Four questions to define marginalisation

The recent statement by Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew that the Chinese in Malaysia are being systematically marginalised has understandably caused an uproar in our country and among our top leaders.

As Malaysians, we ought to view this statement analytically and calmly without being emotional. We should approach this allegation with the mind of an academician and investigate scientifically whether there is any evidence to back this statement. Truth needs evidence-based facts and figures.

The approach to investigate is very simple. We just have to answer the following questions:

In the public service, how many Chinese Malaysians held the post of chief secretary and director-general in the various ministries in the 1970s? How many hold these posts now?

How many Chinese Malaysians got into their first-choice faculty in the public universities in the 70s? How many get it now?

In the economic field, how many Chinese-controlled financial institutions were there in the 70s? How many are there now?

What was the ratio of Chinese schools compared to national schools in the 70s? What is the ratio now?
I do not have the figures to answer these questions but I am sure the answers to these questions can be easily found. Perhaps the readers of this letter can do some research and come out with the answers. The answers will indicate clearly whether the allegation by the minister mentor of Singapore is true or not.

Similarly, we can use the same approach to analyse whether there is any marginalisation of Indian Malaysians or Malays or Kadazans or the Ibans.

If it is proven by these answers that a particular ethnic group has really been marginalised, I am sure our government, being a government of all Malaysians and being a responsible government, will adopt measures to correct the anomalies.

This way, our country will prosper and grow further and a true unity of all people will be achieved.

If we adopt this approach to handle problems, then whatever Lee Kuan Yew or other people say will no longer relevant and we should not be bothered about them.