Bumputra,
for the non-Bumiputra
When
the Constitution was drafted, all Malayan thought that was the best compromise.
The Chinese and Indian immigrants were only there for at most 2 generations
(excluding the minority peranakan (Chinese) or Chitty Peranakan (Indian) who
stayed since 1400s).
first
i invite you to imagine this scenario. Imagine in 8 years time, the second
generations of the 6-8 millions Bangladeshis, Indonesians, and Nepalese,
started to demand for citizenship, citing that they are born bred in Malaysia,
speaks BETTER MALAY than many of the Malaysians, and live the lifestyle of a
Malaysian.
My
first question is, in what way would you grant MASS citizenship to them?
My
grandmother told me, the situation back then was the same. She was a MCA member
back then since Tan Cheng Lock. The Chinese has No where to cling to. China was
in war with Japan and Communist practiced Close door policy. Taiwanese regarded
Malaysian chinese as “HUA QIAO”, and technically labelled us as if we have
perpetually migrated away, like those in US or European Chinese.
with
that in mind, the only way to settle, was to ASK the then government, British,
for mass citizenship, citing contributions to the development to then
Malaya/Federation of Malay land, and swearing loyalty. HOWEVER, the native
(concept of native was very simple back then, either you are a Nusantarian
(from Nusantara), or you are NOT Nusantarian.
The British
were Prepared to Grant mass citizenship to these Chinese people through the
Malayan Union Charter, which was intended to make all three : straits
settlements (Penang Melaka Singapore), Federated Malay States, and non Federated
Malay States, into CROWN COLONIES.
UMNO
was then formed to rally the Nusantarians (Malay) to oppose the Malayan Union
charter. Like it or not, they are NOT prepared to allow the British colonial
master to GRANT mass citizenship to the then Immigrants who doesn’t
intergrate/assimilate into their culture. (i use their, because the racial line
back then was VERY clear. no Chinese speaks Malay!)
British
have to succumb to the pressure of UMNO. so were the Chinese. and Tunku was
then tasked to find out a grand compromise between the Malays/Nusantarians and
the Immigrant Chinese/Indians.
The
grand compromise, that convinced the then local Malays, to accord these 1st and
second generation Chinese immigrants MASS citizneship, was that their need to
be treated “special”, hence the Reid Commission’s drafting of “special
position” in educaiton and economic sectors.
The
Chinese back then agreed to it.
My
father asked me, when then, this notion and consequences from the grand
compromise ends?
I
reckoned that the MAIN premise that causes the grand compromise for mass
citizenship, is because of the maintainence of “Chineseness” of our
grandparents. they started Chinese school, insist on communicating in the Chinese
language, live the life style of Chinese. technically, building another Chinese
State/Province outside China. teaching the values of Chinese, reading books
from China (pre-cultural revolution) etc. There is no sense of integration
whatsoever. This “MAIN PREMISE” attracts retaliation, which is the “SECONDARY
PREMISE” of bumiputra-hood.
if
you study the concept of bumiputra carefully, you would have realised it’s not
sooo much on “protecting the interest of natives”. the ideology and philosophy
of bumiputra concept entails two big aspect.
The
first aspect is to curb the “Chineseness”. Chinese merchants back then, were
close to the British rulers. you have Peranakans who wear Kerongsang bearing
Queen Victoria’s image. You also have Chinese Chambers of Commerce who have British
patrons. it shows that apart of foreign control of our economy (Professor
Shamsul Amri said, almost 50-60%), the CHinese controlled almost 70% of whats
left.
Technically
speaking, the native Nusantarians has no economic power at all. They were of
the view, that if these minority immigrants, after holding such immence
economical power, attempts to seize political power, would crush their
existence. You can’t blame them for having that thoughts. it’s a sentiment that
is common almost among absolute majority of them. That’s where they need extra
assurance if they were to agree to grant mass citizenship.
The
second aspect, is the “emotional” insecurity of the existence of large
population of “Chinese Immigrants” and “indian Immigrants”. There is fear of
these two large immigrants group (back then), who REFUSE to
integrate/assimilate (i know it’s a harsh word to use, but that was exactly the
reason), would unite against the native Nusantarians (mostly Malays) and kill
of their religion and culture. This emotion actual DETERS the Nusantarians back
then to even AGREE on granting mass citizenship to the 1st and 2nd generation
of Immigrants.
With
these two aspects in mind, the then leader Tunku, will have to find out a way
to move forward. He can either refuse Chinese and indian’s mass citizenship
request, forcing them to either leaving Malayan in stage, or he can find a
grand compromise between both.
He
then, adviced the Reid Commission, to draft the BIGGEST contract ever between
the Nusantarians and 1st/2nd generation Immigrants, which is known as article
153 of the Federal Consituttion.
