malikimtiaz: A Broken Record
- From: pluto <pluto@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 01:10:53 +0800
malikimtiaz: A Broken Record Message List
Reply | Forward Message #102547 of 102557 < Prev | Next >
http://malikimtiaz.blogspot.com/2008/04/broken-record.html
A Broken Record
Posted by Malik Imtiaz Sarwar at 5:10 PM Wed, Apr 30, 2008
How do we begin to measure the pain so many of us have felt at being told
that we had a lesser right to be Malaysian than others.
***
I do not like any form of discrimination, I think it's very wrong.
As a secondary school student in the mid-80s, no matter how I tried, I could
not get my mind around the fact that it was unjust, unfair and ruthless to
hand out scholarships hand over fist to under-achieving Malay students
purely on the basis that they were Malay when many well-deserving, very
needful non-Malay students were being by-passed.
I could understand giving help to those who were less privileged and for
whom, without a helping hand, the future was an inescapable cycle of
despair. And I recognised that history had left some of us more vulnerable
than others. But to inflict the pain of hopelessness on those as deserving,
or even more so, purely on the basis of race was cruel and wrong.
I was lucky enough to be awarded an ASEAN Scholarship by the Singapore
Public Services Commission in 1986. It got me a place in an extremely good
school in Singapore where I did my 'A' levels. This was an experience that
showed me not only how little I really knew about anything but also the fact
that for so many of us opportunities for advancement and the kind of life
that we deserved was not to be found in Malaysia. Many of my fellow scholars
were leaving on what seemed to be for most a one way trip, a perception that
time soon made a reality. Most of them are now all over the world, some
carrying Singaporean passports, others having no vision of returning to this
country.
In many ways this has not changed. I recently addressed a group of about 150
bright Malaysian students studying in top universities in the United States
and I could see that uppermost in many of their minds was whether it was in
their best interests to return home.
For, after all, what is it that they would be coming back to? A landscape
shaped by 'ketuanan Melayu' in which it has become a rule of society that we
must believe, and enthusiastically at that, the propaganda that would have
some (I am not sure who) believe that the Government does really appreciate
that all of us have our rightful, and equal, place under the sun?
I read law at the International Islamic University, commencing my term in
1989. I was called a 'keling' for the first time during my time there. I was
also told that I shouldn't be so sensitive to being called a 'keling for the
first time during the same period. Somehow, being told not to be sensitive
just didn't do it for me, didn't make me feel any better.
Along the way, I have confronted my share of racism, both personally and in
the course of my work as an activist and a lawyer. Exposure to it has not
made it easier to bear. The increasingly bizarre justifications as hollow.
Through it all, I have been haunted by UMNO's obsessions with 'ketuanan
Melayu'.
***
The Prime Minister's advisors don't see to understand that 'ketuanan' by any
definition means just that: supremacy. When put next to the word 'Melayu',
it means the supremacy of the Malays.
Any notion of ethnic supremacy in a multi-racial country in which all are
guaranteed equality as a fundamental liberty is misplaced. When articulated
to defend preferential treatment, it is discrimination. When pushed to a
point where other ethnicities are suppressed in favour of those who consider
themselves supremacists by virtue of their own ethnicity, it is racism. A
championing of 'ketuanan Melayu' and all that it connotes in this society is
a championing of a racist cause.
The defence of 'ketuanan melayu' by the Prime Minister as being reflective
of the need for Malays to excel is incomprehensible. 'The Star' ('Pak Lah
explains meaning of 'ketuanan Melayu'', 29.04.2008) paraphrased the Prime
Minister's explanation this way:
"He said Malay supremacy meant that the Malays, as the indigenous people in
Malaysia, needed to strengthen themselves to ensure they were successful and
developed."
It went on to quote the Prime Minister as follows:
"If they are not successful and developed, then they are not tuan (masters),
therefore they will be coolies. I am sure we do not want to become coolies
who do not play any role in development because we are weak and not able.
