Update:
I was told that we are required to register at least SIX MONTHS prior to a General Election. So, it REALLY doesn’t harm to register now. Whenever you are free. Or whenever you have a minute to spare, just head over to a computerized post office. All it requires is just THAT LITTLE BIT OF EFFORT from us. Just that little bit – and it might just help create history.
Read original post here.
The attacks on churches (and apparently a Sikh temple a couple of days ago) which sprouted from the debate on the usage of the word “Allah” by Malay-speaking Christians in East Malaysia, has put Malaysia and its politics under international spotlight as of late.
Issues and concerns that were long recognized by the people that were carefully camouflaged by the government is now an oversized closet that has burst open, revealing the ugly mess that the country is really in.
I was watching this video on Malaysia Today (courtesy of Aljazeera). It was a little embarrassing watching Yusri Mohamad (Islamic Youths of Malaysia) continuously interrupting Marina Mahathir (social activist), Khalid Samad (PAS) mocking Yusri M. while Yusri M. was speaking, and the three of them bickering on national television. They were debating on the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims.
One part of the video struck me, I wasn’t sure if anyone else noticed. But Yusri M., who was explaining why he thought that the word “Allah” was exclusive to Muslims despite solid evidence indicating that the word “Allah” was used by Malay-speaking Christians in other parts of the world even before the birth of Malaysia, had unconsciously, while speaking in English, used the word “God”. (See video below from 16:06. He uses the word “God” at 16:37.) So it is okay for him to use the word “God” while speaking in English to refer to his Allah, but not okay for Malay-speaking Christians to use the word “Allah” while praying to their God? Again – double standards and hypocrisy.
Another related video on the subject. Note that Khairul Faiz Morat (Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement) was unable to provide a concrete reason for his stand on the subject when probed by Aljazeera’s presenter. He was merely reading from his stack of notes, almost as if he had memorized his “defence statement” and when attacked with a question he was unprepared for, he was lost for words, going in roundabouts and even requested to be spared from giving an opinion, but was unmercifully put on the spot by the presenter. The presenter, unfazed by the sensitivity of the issue, continues to throw out provoking, controversial questions at different speakers in order to gather a more intimate and unbiased insight on the subject.
See video here:
It is sad that Malaysia has been getting a lot of bad press lately, especially when I frequently encourage foreigners that I meet to visit Malaysia.
Yet at the same time, I am glad that these issues and concerns are being raised and scrutinized by international news reporters – only because of the lack of honest and unbiased reporting within the country and the fact that not everyone reads the news reported by independent websites on the internet.
Hopefully, this will help raise awareness and inspire more young Malaysians to vote for a change within the country. Because like my friend told me once, we, the young Malaysians, are the future. And if we don’t care, who will?
I finally registered to vote on Saturday. It was the simplest process ever. The only bit of effort required from me was to get my lazy bum and my Malaysian IC (aka MyKad) to any post office (make sure that it is a computerized post office), and inform the lady behind the counter that I would like to register as an elector with the Election Commissioner.
And ta-da, it took only about five to ten minutes for her to register my details into the system.
The only thing that caught me by surprise was when she asked:
“Agama apa? Buddha ke?” (Translated as: What is your religion? Buddhist?)
I was taken aback by her question, and even though I recovered quickly and nodded my head in response, her question continued to haunt me for the rest of the day.
It was, as I have gradually come to realize, the subconscious reminder of the ethnic and religion disintegration in our society that is blatantly present in our everyday lives.
Why am I surprised?
After all, I grew up having to provide details about my ethnicity and religion all the time. Despite my fuzzy memory, I am pretty sure that I had to disclose that I was of Chinese descendant, and maybe (don’t quite remember this one) my religion as well, in any major federal examinations that I sat for (PMR, SPM).
And I never thought much of it. It was just something that I was exposed to the moment I was born. Just something that was cultivated in me throughout my 13 years of being in school (kindergarten, primary, secondary, college). Something that I had accepted, because I thought that was the norm.
It was only since my return four months ago, that I questioned these outright demands for the disclosure of my ethnicity and religion. They were everywhere – job application forms, credit card application forms, bank account application forms, elector registration forms.
