly, When a Muslim convert divorce with Muslim people, the muslim convert have a great difficulty to convert back to his or her original religion. Although, that was the case, there had being cases where, Muslim convert could renounce Islam and return back to their original religion. For example Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah's was a Chinese cake seller than change his religion and name in 1998 in order to married an Iranian man, after that the Iranian man left her. On 2006, Siti had request the court to grant her to return to her original name and Buddhist religion. In which according to Chinadaily, the syariah court on the reason of “Siti's husband and Islamic authorities failed to give her proper religious advice.”(2008, para 6) had rule in her favour. But others, for example Lina Joy a Malay woman who was born to be Muslim want to have her religion change from Islam to Christianity in which the State Registration Department refuse to do that unless, she have a syariah court approval. With the vote of 2 to 1 the high court rule that Lina Joy have to attain an apostasy from the Syariah court was lawful and legal. At the end, Lina Joy does not get convert into Christianity.

That’s why love is not as simple as it seems in Malaysia. According to Malaysia Constitution Article 11 “Every person has the right to profess and practice his religion.” May not seem true. Tan and Umi, will see this problem in their future.

3.0 The Malay Situation

The last commercial was specially made, to the Malay people in Malaysia. This commercial was actually a direct symbolization of the Malay people thought and situation there are now facing in Malaysia.

Before I start, it is important for me to explain what I saw in the commercial. Tuan Haji is the fat Malay business man. He is a symbol for the role of government and also the progressive Malay. Man on the other hand represents typical Malay, which symbol of contemporary Malay.

Man was a middle age man that still doesn’t learn the skill of ship building and thinks that ship building was a very hard job and plans to change his jobs again for a better one. Tuan Haji the business man was a friend of Man, ask him to build a boat, before he leaves. Tuan Haji will provide everything Man need for the boat. Man in order to repay his debt to Tuan Haji agrees, and built a boat.

The problem face by Man is that he doesn’t know how to build a boat. He even got angry when he hammers his hand. He took weak wood from a shipwreck, to build his boat. He doesn’t even know how to fill up his hole in the boat. When Tuan Haji come and pays him a visit, and asks about the boat, he says everything was fine. When the boat was completed Tuan Haji gives Man a motor for the boat, hoping by helping him through this, Man could help others people to transport drinking water across the river and make a living out from it. Tuan Haji even exempts Man from paying his debt. Tuan Haji Hope Man will now become free men that can economically independence. Man happy with what he got, went back to his boat, and found that his boat is sinking. “Can what we built today take us into tomorrow?” Is the question asked to Man. The answer was obviously “no”. Even with the help from Tuan Haji the boat still sinks, this is mainly due to lack of skill from the Man the ship builder.

This commercial is depicting the contemporary situation of Malays in Malaysia. Tuan Haji the rich business man, (which represent the government) help Man (which represent the Malay) everything from the tools, until the gift of an expensive motor which symbolize article 153 of Malay special position that grant Malay special privilege in education, government contracts, government position, and government subsidy. Hoping Man will be free and economically independent, yet even in the state of poverty, Man still lack in his work to learn boat building knowledge, and fill his minds in negative thought to change work, giving up his ship building challenge. This had caused Man remain in poverty.

The situation of contemporary Malay was written down by Shamini Darshni (2007) “We (the Malays) shout about it, then (given the opportunity) we fall down, we get diarrhoea and we discuss it. Yet, it still doesn't materialise and everybody's ears turn red, pi mai pi mai tang tu (it's still the same).”(pg 4)[5]. Refer to Appendix 2. It is similar with the commercial Man. He was given the opportunity to build boat, but it doesn’t go his way. He get disappointed, and plan to change his job. Man try to discuss with Tuan Haji, and Tuan Haji help him with everything hoping Man will success, but things still doesn’t turn out right and Man feel disappointed.

Actually this commercial was depicting the general Malays mindset. The above quotation by Darshini had answered it all. Malays had taken much of their time, talking and discussing about politics and about the rights they want to protect, but they never intend to use the privilege government had given to them to develop. As noted by Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik(as noted by Darshni 2007) “In Malaysia, we have the Malay agenda. The Chinese also have their Chinese agenda but they don't talk about it, they just go ahead and do it.” (pg4)

For my sincere opinion, Malays people are the sole victim in Malaysia politics. This is because they are always manipulated by irresponsible politician to gain votes. It is very easy to gain Malays people votes with just starting to the Malays special position topics and criticizing how other race had threaten their place in the nations. In which for my opinion, all these is just tactic used by politician to flare up emotion and gain support and votes. The special position of Malays people was never a question. No body could amend the Article 153 without the consent of the Yang Di-pertuan Agong and the rulers counsel plus with 2/3 majority in the lower house parliament[6]. The issue was only played by politician, to manipulate emotional Malays crowd. 50 years of independent, same topic, same problem, face by the same people, the Malays agenda. As stated by Prof Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi (as noted by Mahavera 2007).

“contends that concerns for the loss of kedaulatan Melayu and the special position of the Malays as enshrined in Article 153 of the Constitution are also unfounded. Writing in the Berita Harian on March 14, the constitutional law expert said the only way Article 153 could be amended would be by a two-thirds vote in the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) and the approval of the Rulers' Council. ‘In the Constitution….the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the protector of the special position of the Malays. Whatever the results of a general election, this special position will not be affected.” (pg22)

Conclusion

After 50 years of independent, Malaysia had grown progressively in term of economy. But the same issue still linger around after 50 years of independent. And the same issue had inhibited Malaysia economy to grow even further. There is a lot of brain drain going on among Malaysian Chinese and Indian in some case upper class Malays. The younger generation of intellectual professional is getting more and more tired of the Malaysian racial issue. They get so tired that they decide to leave this nation, to a nation where race is no longer an issue.


Reference

Sheridan Mahavera. (2008, July 15)Does a crisis exist among the Malays? Malaysia News Strait Times.

Shamini Darshni. (2007 November 5). Malays must change mindset in business. Malaysia New Straits Times.

Aniza Damis. (2008 April 20). To tell or not to tell? Malaysia News Strait Times.

Reece. B (as noted in Kua Kia Soong 2007). May 13 Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969. SUARAM KOMUNIKASI. Petaling Jaya

Carolyn Hong. (2008 August 10). Ugly scenes at KL forum on religious conversions; Meeting ends abruptly after disruption by Muslim protesters. Singapore The Straits Times.

Zainal Arifin. (2007, September 12). Let's be open about race relations. Malaysia New Straits Times.
[1] Zainal Arifin. (2007, September 12). Let's be open about race relations. Malaysia New Straits Times. Pg. 18
[2] Carolyn Hong. (2008 August 10). Ugly scenes at KL forum on religious conversions; Meeting ends abruptly after disruption by Muslim protesters. Singapore The Straits Times. Para 3
[3] Reece. B (as noted in Kua Kia Soong 2007). May 13 Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969. SUARAM KOMUNIKASI. Petaling Jaya.
[4] Aniza Damis. (2008 April 20). To tell or not to tell? Malaysia News Strait Times. Pg 29

[5] Shamini Darshni. (2007 November 5). Malays must change mindset in business. Malaysia New Straits Times. Pg. 4
[6] Sheridan Mahavera. (2008, July 15)Does a crisis exist among the Malays? Malaysia News Strait Times. Pg. 22