The Malaysian Dichotomies

I had had a privilege to join YB Hannah Yeoh, Assoc Prof Azmi Shahrom, V Ganabathirao and Leon Donald in a forum moderated by YB Tony Pua; organised by YB Lau of Kampung Tunku.

The forum was held to commemorate Malaysia Day and to reflect what does it really mean to be a Malaysian – and that was where I had a difficult time trying to contribute as a panellist, as the issue is not really my forte.

Trained as an engineer and a chartered accountant, I am a lot more comfortable with figures; things that are definite. National unity is not really an area that I am comfortable, yet it is the most pressing national agenda that should top any political party’s priorities.

There will not be any progress to national unity until we start to view any issues from the Malaysian perspective; not from the warped perspective of our respective race.

The issue of the lack of progress in the national effort to increase Malays/bumiputra’s participation in the economy is a national issue that should concern all Malaysians, because it is in every one’s best interest that the nation moves beyond this preoccupation, yet without a steady progress there will always be extremists who can manipulate the issue to the detriment of national unity.

Similarly, extending equal treatment to all Malaysians is not a zero sum game where Malays/bumiputra lose its standing to the non-Malays/bumiputras – it is imperative to allow the best of the best among all Malaysians to progress so that the country can make a leap forward.

Yet these issues will remain thorny and in all probability can create an uneasy spark, unless there are good souls out there who take the higher moral ground to listen and understand of each community’s fear and concerns. They may not be real, but they exist nevertheless.

It’s only when we can knock down the wall of distrusts that had been erected all around us, that we can start to have meaningful dialogues to understand each other’s fear and concerns. Only through understanding can we extend sincere hands and work together to resolve the fear and concerns of each community collectively as Malaysians – not as a Malay, Chinese, Indian, Dayak, Kadazan or any other ethnicities.

Otherwise we will continue to live in dichotomies – we enjoy and benefit from the richness of our surrounding due to the infusion of culture and knowledge of our different backgrounds, yet will never be able to use the richness in diversity to forge a new strength as a nation, because we refuse to empathise with each other.

Happy Malaysia Day!

2 thoughts on “The Malaysian Dichotomies”

  1. salam rafizi,

    great that you are quantitative based.variables n parameters can be plugged into equations,the value of
    each optimised n logically that value can help guide a perfect objective of the equation and more.the objective
    of course is to shift paradigm,reduce dichotomies and max n optimise racial diversity richness.

    the chinese started long ago by trading opium and selling women.now they sell wine and beers,
    open helath spa,karaoke and if that is not enough,they have casinos like magnum,genting and sports toto.

    with these monies,they go into legitimate businesses like property and land development.their children
    look good by going to selected educational institution for the privilleged.

    the malays are guided by ‘halal’ and ‘haram’.ours are going to the sea and planting rice.the returns are
    small and slow.

    with these monies,malay go into buying old boats and running into the kampongs.

    today the chinese sees malay as corrupt yet they forgot they do all the easy business.any malays can
    be rich if allowed a gambling licensed..just 10 one arm bandit can get you rgt 5k net a day.selling beer like
    the one in beach club jln p ramlee kl makes the owner 500k clean a month! check out the china girls there.
    every sex service,she pays the establishment a fee.yet the owner been at itfor 14 yrs!

    so,the solution could be to allow malay to have all these easy business and then move to the morally
    respectable ones.

    1. The idea of Ekonomi Manusiawi say any businesses that we initiate should come in hand with moral responsibility to the society, it is not simply about high profit margin.

      I think it is a retrogressive action to encourage Malaysian to venture into so called immoral business first, then the morally respectable ones.

      We must move forward, economically AND morally. That is the way to Save Malaysia and put Malaysia back on track. SAVE OUR NATION. Let’s Move Forward. Thank you.

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