Lack of Trust Among Races?
I can't agree more with this article from NSTP (see below), after a flurry of reports in the mainstream media and blogs about race relations in Malaysia, fueled by strong-language speeches by Umno delegates during the party's recent general assembly in Nov.
I'm saddened everyday when I read reports of Malay and Chinese leaders bickering over race issues, be it from the ruling party or from the opposition party.
Meanwhile, the Indian leaders yelp out once in a while to attract attention to the plight of the Indians, who equally need attention.
With deeper analysis of the situation, the race relation issue boils down to one thing - lack of trust.
This lack of trust among races, where in this case, Dr Chandra Muzaffar, said different races should start helping each other, such as the Chinese Chamber of Commerce could help the Malays and Indians in the retail sector.
Meanwhile, Malays should understand the need for the Chinese and Indians to get an equal footing in the country they have come to recognise as their own.
If, the Chinese could be big-hearted and help out the Malays and Indians, will the Malays and Indians appreciate this kindness, or will it be like this Malay idiom, "Melepaskan anjing tersepit?"
I personally felt that there's fear among a certain race - fear of change, fear of competition, fear of everything, which stops them from starting to believe that they can also grow together with the other races, rather than trying to survive by just guarding their special privileges jealously.
In the end, it is only going to be a lose-lose situation for all races.
The certain race will never realise they can be as developed as other race or compete on a level ground with other races. And the other race will continue to mind their own business.
In the end, the one to lose out, is Malaysia.
The race relation issue is never going to end, if the certain race do not change their mindset, as what Tun Dr Mahathir has always nagged about.
And instead of fighting against each other, Malaysians should instead unite to fight the looming globalisation that will swallow Malaysia if Malaysians still do not wake up from their narrow-mindedness.
In this borderless world, for a race to survive, it is no longer just me and my race. It is to look at the big picture - if you want to survive, your country have to survive. When the country can survive, and not only that, are able to bring in bigger pieces of pie, then only we can happily distribute the pie equally to satisfy all races.
However, what's saddening is, Malaysians are not growing this pie, and there's not enough to go around, and races start to fight among each other to get a bigger piece or, just to defend whatever that's left.
Rather than stealing from each other, why not all unite together to get bigger pieces of pie from outside the country? No Malaysians would like to see such bickerings in the country - unless of course, those who are using race as their pawn to get political support. And such people, are a disgrace to the country.
______________
‘Bridge-builders’ to span races needed
08 Dec 2006, New Straits Times
Minderjeet Kaur
KUALA LUMPUR: We need genuine "bridge builders" to improve ethnic relations in the country. People who can span the racial divide and encourage integration.
Most Malaysians were still very much Malay, Chinese or Indian at heart, said International Movement for Just World president Dr Chandra Muzaffar.
"To improve racial integration we have to be Malaysians first," he said.
He was speaking during a dialogue on The Role of Media and Human Rights organised by The Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) yesterday.
He said that instead of reaching out, each community was looking to its own interests.
"There is a huge psychological gap between the Malays and non-Malays.
"Everyone is asking for their own rights, but no one is really coming forward to assist other races," Chandra said.
If each community helped the others with their own strengths, he said, the gap between them would be narrowed.
"For instance, the Chinese Chambers of Commerce could establish a nationwide programme to help the Malays and Indians in the retail industry," he said.
The Malay community must also understand the concerns of the non-Malays. Non-Malay families have been here for generations. They feel they are Malaysian, and that they should be on an equal footing, he said.
Anyone, he said, who criticises others should recognise his own weaknesses.
"If each of us can look at our own weakness, we can then understand the other race better. But if one feels that one is right and the weakness lies in the other race, then no one is going to go forward," he said.
"Politicians should understand that the Malay, Chinese and Indians do not have similarities that bind us together. Each have their own culture, religion and traditions.
"And by blowing up racial sentiments, they are making things difficult for Malaysians," he said. Politicians should rather find ways to unite the three races by promoting integration, he added.
Universiti Malaya History Department head Professor Datuk Khoo Kay Khim agreed that Malaysians tend to identify themselves with their race.
