Questioning the rights of Malay is sensitive issue – why?
Written by Dr. John Brian Anthony
Malay issues
Who is a Malay and who is a bumiputera? Everytime I read statement from UMNO Youth and the like of Ibrahim Ali who speaks about Malay rights I often wonder whether he would include the Dayaks natives of Sabah and Sarawak in his line of thinking or otherwise. Or is he thinking only about Malay as defined by Wikipedia as:
The article defines a Malay as a Malaysian citizen born to a Malaysian citizen who professes to be a Muslim, habitually speaks the Malay language, adheres to Malay customs, and is domiciled in Malaysia or Singapore. As a result, Malay citizens who convert out of Islam are no longer considered Malay under the law. Likewise, a non-Malay Malaysian who converts to Islam can claim to be a Malay, provided they meet the other conditions. An example of this is Jeanne Abdullah the wife of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is ethnically Portuguese-Eurasian.
This definition is very vague and we have many migrant from India, Iraq, Iran, Pakistani, Indonesian, Filipino etc who claimed to be Malay – and rightly so if we follow the above definition.
If that is so we will find ourselves sidelining our own very Malaysian natives as the same people claim to be bumiputera and outright unfair to the Malaysian Chinese and Indian who are several generation old in this land.
No wonder Sabah and Sarawak is concerned about the illegal immigrant population that has been given Mykad by civil servant with Malay agenda. The natives would be side line and benefits like New Economic Policies has been hijack away from them. If such is the case how would the New Economic Model apply to the natives of Sabah and Sarawak.
Government must be precised with their Malay definition
A definition that take away the “bumiputera privilege” of Orang Asli in Malaya and the Dayak of Sabah and Sarawak must be monitored closely so as not to be open to abuse. Today, that is the case.
And why is questioning the rights of Malay regarded as sensitive? Who is it sensitive to? It is a two way process. I am a Malaysian Dayak Iban and I feel very offended when an immigrant with all of a foreigner physical characteristic (eyes, nose, skin colour, hairs) claim to have equal right as me because of the Malay definition. But if the immigrant is humble – not shouting and protesting with banners that “he” is a pure Malay, I would be less judgmental.
We all know that many Middle east countries experience violent protest and war. Let no such thing be repeated in Malaysia by those who claim to be “Malaysian Malay” through their protest and demonstration almost over nothing. It is NOT the Malaysian culture and we should not mix those imported culture with truly native Malay culture ( if you know what I mean by native Malay).
Has Malay got the rights to insult other non Malay Malaysian?
Is that a sensitive issue and punishable by ISA too? The facilitators of BTN – those who are involved in mocking other Malaysian and making them enemy of Malay and questioning the rights of the general Malaysian population is that acceptable? The existent of double standard and dual system is bring disrepute and feeling of uneasiness among Malaysian. Is this what 1Malaysia is trying to address?
If that is the cae, the Malay would have to learn to accept one standard for all.
Sabah and Sarawak Natives are still very poor
Poor is a relative word. In this context, we can compare their per capita income, rate of saving, value of shares and property, education index, professional employment ratio to population etc as an indicator. Except for those who are align to UMNO politic and are rich the bulk of sabah Sarawak native are well below par comparatively speaking according to the aforemention indicator.
Will the Federal Government want to address this issue or does the federal Government and the UMNO proxy in Sarawak have a design to keep the Sabah and sarawak Dayak poor. Are the Dayaks of Sabah and Sarawak the target of Islamization programs? Are the Dayak of Sabah and Sarawak being made used of to strengthen the political position of Malay in Malaya and manipulated to serve their Malay agenda politically and economically?
Dayak’s Doubts
Such doubt should not exist. The condition of Dayaks are almost akin to the Malay prior to Malaya independence. Today, the Dayak do not benefit from NEP – which is to be substituted with NEM. Does that not give the rights for Dayak to make a comparison based on rights of “bumiputera” under the Federal Constitution Section 153? Should Dayak not be concerned about their future in Malaysia.
In my opinion the Dayak dilemma is a Malaysian issue. Contrary to Tan Sri Jabu – who is outdated by the way to say that only Dayak can speak about Dayak problem. That is really a paranoid way of thinking and Jabu occupy the position of a senior Dayak leader with the design and blessing of BN. No wonder the young Dayak cannot appreciate Jabu contribution towards Dayak progress – Jabu is simply out of time and depth. He should think seriously about retiring for the longer he stays around the worst it is for Dayak well being in Sarawak.
Conclusion
It is common to here certain UMNO Malay who shouted that Malay is the majority race in Malaysia and therefore no body should question their rights? How about the Dayak are the majority in sarawak therefore a Malay Muslim should not be the Chief Minister and Governor of Sarawak. Sarawak being a non- Muslim country do not need a Muslim governor. Sarawak governor could be appointed from any race in Sarawak – not confine to Malay and Islam.
My friends - Change WE Must to put right what is wrong. We have a long journey to make the change but a journey is what we must take for the sake of our future generation.
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Inspirational word from gkm2020
Saying what needs to be said! Well done. So to all those Melayu-India, Melayu-Bugis, Melayu-Arab, Melayu-Turki, Melayu-Eurasian, Melayu-Java, Melayu-Orang Putih, are you more Bumiputra than the natives of Sarawak. I think not!
In SBh, there is such thing as Sijil Anak Negeri.
The politic is as such. If you need other races to support you, you will say to fight for your own race is wrong.
When you need the support from your own race, you plead for their mercy and you will curse other races.
So, what type of politician are you?
all sarawakina n sabahan whether natives or non native must stand together n united n fight to get back out fore father right lost since sept,1963.what r we waiting for ?vote for BN n beg for more handout where money allocated end up in politician business associate??vote for petronas revenues goes to to state,vote for 100% literacy of real democracy right,vote for opposition
If more Ibrahim,Tajuddin,Ahmad Ismail,Nasir Safar,Muhatir exist in this Bolehland,peace and harmony of this BolehBodohLand can be shaken.