With
the Introduction of Article 153 in the Federal Constitution, the Nusantarians
decided that they can do away with both aspect of fearing the intrusion of “Chineseness”
and “insecurity sentiment” in economical and educational aspect. because their
position of NOT being affected by Chineseness, and NOT being economically
compromised, is protected in the constiution.
Our
grand/great grand parents, who were first and second generation immigrants,
too, were happy with this grand compromise, in exchange for Mass citizenship.
It’s
almost impossible, for a country with native people that shares common/ or near
common lifestyle, to grant MASS citizneship to 1st/2nd generation immigrant
groups who DOES NOT shares their lifesytle/near common lifestyle. Chinese and
INdian refuse to integrate and refuse to assimilate, but are demanding
citizenship. The Nusantarian natives of course were against it and they have
the numbers to say NO.
Chinese
and indian 1st & 2nd generation immigrant then realise it’s “WORTH”
entering into such contract, knowing that they have no where else to go.
The
second best scenario, would be to stay as permanent residents, and NOT being
able to gain full citizenship by the native Nusantarians. NOT GOOD ENOUGH! they
said. they wanted citizenship!
If
you bear this historical facts in mind, you can then apply to my first case
scenario.
you
try to imagine, the second/third generation of Bangladeshis and Nepaliese and Indonesians,
who make up of 6-9 millions of Malaysian population, is demanding the rights of
a citizen in Malaysia. That includes benefits, fundings, education,
healthcares, and also RIGHT TO VOTE.
They
claimed that they have been paying TAX, contributed to the country, and helped
the economic (which is true, look at all the construction workers who put our
country into pieces).
They
also claimed that they are born bred in Malaysia and they want MASS citizneship
(not individual application, but MASS granting of 6-9 million citizenship).
WHAT
DOES IT TAKE, FOR YOU TO GRANT THEM MASS CITIZNESHIP OF 9000000 CITIZENS TO
THEM?
The
Nusantarians were satisfied to grant mass citzienship, as long as they have
guarenteed position in educaiton economics whatnot as per Article 153.
How
about you?
put
it back into this situation.
TO
answer my fathers question, when is this BUMIPUTRA’s concept going to end?
I
told him, as long as the aspect of “CHINESENESS” and “INSECURITY” no longer
haunts the Nusantarians.
Till
now, there are more NUsantarians who found their common grounds with the Chinese
and others non – bumi. That’s why you see there are more Malays who are
prepared (not alot, but more than last time) to give up the bumiputra status.
But
still, the common ground are not strong. Look at the Chinese guy who got punch
by KFC. He hold a press conference. this guy, cannot SPEAK English and Malay.
and i
can tell you, there are HELL LOTS of Chinese like that in Malaysia. Genevieve
Bois and Dimishtra Sittampalam can vouch. They said there are Hell lots of
urban Chinese who stays in PPR, cannot speak English or Malay. Many of my
friends back in Kedah too are like that.
These
Chinese went to Chinese Primary, Chinese independant, and went to Taiwan/China
for their tertiary.
or
some went to Signapore
or
Europe / US.
They
never did cross path with the Native Nusantarians.
They
don’t know what is khutbah jumaat.
They
don’t know why FEMALE malay from Kelantan is called MEK Farhana Roslan
They
don’t know why MALE malay from PERAK is called YOB Amir Fareed Rahim
They
don’t know Malay people don’t go to “register” their marriage.
They
don’t UNDERSTAND the Malays’ thoughts and lifestyle.
in
essence, they refuse to integrate or refuse to find a common ground with the
Malays.
EVEN
in Mamak, Chinese are sitting with Chinese, Malay are sitting with Malay.
Only
a FEW, Minority occasions where three races have no barrier.
Not
enough!
Not
enough to tell the massive Nusantarians, that they can feel secure now about
the “CHINESENESS” effect. Not enough to tell the massive Nusantarians, that
they can “survive” and “feel secure” about their interest in economy and
education.
Till
that happens, till Chinese in Malaysia decide to tone down our “Chineseness”
(*not getting rid, just tone down), we cannot do away with bumiputra policies.
it’s too dangerous.
The
exit clause of the Federal Constitution Contract is clear.
1.)
Either we honour it until time immemorial if we are still carrying our
ancestors’ legacy (Chinese school, Chinese language, Chinese Chamber of Commerce,
the word “Chinese” trumpts over Malaysian in education and economical aspect)
or
2.)
We assimilate into the Nusantarians. IE, become a Malay.
That’s
the exit clause.
But
to put the contract to an “END”, we need to find MORE common grounds with the Nusantarians.
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