From The Economist
Aug 30th 2007
After 50 years, Malaysia should stop treating a third of its people as not-quite-citizens
THE government of Malaysia has laid on all sorts of grand pageantry this weekend, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Malay peninsula’s independence from Britain. There is much to celebrate. Living standards and access to education, health services, sanitation and electricity have soared during those five decades of sovereignty. The country’s remarkable modernisation drive was symbolised, nine years ago, by the completion of the Petronas twin towers, in Kuala Lumpur, then the world’s tallest buildings.
Yet there will be a hollow ring to the festivities. Malaysia’s 50th birthday comes at a time of rising resentment by ethnic Chinese and Indians, together over one-third of the population, at the continuing, systematic discrimination they suffer in favour of the majority bumiputra, or sons of the soil, as Malays and other indigenous groups are called. There are also worries about creeping “Islamisation” among the Malay Muslim majority of what has been a largely secular country, and about the increasingly separate lives that Malay, Chinese and Indian Malaysians are leading. More so than at independence, it is lamented, the different races learn in separate schools, eat separately, work separately and socialise separately. Some are asking: is there really such a thing as a Malaysian?
The pro-bumiputra discrimination was laid down in the country’s first constitution, in 1957, to ease Malays’ fears of being marginalised by the Chinese and Indian migrants. These had come, supposedly temporarily, to work in the tin mines and plantations but were settling permanently and increasingly dominating business and the professions. The perks were extended greatly after race riots in 1969. Malays get privileged access to public-sector jobs, university places, stockmarket flotations and, above all, government contracts. The most notable result, as with South Africa’s similar policy of “black economic empowerment”, has been “encronyment”–the enrichment of those well connected to the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the party that has led all governments since independence. Malays as a whole, like other races, have got richer but the gap between the Malay haves and have-nots has widened. The corruption and waste these policies engender seem to have got worse in recent years.
As criticism has grown, UMNO’s leaders have resorted ever more frequently to growling that nobody should question the “social contract”. This is a reference to the metaphorical deal struck between the races at independence, in which the Malays got recognition that the country was basically theirs, while the Chinese and Indians were granted citizenship. The veiled threat of violence lurking behind calls to uphold the social contract was made explicit during last year’s UMNO conference, at which one delegate talked of being ready to “bathe in blood” to defend Malay privileges and the education minister, no less, brandished a traditional Malay dagger.
The hypocritical Malay dilemma
The social contract may once have seemed necessary to keep the peace but now it and the official racism that it is used to justify look indefensible: it is absurd and unjust to tell the children of families that have lived in Malaysia for generations that, in effect, they are lucky not to be deported and will have to put up with second-class treatment for the rest of their lives, in the name of “racial harmony”. When the mild-mannered Abdullah Badawi took over as prime minister from the fire-breathing Mahathir Mohamad in 2003, there were hopes of change for the better. Mr Badawi preached a moderate, “civilisational” Islam and pledged to crack down on corruption.
Four years on, corruption, facilitated by the pro-Malay policies, is unchecked. The state continues to use draconian internal-security laws, dating back to the colonial era, to silence and threaten critics. UMNO continues to portray itself to Malays as the defender of their privileges yet tries to convince everyone else that it is the guarantor of racial harmony. One commentator this week gently described this as a “paradox”. Hypocrisy would be a better word.
The damage caused by this state racism is ever more evident. Malaysia’s once sparkling growth rate has slipped. Racial quotas and protectionism are scaring away some foreign investors. While Malaysians celebrate having done rather better than former British colonies in Africa, they must also notice that South Korea, Taiwan and their estranged ex-spouse Singapore have done much better still. The economic consequences alone justify ending Malaysia’s official racism. Even without them, it would still be just plain wrong.
All the stuff mentioned in The Economist can be found in various entries of LKS’s blog.
Perhaps, we need comments of an outsider to get our elected servants to listen to what the masters had been saying all this while.
malaysia is facing a big problem now, if can , better all racial sit down again and reaffirm that whether is islamic state or a secular country. we cant tolerate anyone to destroy our social contract that had signed during independance.