"So when we talk about that (Malay supremacy), we mean we must be successful
in many fields. It is never about ruling over others, or forcing our power
upon them," he told reporters after chairing the Umno supreme council
meeting last night."
The logic, or lack thereof, underlying this explanation is of the same ilk
as that which was advanced to justify the now notorious unsheathing of the
keris. The explanations turn on an assumption that Malaysians will believe
that all that was said and done should be accepted as it was merely intended
to serve the Malay agenda in one way or the other.
I do not think so.
The almost infantile structuring of the explanations is an insult to all
Malaysians. There is no place nor is there a need for a separate and
distinct Malay agenda. The Malays are the majority and not the minority. By
their numbers, they cannot be victimized. A large amount of the total wealth
of the population is in Malay hands. They do not need to be told that they
are supreme in order for them to excel. The Nazir Razaks and the other
extremely capable Malays of this nation are testaments to this fact. They
would not agree that they need ketuanan melayu not to be coolies.
It does not appear to have struck UMNO that saying that UMNO is playing to
the Malay agenda is not a good thing, not even after the treatment the
Barisan Nasional (and therefore UMNO) received on March 8th. 'The Sun'
('Shahri defends UMNO's 'Ketuanan Melayu', 30.04.2008) paraphrases Shahrir
Samad in this way:
"He said Ketuanan Melayu is something that exists under the constitution.
What Umno is doing - in shouting for Ketuanan Melayu - is just defending the
concept of Malay special rights as enshrined in the constitution that is."
I have great difficulty in swallowing this - hook, line or sinker.
The Constitution does not provide for the supremacy of any ethnic community.
Conversely, it guarantees equality even as it provides for a means of
protecting the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak. To assert that
the Constitution provides for 'ketuanan Melayu' would necessarily mean that
the Constitution similarly provides for 'ketuanan Orang Asli'. Is UMNO
saying this? I don't think so.
I resent revisionist thinking aimed at substantiating a political position.
I resent it even more when it involves perverting and misrepresenting the
Constitution. But then, I shouldn't be surprised. It would seem that very
little is sacred in this country any more.
The word 'ketuanan' or 'supremacist' should not be in the lexicon of
Malaysia in this day and age. If at all, it should only be used to describe
our Constitution or the role of the significance of the rakyat.
And nothing that UMNO can say about it will change that. Birthrights can
never be denied.
MIS
____
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/81827
LETTERS: Education system quota abused
Hamisu | Apr 23, 08 4:01pm
I refer to the letter A daughter devastated, a mother with no answers.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/81505
'Schoolteacher', let me share with you and your daughter what you should
know about the realities of being non-bumis. I hope this will help you
explain to your daughter.
The Malaysian education system, especially tertiary education, is riddled
with abuse of the quota system. I would have some agreement to the quota if
it is executed fairly. The quota system does have its merits. It is supposed
to ensure that based on the Malaysian population's racial composition, each
ethnic group is entitled to a certain number of seats. It is supposed to
address excessive demand for limited seats at public universities by any one
group and allow each ethnic group to have a fair chance at obtaining
tertiary education.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Let me share with you now why I have
been opposing the education quota system. First case and point: have you
ever heard of an arts stream student being admitted into a chemical
engineering course? And yet the vice-chancellor could only advise 'Where
there is a will, there is a way'. I am sure it must have been extremely
difficult for her.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/78370
Second point: In the course I took, it was about 75% bumi students. After
getting to know them, you'd be surprised to know even with a Grade SPM, he
could get into this engineering course. Let me me further emphasise that
this is not isolated to one or two cases. There was more than I would care
to count. This is only the course I took. And sure enough, only about 20
graduated on time and 15 of them were non-bumis. The original class size was
65 students. You can reason why.
Third point: Don't even bother about getting good grades. The good grades
you have are artificial at most. The quality of tertiary education is
somewhat great only if you were to compare yourself amongst the worst. I
won't say this is 100% true, but I can say it does hold some water. Ever
wonder why we can get good grades (average grades) so easily? It works on
the principal of normal distribution. If the rest of the class is so bad,
then you will definitely be the outstanding one. So, are you the best? I
would think not. And take a guess. After asking around with our course-mates
and also those from other courses, guess who contributed to the overall
lower marks?
Fourth point: When looking for scholarships, don't put too much hope on GLC
companies and government scholarships. My experience with Renong just served
to reaffirm what we, the non-bumis, have known all along. Imagine, me with
my good results, can't even get a scholarship from Renong. However, a
colleague of mine (we were working part time in a supermarket), with a Grade
3 SPM still gets a scholarship. Yes, he is a bumi. About a year and a half
later, I managed to bump into him and he tells me he has already flunked his
uni course and cannot continue his scholarship. What a surprise! Well, I
hope I sounded surprised.
You should never believe merit actually pays off with this country's public
education system. There isn't such a thing at all. Looking at how the
education quota system has been abused for so long, it really makes me
wonder. Why all the above three points happen is anyone's guess. Here's my
take.
The quotas for the non-bumis are usually filled up and you do see there is
some merit. However, looking at the bumi quota, you get the feeling it
cannot even be filled by qualified and eligible candidates. However, this
unfilled quota is never open to non-bumis, who have usually filled up their
own quotas. Now, my question is, why isn't the government actually
re-allocating the quotas to qualified and eligible non-bumis?
The answer is quite clear and rings true of the racism which my dad and BN
supporters have endured and willingly subjected themselves to. And yet these
very non-bumi supporters claim of being discriminated. Isn't it ironic?
Guess why we have STPM and matriculation courses? It's fairly obvious we, as
non-bumis, will always be subjected to the road less travelled, the road
that is full of hardship and heartache, the road where your chances of
obtaining an education which is rightfully yours is less. STPM might not be
the answer, but I do agree, STPM is one of the toughest exams you can find
in this world. However, Schoolteacher, your daughter has to risk it and
might have to choose another career option, if for some reasons, the STPM is
too tough for her. I don't believe she's very much motivated now.
I am not questioning bumiputera special rights. I am only questioning the
hard fact of why the unmet bumi quota in for education places is not
re-allocated to deserving non-bumis.
The only thing I can say is, your daughter's career options would have to be
in the private sector, where merit actually carries a lot of weight. Guess
why I wasn't encouraged to be a teacher (thanks to my mum)? Guess why I was
never encouraged to be in public service (thanks to my dad)? I won't be
surprised if your daughter turns out to be Pakatan Rakyat supporter in
future. Make sure your daughter is aware of such discrimination. Let her
will herself to overcome this unjust, as most of us non-bumis have.
My last words would be 'What does not kill you, makes you stronger'.
____
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/82104
LETTERS: Driven out because of education policy
Allan Lee Hong Chye | Apr 29, 08 4:31pm
I refer to the letters Why bother waking up at 3am to study? and A daughter
devastated, a mother with no answers.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/81940
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/81505
I read with great sadness the above letters by 'Disappointed Student' and 'A
School Teacher'. I can totally associate myself with the feelings that
they're going through because I myself was a victim like them.
I was educated in one of the better-known government schools in Petaling
Jaya. I had a ball of a time being a student there ie, being active in
extracurricular activities etc. I had a Malay lady teaching me Moral Studies
and my classmates and I were told that in exchange for citizenship, we
should be loyal to King and country which was something that made sense.
However, it is apparent that the country doesn't really care for the loyalty
that so many other Malaysians and I have shown.
Back then, it was not popular for students to attempt more than nine
subjects. Hence, I only took nine subjects for which I scored all straight
A1s (as it was known back then). I distinctly remember the joy that I felt
when I received my results knowing that it will improve my chances of
getting a scholarship. During and after Form 5, my less fortunate friends
and I were frantically sending our CVs to every known institution that
offered scholarships for the course we wanted to study. We were tortured by
the anxious wait of replies with sleepless nights and fears of rejection.
