I propose ’1BangsaMalaysia’

KJ John

Is it not the Malaysian problem today that we are not integrated with integrity? Some will argue that we are integrated enough, but the rest we have to tolerate. Yet others will argue that such integration is a journey and not a destination. I disagree with both, as they are both two ends of the same continuum. I would like to see a more moderate middle Malaysia route to achieve integration with integrity.

As a former member of the Old Putera Association at the Royal Military College (RMC) – a most unique school in this country – which in many ways is similar to the older ‘mission schools’ in the country, we grew up in a framework of multi-ethnicity. But then in the RMC, only merit differentiated one from the other.

Of course at entry point, there were about 65 percent Malays and other indigenous peoples and 35 percent Chinese and Indians, but we all knew that when we went down for sports, or in the academic matters, only the best could and will win.

The Malaysian foundational problem is that such objectives and professional standards of achievement in every field of endeavour have been compromised ever since we started ‘ruling ourselves’ and after the British left, it seems like they took their standards back with them. I suppose that is one definition of development in the standards we uphold.

We have slowly lowered the bar on entry-level quotas in all fields, all in the name of the democratisation of education or supporting “the bumiputera policy”.

The only way forward

The only serious way forward for Malaysia is not by reversing the discrimination of the past, but it is for all who aspire towards the leadership of this nation to say and agree that there is only one human race in the world.

Yes, there is only one class of citizens and once you have received citizenship of Malaysia (whether legally, or not so legally) you must be treated as “1BangsaMalaysia”. Yes, I do not call it “1Malaysia” as per the Najib Abdul Razak metaphor, or even only “BangsaMalaysia” as per the Dr Mahathir Mohamad metaphor, but rather “1BangsaMalaysia” or One Malaysian People, or one Malaysian nation-state.

All Malaysians, if we are honest about our own heritage, will concede that we have at least five layers related to each of our God-given identities. These are basic human rights that every Malaysian is qualified by:

• Every one of us needs a Malaysian passport to travel internationally. Yes, even Malay nationalists like Ibrahim Ali need a national passport, and can be denied entry in Sabah, for no reason at all. He does not, nor can he have a Tanah Melayu Passport. The same is true of all of our royalty.

• Every Malaysian has a religious heritage – including the freethinkers and the agnostics – and we need to recognise this right that has already been established in the constitution.

• Every Malaysian has an ethnic heritage which is really defined by the blood lines and the mother tongue of the individual. Yes, in many cases of mixed marriages, the mother tongue could even be a neutral third language, as in the case of the Malacca Babas.

• Every Malaysian has a personality profile which is birth-defined and in which we have little to no control to dramatically change.

• Every human being has been given a God-defined dignity which allows him or her to choose where or how one lives their lives.

Therefore, every citizen of Malaysia comes with all such multi-ethnic diversity, and therefore, there has to be only one system of stewardship for the sake of order in a national life. That ordering vehicle is the federal constitution. It awards citizenship to those qualified, and bars those who are not qualified.

The spirit of the Malaysian constitution cannot be reviewed or questioned now. It is too late for that after half a century of both – the use and abuse of that same constitution.

Becoming integrated with integrity

The original New Economic Policy (NEP) was a brilliant model for the distributive growth of the God-given fruits and blessings of Malaysian life. Rather unfortunately, again if we are honest with ourselves, we have ‘spoilt the delivery vehicle’ by tinkering and changing it based on our whims and fancies.

The good governance of the nation-state has been impaired by many mistakes of bad or poor administration of policies and privileges. The NEP has been abused for a small segment of the communities. Now, we need to correct the mistakes and make sure that the majority – and especially those who need it the most – receive the services first. That is not too difficult, is it?

Can’t most Malaysians who have already been to any kind of university and received proper education of some sort agree to this simple proposition? I believe that they can, and not just that, I also believe that is the only way forward for this nation.

To become integrated with integrity, we need a set of ground rules that define us as a people group:

First, we must separate our needs from our wants, and make clear that only those whose needs qualify would be getting the help they need.

Second, for those whose basic needs are met, they must learn to compete on merit for all other benefits and privileges which include the public goods and services.

Third, all of the rest of us are those who are qualified to compete globally on any commercialised basis, regardless of one’s particular value offering. We should go global to compete and not try to eat the food that has been provided for the others.

The New Sunday Times carried a story that Najib said that his transformation model is a better alternative to the reformation model offered by the other side. In my calculations and perspective, maybe we should first need to pursue real formation before we talk about reformation or even transformation.

If the foundation issues in one’s life are not resolved, regardless of one’s reasons, we run the risk of turning our disadvantage to abuse another’s God-given life. Then you would be failing God, and not just man! We have to learn from the blade-runner incident. May God bless Malaysia through this general election.

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KJ JOHN was in public service for 29 years. The views expressed here are his personal views and not those of any institution he is involved with. Write to him at kjjohn@ohmsi.net with any feedback or views.