Dear Malaysiakini readers, I wrote this about two years ago as a response to a media statement made by the deputy prime minister in regards to young Malaysians who question the government. I think we have somewhat successfully showed him he was wrong (the sentences in brackets are the updates).
Najib Abdul Razak, the deputy prime minister of Malaysia, said that some of the younger generation today have ‘swallowed’ so much Western liberal ideology that they have begun questioning the country's policies and laws which they claim stifle freedom (two years ago).
It is disappointing to hear views from someone of his stature which not only degrade but also ridicule the younger generation. His claim that the younger generation lacks an understanding and appreciation of the country's history is very generalised.
We, the younger generation, did study history in our national schools. We the younger generation have been witnessing the leadership of a great nationalist for at least the past 20 years, we the younger generation have been an integral part of this nation ever since (The 12GE and Permatang Pauh proved it)
We know how fragile our nation is and we know the politics in this nation and we also know how far the mentality of our people can go. We are not products of the West! We are products of this sovereign land that we call Malaysia. We are the generation shaped by Dr Mahathir Mohamad (we might disagree with him today, but he is the reason why we can stand up for our rights, fearless that's what we are - just like him).
It is a shame that Najib Razak has credited western liberal ideology for the state of mind of the younger generation of educated young Malaysians; for he cannot see that we are actually the product of a great outspoken nationalist.
I feel that Najib’s remark was not towards young Malaysians in general but instead was a direct hit towards the educated young Malaysians in professional fields as he indicated that they are ‘the ones questioning the country's policies and laws which they claim stifle freedom’.
Only those who have studied the country's policies, laws, and socio-economics would dare raise such questions as the general crowd in Malaysia is very much afraid of the cabinet (but no longer.) We know the laws in this country and we are questioning the rationale of it in accordance with the stability that we have achieved.
Najib has somewhat the wrong idea of these young minds as these young minds do not succumb to the western ideology of liberalism. Instead, we are unique Malaysians who know what we are talking about. We are no longer kampung boys, to just sit in the coffee shop while people manipulate the laws to suppress freedom.
His claim that it is these laws and regulations which have ensured that the country remained prosperous and stable all this while, is very much true. But those laws were for an era of Malaysians who were tolerating each other; tolerance has a limit and nobody can tolerate forever (Permatang Pauh speaks for itself, we can no longer tolerate corruption).
That is why those laws are being questioned. We, the younger generation of educated Malaysians, are no longer using tolerance as a tool (that’s old BN). Instead, we are now understanding the differences between us, respecting each other, and accepting the differences and compromise towards building a better nation.
However that does not mean we are intolerant young Malaysians, we are much more tolerant then any Westerner, we advocate what is right and just (the Permatang Pauh results proved it). We are peace-loving Malaysians, and Tun was right when he said Malaysians are a non-violent people. We are Malaysians who protect the weak.
We are Malaysians who can rationally discuss our problems instead of pretending that we do not have a problem. This is what 49 years of independence has engineered and to say that what we have been touting as freedom could cause chaos and misunderstanding is outdated.
Najib Razak you are our leader and we more then respect you. We love you.(that was two years ago, not so sure about that now.) But to lash out at us in such a way, is very hurtful as all that we are striving for is a better Malaysia. We are not westernised outcasts, we are the unique products of a great leadership. Perhaps as an experienced leader you could help us achieve our bona fide aim.
Come this Aug 31, we shall stand proud as Malaysians, not Malays, Chinese or Indians, but as Malaysians (thanks to Anwar Ibrahim). We shall prove to Najib Razak that the blood in our vein echoes with unique Malaysian philosophies and not that of liberal western ideology, and even if we did swallow something alien, we all know where it will come out later.
We thank Najib for his criticism, and we shall re-engineer our approach (I hope he likes our latest approach. I would like to thank Nazri Abdul Aziz on his suggestion ' if your not happy with us, you take it to the ballot box'. So we did.) so that we do not seem to be post-independence kids who do not realise that racial harmony today did not happen on its own.
I assure you Najib that we more then realise how it happened and how difficult it was. It is just that we have different ways of appreciating our country. Last but not least, I take this opportunity to wish all Malaysians Selamat Menyambut Ulang Tahun Kemerdekaan.
