What is the definition of a Malaysian?
By John Lee – infernalramblings.com
DEC 12 — What makes someone Malaysian? For most of us, the answer is obvious: if we believe in the rule of law, we believe the Constitution defines what makes someone a Malaysian and what makes someone a pendatang asing. If we believe in the rule of convenience, we believe that the government defines who is Malaysian and who is not. But although both definitions have their merits, I think ultimately both are wrong where it truly matters. Being a Malaysian is a state of mind, not a piece of paper or a government decree.
First, let's be clear: our legal status is certainly defined by the laws of the country. If I am a Briton living in Malaysia, I do not have any right to remain here without a visa. I am not entitled to the same rights as Malaysian citizens. Even if I think of myself as a Malaysian, even if I love this country, even if I would die for it, I can be deported if my paperwork is not in order.
At the same time, legal status is meaningless if the government does not enforce it. If the Constitution declares all Malaysian citizens equal under the law (which it does in Article 8), even if it commands the government to protect the interests of all communities (Article 153), these rights do not have any legal effect without the co-operation of the government. If the government ignores the law, if it treats some people as Malaysians and some others as non-Malaysians, then no amount of paperwork in the world can change my effective status as a non-Malaysian.
But really, who defines the Malaysian nation? What defines who we are as a culture, as a people? If I have spent my whole life in Malaysia, if it's the only country I've ever known, if my friends are all Malaysians, if I speak Malay and Manglish as fluently as any native, if I would die for my country, can't I call myself a Malaysian? Maybe the government won't recognise me, and maybe the Constitution won't either — but how does that change who I am in any meaningful way?
As I've said before, we can spend forever blaming someone else for our lack of a Malaysian identity. But by placing the blame on others, we tacitly give up our rights as Malaysians. If we say we refuse to think of ourselves as Malaysians because the government won't recognise us as such, we implicitly give up the right to be treated as Malaysians. Why should we allow anyone to exercise such power over our very sense of who we are?
Many of us feel betrayed by someone. Many Malays feel betrayed by non-Malays who appear to ignore the still dire economic plight of the Malay community. Many non-Malays feel betrayed by Malays who seem to not notice or care about the political injustices meted out to them. That is fair enough, and I don't think we should expect people to change how they feel emotionally just for the sake of some sense of national identity.
But in spite of that, I do think we are only letting the other side win when we let them define ourselves on their own terms. Why should the Malays become obsessed with pursuing a Malay-only definition of Malaysianness simply because of a few bigots or chauvinists — why should they label all non-Malays as traitors and pendatang when hardly a handful actually hate the only country we all have? Why should the non-Malays irrationally pursue an agenda of "levelling the playing field" out of spite against government racism, when such reactionary measures would innately disadvantage Malays trying to break out of the poverty trap? Why should we become paranoid and insecure about who we are?
The actions of others cannot change who we really are, unless we allow them to. When we give up our identities as Malaysians for the sake of a narrow and parochial identity, just to spite the other side or to make ourselves feel better, we give up our right to decide who we are. We have allowed someone else to decide that for us. Our identity is sacred, and any reasonable human being should respect his or her own identity, and that of others. When we choose to define our own identities on others' terms instead of our own, we are the ones who lose. When we turn our back on being Malaysian, we turn our backs on ourselves — on who we truly are.
Constitutional rights cannot be challenged
By John Lee – infernalramblings.com
DEC 12 — What makes someone Malaysian? For most of us, the answer is obvious: if we believe in the rule of law, we believe the Constitution defines what makes someone a Malaysian and what makes someone a pendatang asing. If we believe in the rule of convenience, we believe that the government defines who is Malaysian and who is not. But although both definitions have their merits, I think ultimately both are wrong where it truly matters. Being a Malaysian is a state of mind, not a piece of paper or a government decree.
First, let's be clear: our legal status is certainly defined by the laws of the country. If I am a Briton living in Malaysia, I do not have any right to remain here without a visa. I am not entitled to the same rights as Malaysian citizens. Even if I think of myself as a Malaysian, even if I love this country, even if I would die for it, I can be deported if my paperwork is not in order.
At the same time, legal status is meaningless if the government does not enforce it. If the Constitution declares all Malaysian citizens equal under the law (which it does in Article 8), even if it commands the government to protect the interests of all communities (Article 153), these rights do not have any legal effect without the co-operation of the government. If the government ignores the law, if it treats some people as Malaysians and some others as non-Malaysians, then no amount of paperwork in the world can change my effective status as a non-Malaysian.
But really, who defines the Malaysian nation? What defines who we are as a culture, as a people? If I have spent my whole life in Malaysia, if it's the only country I've ever known, if my friends are all Malaysians, if I speak Malay and Manglish as fluently as any native, if I would die for my country, can't I call myself a Malaysian? Maybe the government won't recognise me, and maybe the Constitution won't either — but how does that change who I am in any meaningful way?
As I've said before, we can spend forever blaming someone else for our lack of a Malaysian identity. But by placing the blame on others, we tacitly give up our rights as Malaysians. If we say we refuse to think of ourselves as Malaysians because the government won't recognise us as such, we implicitly give up the right to be treated as Malaysians. Why should we allow anyone to exercise such power over our very sense of who we are?
Many of us feel betrayed by someone. Many Malays feel betrayed by non-Malays who appear to ignore the still dire economic plight of the Malay community. Many non-Malays feel betrayed by Malays who seem to not notice or care about the political injustices meted out to them. That is fair enough, and I don't think we should expect people to change how they feel emotionally just for the sake of some sense of national identity.