Why does it matter what race and religion I am? Isn’t it enough that I am just Malaysian?
In Canada, application forms only ask for information that is really needed. It is very simple – it is always only one of the following categories that you fall into:
- Canadian citizen
- Permanent Resident, or
- Other
And it is at such moments that I would wonder about the concept of perpaduan kaum (racial harmony) that was strongly emphasized in school. Wonder about the Ah Seng, Ali and Murthu who were always best friends and lived in harmony in my textbooks. And I would compare what I was taught, to the realities of what was going on in our society. The inconsistency of what was being preached with what was being implemented.
I recently read an article written by a New York journalist based in Malaysia, who highlighted the discrimination of Chinese-Malaysians towards the Malays. He notes that the resentment of the minority groups (Chinese and Indians) in Malaysia towards the inequality of governmental policies have caused them (Chinese and Indians) to discriminate against the Malays as well, which consequently imposes fear and reluctance on the Malay community to allow for a foreign political party to come into power.
It is definitely a food for thought. You may choose to deny it, or you may choose to openly affirm it – either way, we all know deep down that his unbiased insight was nowhere far from reality. That at some point in our lives, we have seen, heard, or performed a discriminatory act – whether it is conscious or subconscious, whether you are Malay, Chinese, Indian, Caucasian, or African, whether you meant it or not.
So, the question is, which came first – the chicken or the egg?
History books will tell you that it was the Chinese haughtiness and superior front that led the government to believe that they needed to shelter the vulnerable. The Chinese will tell you that the Chinese was just being Chinese, which is to work hard, make money and become rich. Political activists will tell you that it was all part of a scandal created by political leaders at that time to secure their power by winning the loyalty of the Malays.
Whatever it is, the way I see it, what’s done is done. There is nothing we can do to change the past. The only thing that can be done is to learn from history and with that, it is our responsibility to correct the past mistakes that were made.
By “our”, I mean you and me. Whoever that is reading this. And whoever that you choose to preach to. Because if we don’t take the initiative to be aware of what’s going on in our own country, then who will?
And how do we do it? For starters, we vote for a change.
On a more personal level, we must consciously try to refrain from discriminating against others – someone from another race, a handicapped individual, someone who is fat or ugly… or fat and ugly. Try to put ourselves in their shoes. If we want others to respect us, then we must first, respect others. You might not mean what you say, it could be a joke, but what you say or do may impact others.
I can think of many things that I have done in the past which I wish I can retract, but of course, life is all but a bed of roses. Once it is out there, there is no taking back what you said or did.
It is truly a simple theory – so simple yet so difficult to follow.
“The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.” – Ralph W. Sockman
Even though there is no news yet on when the next General Election will be held in Malaysia, it doesn’t harm to register yourself as a elector with the Election Commission Malaysia.
As I was abroad when I turned 21 (eligible age in Malaysia to vote) and have since been living abroad, thus missing the GEs held while I was away, I have never voted in any of the GEs before. Being one who felt hopeless about the Malaysian political scene, I chose to be ignorant towards anything related to politics, believing that nothing I did would change anything in the country.
In addition to that, I have never been guided through the process of voting. I was not told that I had to register, or that I should register, just in case. It never even came up in any of my conversations at all, until recently when I started indicating an interest towards Malaysian politics.
I wonder if there are many people out there like myself, young Malaysians who choose to be oblivious to everything going on around them. I wonder how many of my peers have voted before, or actually intends to vote in the next GE. It is really something that I should ask in a casual conversation perhaps, just out of curiosity.
So, like I said, I am preparing myself for the next GE. First, most importantly, I will register myself as an elector. Next, I will keep myself informed about the political scene, and the political parties out there – so that I can cast my vote with confidence and belief.
I tried googling on how to register as an elector. If you haven’t registered, this website might be helpful. (Main Services -> Registration of Electors -> Elector Registration)
If you currently reside in Malaysia, you will be registering yourself as a Normal Elector. Visit the website on instructions on how to register.
