Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 12:01 pm Post subject: We must find ways to bring the various communities together.
Apparently, the Malaysian constitution puts Islam, Malay language, and Malay culture together in order to define a Malay person who is a citizen of Malaysia. That is, to be considered a Malay, you must be a Muslim, speak Malay, and accept the Malay culture.
However, changing faith is an inviolable human right. A Malay should be allowed to leave Islam and accept another faith if he wants to. In Malaysia, the constitution does not allow a Malay to leave Islam. There are, however, some Malays who have converted to Christianity secretly. They cannot live openly as Christians. Some of these secret Christian Malays have to leave Malaysia.
Sometimes, a Malay and non-Malay fall in love. They cannot get married if both of them do not become Muslims. So, the couple, I have read, have to leave Malaysia, and live else where. If the laws are changed and Malays are allowed to leave Islam and accept another faith, then the Christian Malays who hide in other countries can return to Malaysia.
The solution to the problem is to have a constitutional amendment to have two kinds of Malays: Muslim Malays and non-Muslim Malays. Changing faith is an inviolable human right. Let the Malays and non-Malays decide which faith they want to belong to. The constitution does allow for freedom of religion. If the constitution does allow for freedom of religion, then why is that a Malay cannot leave Islam and continue to be identified as a Malay?
In the March 2008 elections, it has been seen that the people have rejected race-based political parties. If UMNO does not reinvent itself and become non-racial and non-religious, then she would find it hard to rise again. Thus, UMNO would be well advised to lead in making a constitutional amendment in Parliament to have two kinds of Malays: Muslim Malays and non-Muslim Malays.
By May 2008 we know that UMNO is dependent on Sabah and Sarawak voters more than ever before. I hope the Sabah and Sarawak voters would ask for the cooperation of UMNO on this matter of religious conversion. Sabah and Sarawak have few race based political parties. Race based political parties were characteristic of Peninsular Malaysian politics until March 2008. It would not make sense for Sabah and Sarawak political parties to continue to cooperate with a race based political party like UMNO. Even rats flee a sinking ship. Would Sabah and Sarawak political parties be prepared to sink or sail with UMNO? It would be naïve of Sabah and Sarawak political parties to be prepared to sink or sail with UMNO. Sabah and Sarawak political parties should take care of themselves, instead of giving blind loyalty to UMNO. Within a few years, they would have another general election; and Sabah and Sarawak political parties should prepare for the future; and the future looks like non-racial and non-religious political parties are gaining ground. Do you see UMNO in the future? Does anybody see UMNO re-invent itself? The fate of UMNO continues to be debated. Some think it will not last another 60 days, others give it a maximum of 100 days, and still others give it a generous one year. Time will tell.
There is a difference between Malay and Islam. Malay is a race, while Islam is a religion. Malays are probably the single largest group in Malaysia. I would hope Malays continue to be well represented in all sectors. Malay supremacy/kekuatan Melayu is what I consider as Malay presence. It would be sad if Malay presence disappears in Malaysia. It would be unfair if Malay presence disappears in Malaysia. I could live with Malay representation/presence at all levels. But Malay representation should be differentiated with Islamic presence. Malay representation and Islamic representation are not the same. We have to separate Malay from Islam. There are different kinds of Malays. Not all Malays are Muslims, and the constitution of Malaysia should be amended to accept that. It would help to improve race relations and nation building in Malaysia. If the Malays are sincere of improving race relations and nation building, then they would agree with me. Yes, changing faith is an inviolable human right.
UMNO may want to learn a few lessons from Sabah and Sarawak where many political parties have open membership to all races and religions.
Even if Sabah and Sarawak political parties continue a relationship with a race based political party like UMNO, they should continue to assert their diversity. Yes, Sabah and Sarawak political parties should, if need be, even vote against a UMNO initiated bill in Parliament if they do not agree with it. Some times they should vote in favor of an UMNO bill and some times they should vote against a UMNO bill. Sabah and Sarawak political parties should prove to the voters that they have a mind of their own, not just toe the UMNO line all the time. When voting day comes, then the Sabah and Sarawak voters can teach the Sabah and Sarawak politicians a lesson too.
THE VOTERS IN SABAH AND SARAWAK SHOULD FIND THEIR OWN NICHE IN THE CHANGING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE OF MALAYSIA. It is in the best interests of Sabah and Sarawak that they find their own niche.
Many decades ago, there was a time when if you wore long pants and shirt, you would be considered a traitor by the Muslim Malays. Today, Malaysia, the country of my birth, is on the verge of becoming a developed nation. Unfortunately, the Malays do not credit the non-Malays adequately for their contribution to Malaysia’s growth and development. I, personally, have helped to build a hydro-electric dam in Perak, which will out live me. The dam will continue to give out electricity to many generations to come. Some Malays feel that since they gave citizenship to non-Malays, the non-Malays must be willing to accept second-class status. My position is that, I am willing to accept second or whatever class status provided we separate Malay from Islam. That is, get rid of Islam and secularize Malaysia. We must espouse secularism and liberalism. Islam has no right to have a special status in Malaysia. No religion has the right to use political power and enforcement. Religions no longer have a monopoly over truth and knowledge. Changing faith is an inviolable human right.
Undoubtedly, we live in a competitive world. We have to respond to competition. We have to keep improving. We have to keep learning. It is unending. We are primates. As homo sapiens sapiens, competition has been shaping and reshaping us. We have to grow and keep learning. No religion in this world can be applied permanently. We cannot be rooted to any religion permanently. We cannot base our lives on scriptures that were written a long time ago. The so called prophets of the past are no match to us. We have to believe in ourselves. We have to keep growing. We have to keep changing. Arabs are nothing in this world. Arabs, most certainly, are not the most successful people in the world. My Malay brothers and sisters have nothing, whatsoever, to learn from the Stone Age mentality Arabs. I am certainly not the first person to make negative remarks about Arabs. Christianity, too, is impractical. Christianity, like the communists, supports a property-less society; and there is absolutely no divorce in Christianity. Hindus have to improve too. The Hindu scriptures have never been known for egalitarianism. Try a good liberal and secular education. Religions no longer have a monopoly over truth and knowledge. Religions should stop using political power and enforcement. Please do vote for politicians who support personal freedom. We have to believe in ourselves.
Wait a minute. May be the Monarch is the Number One and the Prime Minister is the Number Two. May be the Prime Minister is a nobody. Probably. In that case, if any issues need be addressed, may I suggest that you ignore the politicians and go straight to the monarchs. May be we do not need politicians at all.
Sabah is a land of only 2.5 million people. Sabah's population is as diverse as its terrain. Apart from Kadazan/Dusun, Chinese and Malays, there are more than 32 ethnic communities in Sabah who speak 55 different languages, 100 dialects, 140 traditional dances and a host of cultures, beliefs and traditions.
What a long article. I haven't finish reading but I would like to give my 2 cents. In my opinion, Our government is still not open minded, Malay in Malaysia has to be 100% Islam and anyone who marry Malay has to convert to Islam as well. This rule or whatever it is should be outdated, same as ISA which should not be used anymore. Well, I do not have much hope for this country unless those so called "Leaders" are willing to change first. We, the followers, then will follow what they are doing. Do you think Monarch is willing to change? Have you seen any Sultan step inside the politic in Malaysia? Very rare right? They are living comfortably inside their Istana, they might not even care about what those "Leaders" are doing, as long as there is no internal conflicts until War happens.
The bottom line: The "Leaders" need to change, if not change the "Leaders"! Period.
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