But in spite of that, I do think we are only letting the other side win when we let them define ourselves on their own terms. Why should the Malays become obsessed with pursuing a Malay-only definition of Malaysianness simply because of a few bigots or chauvinists — why should they label all non-Malays as traitors and pendatang when hardly a handful actually hate the only country we all have? Why should the non-Malays irrationally pursue an agenda of "levelling the playing field" out of spite against government racism, when such reactionary measures would innately disadvantage Malays trying to break out of the poverty trap? Why should we become paranoid and insecure about who we are?
The actions of others cannot change who we really are, unless we allow them to. When we give up our identities as Malaysians for the sake of a narrow and parochial identity, just to spite the other side or to make ourselves feel better, we give up our right to decide who we are. We have allowed someone else to decide that for us. Our identity is sacred, and any reasonable human being should respect his or her own identity, and that of others. When we choose to define our own identities on others' terms instead of our own, we are the ones who lose. When we turn our back on being Malaysian, we turn our backs on ourselves — on who we truly are.
Constitutional rights cannot be challenged
.Commented by mustapha ong, December 13, 2008
I am unsure which generation John Lee belongs, though his long and winding analysis of the definition of a Malaysian is of deep concern to most of us. Today, Malaysians are being awakened by a surge of sensitive issues almost on a daily basis. Thanks to the internet which can destroy the human civilization which God Almighty had created, amongst us of different races, colors and religions. Are politicians to be blamed? Should we amend the Constitutions? These are pertinent questions that may resolve some of our differences as Malaysians in order that we can live harmoniously. Having said that, I am from a generation of the early forties and live through our independence.
I am unsure which generation John Lee belongs, though his long and winding analysis of the definition of a Malaysian is of deep concern to most of us. Today, Malaysians are being awakened by a surge of sensitive issues almost on a daily basis. Thanks to the internet which can destroy the human civilization which God Almighty had created, amongst us of different races, colors and religions. Are politicians to be blamed? Should we amend the Constitutions? These are pertinent questions that may resolve some of our differences as Malaysians in order that we can live harmoniously. Having said that, I am from a generation of the early forties and live through our independence.
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The nation's Constitution was a documentary legal instrument passed by the Parliament so that we as Malaysians of different communities could be guided by certain principle in order to develop this country at the end of British colonization.In those days, we all went to English medium schools, but at the same time we had the opportunity to learn Malay, English and Chinese (Mandarin) as prescribed in the educational system. I believe our standard of English was much better than those students who had to study in National or National Type schools. We had to sit for the Cambridge examinations on completion of our fifth form and the papers were marked in England. There were no leakages of examination question papers. I myself passed the Bahasa Melayu equivalent to sixth form at the trial exams before we could proceed to lower form six. I had also studied a few years of Chinese (Mandarin). Malay students who were poor in English had to be placed under special classes. Our teachers comprised of some British and other Malaysians who were trained in England.
Alternatively, some parents preferred to send their children to Arabic and Islamic schools. We were truly united as a nation of Malaysians as part of the national integration guaranteed by the constitution. Some of the best students became leaders of today and they are part of the nation building. Today, politicians think they are smarter than the people who elected them to Parliament, but at times they behaved worse than school children, while debating nation issues with no respect to the Chair of the Speaker. What a shame! Today, the opposition MPs and ADUNs are playing a bigger role in Parliament, due to a reduced majority of the elected representatives of Barisan Nasional. Bills presented by the ruling government were openly challenged in Parliament without intellectual debates or to provide alternative proposals. ISA, Judiciary, constitutional rights, religions, budget, corruptions, education are some of the national issues being debated. Malaysians are now confused of their status and are unduly worried of the future of their children and their next generation.
Alternatively, some parents preferred to send their children to Arabic and Islamic schools. We were truly united as a nation of Malaysians as part of the national integration guaranteed by the constitution. Some of the best students became leaders of today and they are part of the nation building. Today, politicians think they are smarter than the people who elected them to Parliament, but at times they behaved worse than school children, while debating nation issues with no respect to the Chair of the Speaker. What a shame! Today, the opposition MPs and ADUNs are playing a bigger role in Parliament, due to a reduced majority of the elected representatives of Barisan Nasional. Bills presented by the ruling government were openly challenged in Parliament without intellectual debates or to provide alternative proposals. ISA, Judiciary, constitutional rights, religions, budget, corruptions, education are some of the national issues being debated. Malaysians are now confused of their status and are unduly worried of the future of their children and their next generation.
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We are in a state of national dilemma either to remain in this country where most of us were born and bred or migrate overseas. Why should Malaysians who were born and bred in this country be classified as migrants or "pendatang"? The migrants or "pendatang" were some of our parents who were not born in this country. It is sad to note that after 51 years of independence, we are still bargaining over our Malaysian identity! My humble suggestion as a patriotic citizen is to form a Commission of Constitutional Experts and to revisit the Federal Constitution. Constitutions all over the world are being revised and amended according to current sentiments and democratic rights of the people as social conditions were different from the past generation. I urge the prime minister-designate to take this suggestion seriously in order to resolve some of the sensitive issues being raised today.
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As for a new educational system, it may not be possible under the current political and social landscape, especially in Sarawak and Sabah. Perhaps, we should not have changed the educational system of fifties and sixties and allowed the people to integrate themselves under natural social environment, rather than through educational reforms.Last but not least, I believe all Malaysians are patriotic as long as we respect the rights of our fellow Malaysians as guarantied by the constitution.
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