If you are currently living abroad, you will be registering yourself as an Absent Voter – Overseas Elector, and you would need to visit the Malaysian Embassy in your country of residence to register. Website also instructs you on how to register.
You may not intend to vote, or believe that your postal vote won’t make a change, if not make things worse, but there’s no harm in getting yourself registered. Just in case if you change your mind and decide to cast that vote of yours. Because I remember that there is a time frame for you to register yourself before being eligible to vote – maybe register yourself three months before the election or something? I can’t seem to find that information on the website. Please correct me if I am wrong.
But yes, first, are you registered to vote yet? If not, maybe it’s time to consider registering yourself. Just in case.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
*Edit*
I was told that we are required to register at least SIX MONTHS prior to a General Election. So, it REALLY doesn’t harm to register now. Whenever you are free. Or whenever you have a minute to spare, just head over to a computerized post office. All it requires is just THAT LITTLE BIT OF EFFORT from us. Just that little bit – and it might just help create history.
Today, three churches were attacked in KL and PJ. In Bangsar, any cars that had car stickers resembling anything related to Christianity had their windshields broken. There were protests occurring simultaneously at three different mosques on the usage of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims.
It’s only been eight days into the New Year, and already the drama in Malaysia is overwhelming. What is it with Malaysia and its never-ending dramas?
As I was reading the comments on the article regarding the bombing of the churches in Malaysiakini, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sorrow within me – sorrow because of the intensified strain on the tension that already exists within the Malaysian society.
Naturally, the nation is shocked about the bombing of the three churches – possibly one of the first terrorist attacks that has happened in the country – and also at how the government has responded to the protests made outside the mosques. After the initial shock has passed, either one of the two emotions will follow: fury or sadness.
Many are outraged and are making harsh comments and quick assumptions as to who are to be blamed, how it was handled by the leaders of the country, what could’ve been done to prevent this, and the direction that this country is heading towards – that is, away from the modern Islamic country that Malaysia positions itself as.
Likewise, the nation is sad because of the same reasons. That the political turmoil in this country is casting a shadow on its nation – a shadow of fear, of doubt, of uncertainty.
I was sad to see the comments that were made, especially the ones that were racist in nature, which consequently sparked more heated debates over the freedom and differences in religion.
At times like this, it is always so easy and so convenient to simply transfer our anger and grief by making bold, hurtful comments and pointing the finger at the most apparent suspect – which in this case, is the entire Muslim population and the Islamic religion in general.
For example, the 9/11 incident, which caused a number of Middle Easterners and Indian people (Indian people because their appearance resemble Middle Easterners, or Westerners just can’t tell the difference) to be verbally and physically abused in the States. These victims consisted of American citizens or immigrants who were either born and raised there or were fairly Westernized. Another example is the Virginia Tech massacre incident by a Korean student, which also sparked several reports of discrimination against the Korean community.
One often has to be reminded that while these incidents portray terrorism shown by certain extremists who happen to be Muslim, this does not mean that it represents the behaviour and mentality of the rest of the Muslim population. No matter how each religion varies in their teaching, they ultimately all preach the same thing – that is, peace, love, compassion and kindness. Definitely not violence, and it is only unfortunate that these extremists that we see in our time stemmed from Islamic teachings – most probably due to a varied interpretation of the religion.
The most disappointing of all were the double standards evidently shown by the leaders of the country – promoting peace, “preserving and enhancing unity in diversity” on one hand, while implementing policies and taking actions that are inconsistent with their message on the other.
Well, I am glad that more and more people are being informed about what’s happening, especially with the aid of independent news resources such as Malaysiakini and Malaysiatoday (the websites’ traffic was extremely busy and it took especially long to access the articles, what more with the slow capacity of the Malaysian internet), as well as international networks that aim to give voices to the voiceless such as Al Jazeera.
Hopefully this will bring upon the change that many hope and wish for to happen. Change – not for the sake of winning a racial battle as some may misunderstand, but for the future of Malaysia and her people on a whole.
Related articles:
Full story of the attacks, if you are not a subscriber of Malaysiakini
Religious tensions rise in One Malaysia