"They prefer to think of themselves as a Malay, Chinese or Indian, because those who fight for the cause of another race are seen as not being faithful to their own," he said.
I'm saddened everyday when I read reports of Malay and Chinese leaders bickering over race issues, be it from the ruling party or from the opposition party.
Meanwhile, the Indian leaders yelp out once in a while to attract attention to the plight of the Indians, who equally need attention.
With deeper analysis of the situation, the race relation issue boils down to one thing - lack of trust.
This lack of trust among races, where in this case, Dr Chandra Muzaffar, said different races should start helping each other, such as the Chinese Chamber of Commerce could help the Malays and Indians in the retail sector.
Meanwhile, Malays should understand the need for the Chinese and Indians to get an equal footing in the country they have come to recognise as their own.
If, the Chinese could be big-hearted and help out the Malays and Indians, will the Malays and Indians appreciate this kindness, or will it be like this Malay idiom, "Melepaskan anjing tersepit?"
I personally felt that there's fear among a certain race - fear of change, fear of competition, fear of everything, which stops them from starting to believe that they can also grow together with the other races, rather than trying to survive by just guarding their special privileges jealously.
In the end, it is only going to be a lose-lose situation for all races.
The certain race will never realise they can be as developed as other race or compete on a level ground with other races. And the other race will continue to mind their own business.
In the end, the one to lose out, is Malaysia.
The race relation issue is never going to end, if the certain race do not change their mindset, as what Tun Dr Mahathir has always nagged about.
And instead of fighting against each other, Malaysians should instead unite to fight the looming globalisation that will swallow Malaysia if Malaysians still do not wake up from their narrow-mindedness.
In this borderless world, for a race to survive, it is no longer just me and my race. It is to look at the big picture - if you want to survive, your country have to survive. When the country can survive, and not only that, are able to bring in bigger pieces of pie, then only we can happily distribute the pie equally to satisfy all races.
However, what's saddening is, Malaysians are not growing this pie, and there's not enough to go around, and races start to fight among each other to get a bigger piece or, just to defend whatever that's left.
Rather than stealing from each other, why not all unite together to get bigger pieces of pie from outside the country? No Malaysians would like to see such bickerings in the country - unless of course, those who are using race as their pawn to get political support. And such people, are a disgrace to the country.
______________
‘Bridge-builders’ to span races needed
08 Dec 2006, New Straits Times
Minderjeet Kaur
KUALA LUMPUR: We need genuine "bridge builders" to improve ethnic relations in the country. People who can span the racial divide and encourage integration.
Most Malaysians were still very much Malay, Chinese or Indian at heart, said International Movement for Just World president Dr Chandra Muzaffar.
"To improve racial integration we have to be Malaysians first," he said.
He was speaking during a dialogue on The Role of Media and Human Rights organised by The Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) yesterday.
He said that instead of reaching out, each community was looking to its own interests.
"There is a huge psychological gap between the Malays and non-Malays.
"Everyone is asking for their own rights, but no one is really coming forward to assist other races," Chandra said.
If each community helped the others with their own strengths, he said, the gap between them would be narrowed.
"For instance, the Chinese Chambers of Commerce could establish a nationwide programme to help the Malays and Indians in the retail industry," he said.
The Malay community must also understand the concerns of the non-Malays. Non-Malay families have been here for generations. They feel they are Malaysian, and that they should be on an equal footing, he said.
Anyone, he said, who criticises others should recognise his own weaknesses.
"If each of us can look at our own weakness, we can then understand the other race better. But if one feels that one is right and the weakness lies in the other race, then no one is going to go forward," he said.
"Politicians should understand that the Malay, Chinese and Indians do not have similarities that bind us together. Each have their own culture, religion and traditions.
"And by blowing up racial sentiments, they are making things difficult for Malaysians," he said. Politicians should rather find ways to unite the three races by promoting integration, he added.
Universiti Malaya History Department head Professor Datuk Khoo Kay Khim agreed that Malaysians tend to identify themselves with their race.
"They prefer to think of themselves as a Malay, Chinese or Indian, because those who fight for the cause of another race are seen as not being faithful to their own," he said.
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