Malaysia must integrate its minorities
By Sekina Joseph
Column: Simple DreamsPublished:
By Sekina Joseph
Column: Simple DreamsPublished:
September 01, 2008, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Malaysia holds a record in the preservation of peace in a country well known for its multiple religious beliefs, its diverse cultures and ethnicities and the multilingual nature of the society.
Malaysia is a multiethnic and multi-religious country, with a strong tradition of parliamentary democracy. The country is much esteemed for that, as well as for its positive role in helping to create stability in the region. Indeed, Malaysia has hosted several peace negotiations, has participated in peacekeeping missions abroad, and has no tradition of interference in the internal matters of other nations. It has a federal Constitution, which respects fundamental freedoms, basic rights and the equality of all before the law.
In the late 1990s, twenty years after Malaysia’s independence, the rapid development and modernization that occurred left in its wake a stressed interethnic and interreligious relationship.
One major area of concern is the absence of specific programs targeting the Malaysian Indian population. Existing policies are so general that they do not reflect the sharp contradictions and intra-ethnic disparities within the community. This creates the false impression that the Malaysian Indian community as a whole is doing well. It also creates a setback, instead of bringing various communities and racial groups together to promote a positive feeling of fair play. On the contrary, it only serves to alienate the people and set them apart.
In Malaysia’s eagerness to advance on the road of progress, it has neglected to observe essential features of democratic principles and values. The marginalized and discriminated should be lifted up to the average level of society to compete on equal terms in the open market system and have their rights and privileges duly recognized. If the Malaysian Constitution provides for certain entitlements born of historical factors for the underprivileged, then those rights of entitlement should be upheld.
Experience shows that mere acknowledgment by the authorities of specific difficulties faced by the Malaysian Indian community is insufficient. Unless adequate funds are made available to target the vulnerable groups, socioeconomic problems affecting them will persist and even worsen.
Many Indians from low-income groups are not aware of the assistance, if any, they can get from government agencies. Many rely on political party mechanisms for information, but some local-level politicians are not honest and caring. In some cases, sadly, ethnically biased bureaucrats even place hurdles when the Indian poor seek assistance.
Awareness campaigns should be conducted in electronic and print media – the Malaysian press being in a perpetual state of impotence. This would help the Indian poor derive some benefit by directly accessing government programs.
Aug. 31 marked the beginning of Malaysia's 51st year of independence, and what have the minority groups achieved in terms of wealth, educational opportunities, adequate and/or fair budgetary allocations, social welfare, care for the youth and entrepreneurial development? Without a doubt, certain vulnerable sections of the non-Bumiputra population have little or no access to public goods and services. No wonder Malaysian Indians have low self-esteem and have turned to gangsterism as a way of life.
In this environment of hopelessness, a significant number of Indian youth become involved in gangs and criminal activities. The police have adopted a strong-arm approach and, instead of showing compassion and mercy, treat such youth as if they were a threat to national security.
Large segments of the ethnic Indian community have been economically and materially marginalized since pre-independence. These socioeconomic ills are mainly due to their continuing marginalization from mainstream Malaysian society. Efforts to overcome this lack of integration will not bear fruit without a firm commitment from the government and concrete, tangible follow-up actions by responsible agencies.
The integration of Malaysia's minorities must succeed for the nation to realize its dream of uniting its people. Talk of democracy must include integration – they go hand in hand and are, in fact, intimate bedfellows. The majority should not be allowed to tyrannize and destroy a functioning democracy.
Justice does not just mean having good judges; it also calls for good law enforcement agencies. What can a good judge do if investigations are sub par? On the other hand, if the independent judiciary, as an eminent institution of democracy that provides for proper conduct under the rule of law and protection under the Constitution, is destroyed, then all the essential elements of a democratic society – such as justice, equity, fair-play, liberty and rule of law – go down the drain as well.
All Malaysians, especially the marginalized and downtrodden, have a place under the Malaysian sun, under a new order that believes in justice, equitable distribution of the nation's wealth, a conducive environment for people to make a living, and equal educational opportunities regardless of race, color and creed.
The challenge of establishing a united Malaysian nation with a sense of shared destiny, at peace with itself and its populace, ethnically and territorially integrated, in fair partnership and ownership, and made up of one "Bangsa Malaysia," is part and parcel of that dream.
After 50 years of independence, one would think that everything would be more or less under control; however, today we are still searching for values, trying to forge unity in diversity. What with self-serving politicians, highly politicized universities, party-controlled media, and continued segregation of the people, even beautiful dreams can turn into frightful nightmares for the ordinary person.
The future of Bangsa Malaysia depends on whether we can support the Malaysian vision to promote peace and harmony, so that our various communities can work, play, communicate and enjoy our blessed racial and cultural diversity, with the goal of building a united and integrated nation in the new millennium, whatever the cost.
