I am Malaysian first, Vancouverite second. What about you?

Came across this article today and thought that it was superbly written and wanted to share it with you. Please click here to read Hafidz Baharom’s Malaysian first, last and only.

The article mainly talks about Malaysia’s apartheid ways in their governance, and how the people should not define themselves as Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban etc. but simply as Malaysians. Malaysian first, Malay second, the author says.

Why did this article sing for me?

One: It speaks precisely what I believe in but is relayed in a more organized, well backed-up and eloquent manner than I would be able to have done.

Two: It was written by a Malay.

The second point may contradict with the message conveyed by the article – that is, Malay or non-Malay, he is Malaysian and is only writing to fight for a better Malaysia.

But let’s be honest here. He is still a Malay and is or could be enjoying the perks that are granted exclusively to him purely because of his race.

And for him to take a step back and recognize that this exclusive privilege is unfair and discriminatory against all his other peers who were also born in the same country but are denied the benefits that he enjoys due to the difference in race and religion. For him to even acknowledge this fact, let alone speaking up and voicing out his concerns – I truly applaud him. Him and all the other modern Malays that think, feel or act like him.

Because really, at the end of the day not many people can walk away from the benefits that come so easily to them, for the mere sake of doing the right thing.

Human beings are selfish by nature. We like whatever that benefits us. In primitive terms, it is an instinct for survival – why share the cheese when you have sole rights to it?

A recent survey showed that 70 percent of Malay voters in West Malaysia were reluctant to give up their special privileges and rights.

This survey just goes to show that change will be difficult. It is not something new – everyone is aware of that fact. It is just a little dampening to my high spirits of hoping that change would happen within the next few years. Looks like it will take a lot longer than that to radically change the mindsets of Malaysians.

This is why I am still being asked on a daily basis (I AM NOT KIDDING. Am truly keeping track.) the question: “Why did you come back?”

Because these people have been in the country long enough to lose hope and give up on any change for the better.

The new economical plan has just been released. Najib was interviewed by Al Jazeera and failed to give a satisfactory answer when asked if he would claim himself to be Malaysian first or Malay? Read the transcript of the interview here.

I like Al Jazeera. I really like their bold manner and dedicated aim to reveal the truth and to be a voice for the voiceless with their seemingly unintentional yet consistently awkward bluntness during interviews.

Here is the part of the interview I liked best:

FI: Prime Minister you’ve introduced the concept of 1 Malaysia. What is 1 Malaysia to you?

NR: 1 Malaysia is about a sense that we are together as one people, as one nation. And I’ve said that it is based, it’s predicated on a change of mindset. And a very minimum would be tolerance. In other words, you tolerate one another. You know, the differences, racial differences, religious differences, you tolerate. But that is a basic minimum. Then you go on to the next stage which is to accept it. You know, you accept diversity as something good for the country. That’s the next, the next echelon if you like, in terms of value system, in terms of mindset. And ultimately, the final if you like, will be to celebrate diversity. I mean if you celebrate diversity, means you are entirely comfortable with the notion of a multi racial, multi religious society.

FI: But surely sir, after 50 years of independence, Malaysia needs to be thought how to live harmoniously?

NR: Absolutely. The fact…

FI: Why? Why after five decades of independence?

NR: Come on. Come on. Look what happened in Europe. I mean Yugoslavia broke up, okay. You have problems in Northern Ireland. You have extremists even in America. You have modern-day Klu Klux Klan as well in America, okay. There are extremists in any society and including us. And the very fact that there are some extremists in our society means you need 1 Malaysia.

FI: Well, you also lead a party that champions Malay rights, Malay needs, Malay interests. And you’re also trying to push the agenda of a united Malaysia.

NR: It’s not a zero-sum game.

FI: Do you see the irony of it?

NR: It’s not a zero-sum game. It’s not. It’s a reality. It’s not a zero-sum game because if you promote the interest of the Malays, it’s not at the exclusion of the non-Malays. I think there’s enough resources for us to help everyone in this country. And I think, I’m confident in fact, you know with the policies based on the spirit and philosophy of 1 Malaysia, that everyone will have a rightful place under the Malaysian sun.

FI: But you can’t get away from the fact that Malaysia runs on race based politics.

NR: Well that’s history. I mean I can’t change history overnight. I have to take it from where it is or where it was when I took over and slowly get Malaysians to be together in this journey to transform Malaysia.

FI: How long will it take before Malaysia can be rid of race based politics? Before someone stops seeing someone as a Malay or an Indian or a Chinese and says they are Malaysian first.

NR: It’s an evolution, it’s a change of mindset. You cannot legislate. You cannot make laws. It’s a change in mindset and I think it might take a bit of time but for as long as we live in a peaceful harmonious society, it doesn’t matter. You can be a Malay, a Chinese or an Indian but as long as you believe that you are a Malaysian.

FI: Let me then just ask you, are you a Malay first and a Malaysian second?

NR: Well technically, if we talk about the constitution, I am a Malay but I’m comfortable being a Malay in a Malaysian society. And I want us to work towards becoming a truly One Malaysia society. But I’m proud to be a Malay. I’m proud to be a Muslim. But the fact that I’m proud to be a Malay and a Muslim it doesn’t mean I cannot relate to others.

I think the PM is wrong. Yes it is an evolution. It requires a huge change of mindset. But until the government does something about their double standard laws, mindsets will never be changed. There will still be Malays believing that they rightfully earned that special privilege. There will still be future generations and generations of Malaysian-born children who asks their parents why they are discriminated by their own country.

It is because of these ridiculous laws that prevent the non-Malays to identify themselves as Malaysians. How to be patriotic for a country who doesn’t even recognize you to be on par with the majority of its citizens? Who do we turn to? Obviously, we turn to our Chinese roots. Because that is what we are labeled as. We are the Chinese. They are the Indians. And you are the Malays.

So, having said all that, will I give up as well and jet out of Malaysia the moment I spot an exit? To be honest, I still compare Malaysia to Canada. Kuala Lumpur to Vancouver. I am disgusted at the lack of human rights, labour rights, employment rights, whatever rights that should be present to protect the people. No, the laws in the country instead protect only the wealthy. The ones who don’t need protection. The ones who use this as an advantage to exploit the vulnerable, or the voiceless, so to speak.

Yet, like I have said before, escaping is not a solution. You are merely running away and leaving the mess behind for people who have no choice but to stay. For people who WANT to stay. For people who need every bit of support that they can get to make things better.

So, at this point in time, I can still say, I am Malaysian first, Vancouverite second. What about you?

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