My entry on 29th May 2008
AMBIGUITY is a dangerous word.
When given a political face, ambiguity can be a tool of destruction.
A few weeks ago over dinner, as a conversation starter, someone posed the question: “Is Bangsa Malaysia by definition a Malaysian race or a Malaysian Nation?” He quoted the Malay translation for United Nations which is Pertubuhan Bangsa- Bangsa Bersatu as an example to highlight the obvious ambiguity.
The debate concerning Bangsa Malaysia gained prominence a few years back. The ambiguity of the term created a heated national debate with an array of conservative, traditionalist, liberal views that only enhanced the confusion.
Last Sunday, at the National Unity Day celebrations, the term was raised again in the public sphere.
In my opinion, as a concept, Bangsa Malaysia is a state of mind. It is a vision created to provide a clear direction of where we should be heading as a country.
It is a statement of hope, opportunity and, more importantly, a means to achieve unity.
A state of mind which, when obtained, would complete the dreams and aspirations of our forefathers.
In that spirit, I cannot comprehend a unified Malaysia if its stakeholders feel threatened with the definition.
The quest to assign meaning to the term should never be laced with an agenda to question rights and privileges that are enshrined in the Federal Constitution and as espoused in the Rukun Negara.
In essence, I believe Bangsa Malaysia is the collective spirit and desire to exist as Malaysians and, at the same time, preserve our original identity, culture, religion, language and traditional practices.
I won’t attempt to use the confines of this column to provide a comprehensive definition. It requires dialogues and buy-ins from all the relevant stakeholders. By this, I mean Malaysians of all walks of life.
Debating the meaning of Bangsa Malaysia is not going to bring us closer together.
However obscure the term, the desired effect is tangible. Unity, to a certain extent, is measurable.
Therefore, based on the premise that Bangsa Malaysia is a state of mind all Malaysians should strive for, achieving the desired tangible result is an enormous responsibility thrust on Malaysian youth.
How close are we to eliminating the identification of race with economic function? How close are we to having national schools? The difficulty in finding the answers to these pertinent questions is a reflection of the magnitude of the task ahead.
How do we begin to find the answers? Who is going to point us in the right direction? We can be comforted by the fact that an issue is interpreted by the realities of the day. It is reflective of prevailing sentiments.
How else would you explain the ushering of 2009 by witnessing a State of the Union address from a first ‘non-white’ or woman President? It is a difficult task, but not an impossible one.
The hope can be seen, especially outside of the country, where it is the norm to see Malaysians relate to each other on the basis of nationality rather than race or religion.
I lived in a house that comprised Malays, Indians, Chinese, Sabahan and Sarawakian (we rented a sizeable house). We respected each other’s customs and participated in each other’s festivities.
When asked who I lived with, I can’t remember giving any other answer than “a bunch of crazy Malaysians”.
Beyond these shores, I have never heard anyone introduce themselves as “Hi, my name is so and so, I am a Malay from Malaysia”. Have you? When I posed a question on the concept of Bangsa Malaysia, a learned man posed a question back at me: “A Malaysian Chinese emigrated to Australia.
When asked where his homeland is, what do you think his answer would be?” Voices that use the Bangsa Malaysia concept as a force to promote unity via endless debate, could end up politicising the issue even further.
As 21st century Malaysians, we must do better; we have no other choice.
First things first – let’s not allow polemics to distort our collective quest for a better Malaysia.
They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
2 comments:
if one fights for a "Bangsa Malaysia", one must realize that the dilution of culture and heritage will occur. There is nothing wrong with being a Malay race and a Malaysian citizen at the same time. Likewise, there is nothing wrong with being an Indian race and also a Malaysian race. If one fights for a "Bangsa Malaysia", does that mean one does not want to be recognized as a Malay, Kadazan, Chinese, Iban, Indian etc? Even the Americans maintain the notion of African Americans, Indian Americans, ABC (American Born Chinese). They are still proud of their heritage and being American citizens. You are right, it is a state of mind.
Good article. But the question I have to ask is that when will we be ready for a Bangsa Malaysia?
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