--
(Sekina Joseph is a writer, a social activist, and a member of the Malaysian Interfaith Network based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She can be contacted at sknjoseph@yahoo.com. ©Copyright Sekina Joseph.)
Malaysia is a multiethnic and multi-religious country, with a strong tradition of parliamentary democracy. The country is much esteemed for that, as well as for its positive role in helping to create stability in the region. Indeed, Malaysia has hosted several peace negotiations, has participated in peacekeeping missions abroad, and has no tradition of interference in the internal matters of other nations. It has a federal Constitution, which respects fundamental freedoms, basic rights and the equality of all before the law.
In the late 1990s, twenty years after Malaysia’s independence, the rapid development and modernization that occurred left in its wake a stressed interethnic and interreligious relationship.
One major area of concern is the absence of specific programs targeting the Malaysian Indian population. Existing policies are so general that they do not reflect the sharp contradictions and intra-ethnic disparities within the community. This creates the false impression that the Malaysian Indian community as a whole is doing well. It also creates a setback, instead of bringing various communities and racial groups together to promote a positive feeling of fair play. On the contrary, it only serves to alienate the people and set them apart.
In Malaysia’s eagerness to advance on the road of progress, it has neglected to observe essential features of democratic principles and values. The marginalized and discriminated should be lifted up to the average level of society to compete on equal terms in the open market system and have their rights and privileges duly recognized. If the Malaysian Constitution provides for certain entitlements born of historical factors for the underprivileged, then those rights of entitlement should be upheld.
Experience shows that mere acknowledgment by the authorities of specific difficulties faced by the Malaysian Indian community is insufficient. Unless adequate funds are made available to target the vulnerable groups, socioeconomic problems affecting them will persist and even worsen.
Many Indians from low-income groups are not aware of the assistance, if any, they can get from government agencies. Many rely on political party mechanisms for information, but some local-level politicians are not honest and caring. In some cases, sadly, ethnically biased bureaucrats even place hurdles when the Indian poor seek assistance.
Awareness campaigns should be conducted in electronic and print media – the Malaysian press being in a perpetual state of impotence. This would help the Indian poor derive some benefit by directly accessing government programs.
Aug. 31 marked the beginning of Malaysia's 51st year of independence, and what have the minority groups achieved in terms of wealth, educational opportunities, adequate and/or fair budgetary allocations, social welfare, care for the youth and entrepreneurial development? Without a doubt, certain vulnerable sections of the non-Bumiputra population have little or no access to public goods and services. No wonder Malaysian Indians have low self-esteem and have turned to gangsterism as a way of life.
In this environment of hopelessness, a significant number of Indian youth become involved in gangs and criminal activities. The police have adopted a strong-arm approach and, instead of showing compassion and mercy, treat such youth as if they were a threat to national security.
Large segments of the ethnic Indian community have been economically and materially marginalized since pre-independence. These socioeconomic ills are mainly due to their continuing marginalization from mainstream Malaysian society. Efforts to overcome this lack of integration will not bear fruit without a firm commitment from the government and concrete, tangible follow-up actions by responsible agencies.
The integration of Malaysia's minorities must succeed for the nation to realize its dream of uniting its people. Talk of democracy must include integration – they go hand in hand and are, in fact, intimate bedfellows. The majority should not be allowed to tyrannize and destroy a functioning democracy.
Justice does not just mean having good judges; it also calls for good law enforcement agencies. What can a good judge do if investigations are sub par? On the other hand, if the independent judiciary, as an eminent institution of democracy that provides for proper conduct under the rule of law and protection under the Constitution, is destroyed, then all the essential elements of a democratic society – such as justice, equity, fair-play, liberty and rule of law – go down the drain as well.
All Malaysians, especially the marginalized and downtrodden, have a place under the Malaysian sun, under a new order that believes in justice, equitable distribution of the nation's wealth, a conducive environment for people to make a living, and equal educational opportunities regardless of race, color and creed.
The challenge of establishing a united Malaysian nation with a sense of shared destiny, at peace with itself and its populace, ethnically and territorially integrated, in fair partnership and ownership, and made up of one "Bangsa Malaysia," is part and parcel of that dream.
After 50 years of independence, one would think that everything would be more or less under control; however, today we are still searching for values, trying to forge unity in diversity. What with self-serving politicians, highly politicized universities, party-controlled media, and continued segregation of the people, even beautiful dreams can turn into frightful nightmares for the ordinary person.
The future of Bangsa Malaysia depends on whether we can support the Malaysian vision to promote peace and harmony, so that our various communities can work, play, communicate and enjoy our blessed racial and cultural diversity, with the goal of building a united and integrated nation in the new millennium, whatever the cost.
--
(Sekina Joseph is a writer, a social activist, and a member of the Malaysian Interfaith Network based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She can be contacted at sknjoseph@yahoo.com. ©Copyright Sekina Joseph.)
source :- http://upiasiaonline.com/Society_Culture/2008/09/01/malaysia_must_integrate_its_minorities/5057/
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