Alas, the sum of all my fears were confirmed when all of the institutions
had given their reply of rejection. Until today, reading a letter that
starts with 'I am sorry to inform you that...' still sends a shiver up my
spine. However, my friends who happen to be bumiputera got the courses which
they applied for under government and GLC scholarships despite the fact that
they did not do as well as my friends and I. But yet they got it. This kind
of situation only promotes animosity between the races and it is the
Malaysian government that should be blamed for promoting open
discrimination.
Just recently, I met a bumi classmate of mine back in secondary school who
was awarded a scholarship for medicine. He told me that he was sent to the
UK to study medicine but couldn't make the cut in the first year. He
repeated that year and failed again. He then switched his degree to geology
and it was still under a government scholarship! How ridiculous is that?
Now, the natural option for non-bumi students who could not afford to attend
private institutions of higher learning after SPM is the STPM. I was too
disappointed and disheartened to study for the exams. My morale back then
was at an all-time low. I neglected my studies and did not attend almost
half the classes. For obvious reasons, I barely passed the STPM examination
and that gravely hurt my chances of getting even into local universities.
Instead of going to classes, I worked in a car repair shop becoming a grease
monkey.
There, I got to know that many of my colleagues were school drop-outs. Now,
these former colleagues of mine were extremely good in what they do. When I
queried them about the reason they dropped out, the consistent answer among
them was that they had no interest while in school. They were cast to the
'kelas terakhir' where there was an automatic stigma of laziness and
incompetence attached to them. I believe that the system has neglected them
and their skills are talent are not properly groomed.
After two-and-a-half years as a grease monkey, I managed to accumulate
enough money to enroll myself at a local institution for a diploma in
mechanical engineering. I did this upon the encouragement of my parents and
my boss at the workshop. It was when I completed the diploma that I spotted
an advertisement in the newspaper about job opportunities in the airline
industry in a neighbouring country. I tried my luck, got called for the
interview, got accepted, and was trained in Australia.
Today, I am grateful to my adopted home for the opportunities given to me. I
wasn't surprised to know that most employees in this particular company are
either ex-Malaysians or going to be ex-Malaysians. This is despite the fact
that this company is one of the star symbols of Malaysia's neighbouring
country. I've been told by my senior colleagues that in order to move up the
management ladder in company, it is better to give up my status as a
Malaysian and get the citizenship of my adopted home.
I am currently undergoing courses to take up this neighbouring country's
citizenship. I know very well that once I've given my Malaysian citizenship
up, there is no way to get it back again. The fact that Malaysia is obsessed
with proportionate racial representation in every aspect of life i.e. they
medical profession should be made up of 70% bumis because Malaysia has 70%
bumis makes me sick. This has done nothing but to hurt Malaysia's progress.
After 50 years of independence, Umno still doubts the sincerity of the
non-bumis in helping Malaysia as a whole. The institutional racial politics
that divide Malaysia today are doing nothing but hurting the young minds in
Malaysia. I would like to advise 'Disappointed Student' and 'A School
Teacher' to look for opportunities in this neighbouring country or beyond. I
know that a country with a first -class mentality will definitely not let
someone as talented as you go.
____
Why bother waking up at 3am to study?
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/81940
Matriculation Unit didn't even bother to reply
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/82169
A daughter devastated, a mother with no answer.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/81505
------------------------------------------------------------------
The Berita Malaysia / bmalaysia mailing lists
============================================
Read postings, subscribe/unsubscribe or change settings at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beritamalaysia
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bmalaysia
==============================================
caveat fair use notice:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
.
- Prev by Date: Sun: Shahrir defends Umno's 'Ketuanan Melayu'
- Next by Date: STS: Malay supremacy 'not about domination'
- Previous by thread: Ong Ka Ting takes on sensitive issues, 1 after another
- Next by thread: STS: Malay supremacy 'not about domination'
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
