What Irks Me... in a rare bout of patriotic questioning

Alright,

Someday i was bound to blog about it. I suppose what better time than when there are allegations rife of the foremost opposition candidate engaging in sexual activities of a posterial nature.

The whole country is in furore! (again)

Did he? Didn't he?

Was his victim paid? Was he planted there?

Is this just a way to divert attention from the potential swinging of power into the opposition's hands?

Is this really a case of him just liking little boys? (Ah, but as we know, the fathers of democracy back in Grecian day were all into little boys)

Anyway, not for me to say, seeing as we will probably never hear the end of this debacle. (or find the truth in it)

What you may have missed amongst all this hype though, was a tiny column tucked in the papers about how a forum questioning the 'social contract' that exists in the Constitution is tantamount to a seditious act (so someone went far enough to say). But the discussion was held anyway.

A panellist on the Bar Council forum, Tommy Thomas, said:

“To me, it(the social contract) exists; it was the quid pro quo bargain reached by the three communities before independence.
“All that was required of the non-Malays was an undivided loyalty to the new nation. In effect, Malaysia would remain a plural society where racial differences were recognised and diversity encouraged.
“My understanding of it is a formula by which race relations are arranged, a charter for the minority and a bill of rights for the majority,” he said, adding that the key social arrangements were found in the Federal Constitution.

Closer to my heart though, are the views of Dr. Puthucheary:

“Calls simply to uphold the 'social contract' as binding, rather than making a serious effort to understand its evolving meaning and use in Malaysian history and politics, have impeded effective nation-building,”

An article on the panellists' views can be found here

Alright, first of all, as a layperson born into my country, I have always known that

1) I am of the middle classes (therefore not much exposure to race politics. when you're a kid noone cares how your dad got the money to build that nice house - as long as i can come over and play)

2) Since i can remember, Chinese adults say that the quota is unfair and Bumis get lots of privileges. In this country, you make what you can because the government doesn't help you much.

3) I don't personally experience this lack of benefits myself but i DO notice that the Sultans, Datuks and most ministers are Malay.

4) I have never fought with anyone because they are Indian or Malay but I will notice that they are Indian or Malay, not Malaysian.

5) People who say enough times that this country is dominated by only one race and it's really unfair eventually end up moving out of the country.

And that is my cake and i will eat it. Noone questions. There's racial tension yeah. It's not like exploding-in-your-face-i-will-bash-the-next-race-up tension but there's always been undercurrents of dissatisfaction.

“There is no need to discuss these issues because it gives rise to various reactions from the Malays, including creating animosity and racial tension.
“I do not understand where the loss is if these issues are not discussed. No need to discuss,”

so i quote our Prime Minister.

Now that is just irresponsible behaviour.

I cannot believe that living in this country all your life, one can still be completely ignorant to the dissatisfaction that exists. In fact, in the recent elections there were calls from all three races to abolish the racial privilige system to make way for one that was more focused on need rather than race. (but there were also ugly reprisals, so it works both ways)

Look. I am a third-generation Chinese immigrant. Try as you might, only orang Asli can claim to be truly Malaysian. We are all from somewhere else. Do we remember our sejarah lessons about Parameswara? He was from Jawa.

I have absolutely no claim to China. If you left me there alone I would be as lost as if i was in South America. And can my Indian friends truly lay claim to India?

We are Malaysian. There's no two ways about it. This is my home country and there's nowhere else to go. So what's the difference? I have as much right as anyone else born here. What social contract is this? I think the powers-that-be agreed at independence that the 'locals' are given more benefits because they were here first and we seem to have taken up their jobs

.... 50 years ago.

Fair enough, though. If there was a sudden influx of migrants, i'd want to protect local interest too.

But can i just say it's been a little while since then?

Somehow I can't help thinking that all this racialised politics is stopping us from progressing as a country. As Malaysians.

So i might be accused of being seditious but I think that if there are to be benefits for anyone, it should be to those who need it. So away with benefits based on colour or birthright and why not benefits for the poor? Equally?

It may be wishful thinking but my point is that I think 50 years down the line, when we are trying to propagate equality and fairness and one bangsa Malaysia, it is healthy to discuss about how things may or may not be evolving in the country.

To just avoid discussion of something that noone wants to address - are we obliged to accept ketuanan Melayu or is it something written in stone and indeed deserved? Why, it's like the old adage of sweeping things under the carpet.

Thanks to jonnybaker @ Flicker for catching this excellent piece by Bansky (if you've not heard of his street art, definitely worth checking out!)

I mean, not addressing things when we could is why we ended up getting the Middle Rocks after all, isn't it? But Isaac can tell you that story.

[ An aside, while googling stuff to include, it seems i'm not the only disgruntled one. ]

The point of it all is, i'm not really asking or expecting all out change. Malaysia is pretty sweet the way it is - minus some needless developments and scary crime rates - but i think not everyone can feel contented. And i'd be much more willing to defend my country if i knew it was much more willing to address its citizens.

And i shall conclude like the true arts student that i am - Talk it out, people. Bottling up your feelings never did anyone good.