“Perhaps, we need comments of an outsider to get our elected servants to listen to what the masters had been saying all this while.” – boh-liao
Well, the US President, George Bush said that Msia today is a beacon of hope and model for others. :)
Even an illegal immigrant from a neighboring country who has just arrived has more rights than one who’s ancestors arrived with Admiral Zheng He many generations ago….
Since corruption to the list this should read:
“Tall buildings, narrow minds, deep pockets – Malaysia at 50 “
Sorry, “Since corruption top the list, this should read: “
Malaysia is an Islamic state….just not officially……
THe Economist is simply too mild and polite in this article. The real situation is much worse and absolutely intolerable. For reasons of space and diplomacy, the Economist has not highlighted the worst excesses and blemishes under the BN administration. Like much of the Western world, who cares about distant Malaysia? Hardly weighs anything on the world’s scales.
50 years – and so much shame and spite, such untenable discrimination and injustice; it’ll take another 50 years for the inferiority complex of UMNO to heal but by then Malaysia may be lost forever, descending further into the pits amongst pariah nations like Zimbabwe.
The only hope of salvation is to vote BN out. Then the 51st Anniverasry of Merdeka will be special for all Malaysians.
The never ending debate on the social contract continues….will we ever find the solution?
Parliament full of shit ,corrupted and arrogrant leaders , vote them out thats the best solution.
If you believe in the US President, then Iraq war is justified!
BBC channel on Astro was blacked out since last night.
Guess there must be some “sensitive report” but true report that the Gomen did not want rakyat to watch.
I wonder whether George Bush really cares about our Bolehland , he even forget that ABB had remarried, ASK SIL , whether we are the agent of USA .. He sure will said Anwar is one , can Realworld speak for SIL . Take a look at our had been politician, one former MB of Selangor and one ex FM , they too harp on Racism. So which aspiring Top Gunner in UMNO can garner political mileage without RACIALIST OVERTONE. Mention the MP for Kota Baru, he wouldn’t go far in UMNO. We can summarised that to go forward in UMNO hierachy , THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE IS be Racialist and Religious.
The basis of the country’s problem with respect to achievement of true mulri-cutluralism is undoubtedly the creeping Islamisation over the past 25 years. It has resulted in polarised ethnic diversity, and done more damage to the objectives the nation’s founding Fathers sought to create. If some bright fellow in the ruling UMNO league can’t be found to take the lead and begin to repair all the squandered opportunities, the nation will just continue to drift along in a more confused and sad character than has been engineered so far.
The Economists and other magazines in the same leaugue should write more articles like this. Only then, hopefully, the gomen will have to change their mindset.
HEY, can all you decendence of Chiness, Indian ,Baba, dutch ,Portuguese,Bugis ,Javaness, go back to where your ansestors came from and give me back my country,Oh i forgot mamak… because im a Malaysian and im proud of it.
The Malay Dilemma by Dr M is a big fraud. Baned by Tunku as it will lead to more racial discriminations, racial disharmony, malay supermacy, extremism, extreme wealth disparity, cronyism, corruption, political dominion, abuse of power, etc…. Like Hitler to Germany? Hate the Jews, just bcos jews rule the world by proxy and by thinking? Hitler wanted to kill all the jews and started WW2. German Dilemma?
Only Malays have dilemma? I think it is time someone wrote another book, “The Chinese Dilemma”!
“….they must also notice that South Korea, Taiwan and their estranged ex-spouse Singapore have done much better still. ”
Estranged ex-spouse?? Which spouse failed to consummate the marriage?
“The Malay Dilemma by Dr M is a big fraud.”
The book written in poor English was used as a political platform by Dr. M to launch his political career. And it worked!
Dear YB!
I am still wondering why nobody have brought the issue of bridge collapsing in China which was schedule for opening on fewdays time and how is it going to reflect and effect on the undertaking of a China company to build the second bridge at Penang.Hope someone could bring up the issue in Parliament.