When Umno leaders talk about Malay unity, it begs the question of who they are asking Malaysia’s biggest community to be united against.
Or what Malays are supposed to be united in doing.
There is nothing inherently wrong with unity for a common cause.
But what is the common cause?
In a multicultural country such as Malaysia, it is perhaps forgivable for non-Malays to view the constant clarion call of Malay unity with some suspicion.
This is especially since Umno leaders have been vague about what exactly is the common cause of Malay unity.
The rhetoric suggests a Malay struggle. But a Malay struggle against or for what?
These questions have to be answered to ensure non-Malays do not feel threatened.
Of course, another question which needs to be answered in light of the Malay unity debate is what about Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia?
In multiracial Malaysia, the concept of 1 Malaysia is a far superior one.
There is nothing vague about 1 Malaysia.
It is a call for all Malaysians to think of themselves as one, with acceptance rather tolerance at its core, to paraphrase the PM.
To use the country’s favourite sport as an example, the Malaysian football team would definitely be supported by all Malaysians regardless of race and religion.
One wonders though how the concept of Malay unity would fit into a Malaysian football team.
And if concepts like Malay unity are to be encouraged then it would therefore not be wrong for concepts such as Chinese unity, Tamil unity, Iban unity, Kadazan unity, Eurasian unity, and the list goes on.
As such, if all of Malaysia’s different races pursue their own unities, what happens to Najib’s 1 Malaysia?
To be fair, Najib has not been the driving force behind the Malay unity debate.
But he is certainly not pushing his 1Malaysia agenda hard enough.
The front pages of newspapers are filled with the debate on Malay unity, while 1Malaysia has been reduced to prefixes for various government programmes which have little or nothing to do with the concept.
His own senior party leaders barely talk up 1 Malaysia, and when they do it is not with the same gusto as they would Malay unity.
Is 1 Malaysia dead?
Malaysian Insider
26/07/10
Or what Malays are supposed to be united in doing.
There is nothing inherently wrong with unity for a common cause.
But what is the common cause?
In a multicultural country such as Malaysia, it is perhaps forgivable for non-Malays to view the constant clarion call of Malay unity with some suspicion.
This is especially since Umno leaders have been vague about what exactly is the common cause of Malay unity.
The rhetoric suggests a Malay struggle. But a Malay struggle against or for what?
These questions have to be answered to ensure non-Malays do not feel threatened.
Of course, another question which needs to be answered in light of the Malay unity debate is what about Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia?
In multiracial Malaysia, the concept of 1 Malaysia is a far superior one.
There is nothing vague about 1 Malaysia.
It is a call for all Malaysians to think of themselves as one, with acceptance rather tolerance at its core, to paraphrase the PM.
To use the country’s favourite sport as an example, the Malaysian football team would definitely be supported by all Malaysians regardless of race and religion.
One wonders though how the concept of Malay unity would fit into a Malaysian football team.
And if concepts like Malay unity are to be encouraged then it would therefore not be wrong for concepts such as Chinese unity, Tamil unity, Iban unity, Kadazan unity, Eurasian unity, and the list goes on.
As such, if all of Malaysia’s different races pursue their own unities, what happens to Najib’s 1 Malaysia?
To be fair, Najib has not been the driving force behind the Malay unity debate.
But he is certainly not pushing his 1Malaysia agenda hard enough.
The front pages of newspapers are filled with the debate on Malay unity, while 1Malaysia has been reduced to prefixes for various government programmes which have little or nothing to do with the concept.
His own senior party leaders barely talk up 1 Malaysia, and when they do it is not with the same gusto as they would Malay unity.
Is 1 Malaysia dead?
Malaysian Insider
26/07/10
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1 comments:
If there is anyone in Malaysia who believes that UMNO is sincere in having One Malaysia, this person isnaive or this person have never had the privilege/misfortune of witnessing the corrupt UMNO bastards in action when they rip off the rakyat's money.
1 Malaysia was stillborn.
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