‘I don't even consider myself (whatever) race. I am just Malaysian. Period. And all those official forms that ask you for your race? I just check ‘Others/Lain-lain’ and write ‘None/Tiada’’.
Cala: Is there any logic to divide the people into Malay, Chinese, and Indian before you rule them? This is a perennial question asks by a right-thinking Malaysian, and asks again here by Kee Thuan Chye.
The correct answer depends on who the person asking the question. First, to a man on the street, what he wants is a decent living in life. He also hopes his children will receive proper education to take the challenge on their own when time comes.
Second, but suppose you are a politician, what would you do? Invariably you would adopt the time-tested formula of divide the people into ethnic silos and rule them for management expediency as each ethnic group has its own needs and wants. That is what we get after 52 years of rule under the Umno-led BN coalition - a divisive nation.
Third, the question to ask is why this policy has not been scrapped? The answer is that the politicians have learnt along the way that by this manner of governance they get to plunder the nation with less dissension.
Hean Theng: I was in Nepal trekking in the Himalaya with three friends from Malaysia and each time we met a Nepalese, they would always asked "you Chinese?", and all of us would proudly replied "No, we are Malaysian".
We are so proud to say it aloud, be it in Malaysia or anywhere else in the world. Why can't our Malaysian politician say it out loud "I'm Malaysian first" and be proud of it. Shame on any Malaysian politician who can't say "I'm Malaysian first".
TECheah: I think our PM and DPM are themselves confused by the concept of unity. But how can we blame them? Their political survival hinges on race not on nationality. As much as they desire the non-Malay votes, ultimately it is the Malays that determine their political survival.
So for them, it is political survival first and country second.
Jbss: Kee, bravo to you. You are spot on. You have taken the path less travelled. But the PM and DPM prefer to retreat to the politically correct worn-out familiar route, thereby rendering the 1Malaysia concept hyped by Umno/BN a politically empty slogan for votes. I am a Malaysian first, a Malaysian last and a Malaysian always.
Dood: Kudos to you, Thuan Chye, in practising what you preach and in really doing your part for Malaysian unity, which is much more than what I can say for the two-faced BN leaders. I am with you on your points. However, I go one step further.
I don't even consider myself (whatever) race. I am just Malaysian. Period. And all those official forms that ask you for your race? I just check ‘Others/Lain-lain' and write ‘None/Tiada'.
AkuMelayu: Our race has nothing to do with our loyalty to the nation. There is a difference between race and nationality. And to ask people to give their preference between the two is like asking them to chose between the sun and the moon. Nobody can stop us from feeling proud of our race. Not even these vultures of politicians whose agendas are suspected.
People should understand this so that they will not easily be drawn into argument. Don't let irresponsible and opportunist politicians pitch us against one another for their own benefit. For we all know, these politicians are already rich whereas there are still among us from all races who are still very poor. Only the gullible among us will fall prey to their unholy scheme.
Sunshine: Most so-called religious people would put their religion first before race. Did not a survey recently indicate most Malays said they were Muslim first then came race and country. It may be the same case with other religions. So where does 1Malaysia stand?
SusahKes: Let's leave the thorough analysis and semantic discussion aside for awhile, and see this for what it really is. For the past 30 over years, Umno politics has always been "ends justify the means". And the end, as far as Umno is concerned, is that they always remain in power.
Just as Mahathir Mohamad pandered to the Chinese educationists when he needed their support for the 1999 GE (and later he labeled them communists after winning the GE), Muhyddin is doing the same. But in the DPM's case, he is playing to the Perkasa-type gallery.
Race is a means, staying in power is what it is all about to Umno. And that is also why Najib Razak ‘tai-chi' the Al-jazeera reporter. Not because he himself is convinced on the merit of 1Malaysia.
Dr Vincent Ong: I am saddened by the comment of our DPM. From his words, he has betrayed Malaysians as he is the leader of Malaysia whereby its citizens are called Malaysians. I was educated in England and has lived in a dormitory where students of other countries and Malaysians of all races lived. We were proud to answer or reply to our colleagues of other countries that we are Malaysians and our country is Malaysia.
Later I shared a house with a Kelantan prince, a Malaysian Filipino student and others. We all went to college at the same time, shared our meals together, went shopping together, etc. We never called ourselves as Malay, Chinese, Indian, etc. We called ourselves Malaysians. We walked with dignity along the old English roads.
Chipmunk: I for one am a Malaysian first. I will stand united with all Malaysians on this. That is what 1Malaysia is supposed to be. But sadly, the PM and DPM stand to differ otherwise. If you look at it carefully (their statements), you will realise that they had no choice but to defend their Malay rights first before putting Malaysian interest first. Why?
Because they represent Umno and in order to stay in power. This colonial attitude is the main contributor of all problems.
In no time, Perkasa will show their 'horns' since they (Perkasa) have been openly accepte a mno's supporter. The fate of this country will be doom with the PM and DPM voicing their rights as a Malay first, instead of saying they are the PM and DPM of Malaysia.
Razman Abubakar: I hope you also send your children to national schools.
Kee Thuan Chye: Yes, Razman, I did indeed send both my children to national schools. But sometimes to my regret - not for anything else but the low quality of education it provided, and the lack of encouragement for sports.
T he above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only Malaysiakini subscribers can post comments. Over the past six months, Malaysiakinians have posted 50,000 comments. Be part of the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .
