NEED YOU ASK? Has the BN's National Cultural Policy failed - DAP's Mahdzir

After the social crisis of 1969, the government took the initiative to organize a congress known as the National Cultural Congress. The 1971 National Cultural Policy emerged as a result of this congress.

The intention and objective of this policy was to strengthen the integration between races and cultures, and from there we hoped to see an impact on national harmony as well as economic stability for all races in Malaysia.

The New Economic Policy (NEP) was formulated during the same period with the National Cultural Policy. It also has a similar goal, namely to ensure the balance between rural and urban economies and economic distribution between races.

Our current state is the biggest proof that the NEP has failed to achieve its goals. The Bumiputera equity target has not been reached. Instead, it has become the medium where corruption and abuse of power is widespread among UMNO/BN elites.

And now, after GE13, we can see the racial gap is widening. Is this a manifestation of the failure of the national integration agenda in the National Cultural Policy?

Issues such as Namewee’s “negara kuku” song, and accusations of plagiarism regarding the national flag seem to indicate that there is something wrong with the government’s national integration project.

This also includes the issue of the cow head protest at Shah Alam and pig head dumping, which were spun as racial and religous issues by Malay-rights NGOs. Now we are dragged into yet another controversy regarding headlines such as “Chinese tsunami” and “Apa lagi Cina Mahu”.

And more recently, the cases of Alvivi and Maznah Mohd Yusof drew our attention back to our national identity.

I would argue that all of these cases did not appear overnight. Each issue represents the people’s understanding about their identity - this understanding may contain contradictions, confusion and anxiety. Perhaps they felt marginalized and their “expressions” are a protest or manifestation against the government’s failed policies.

The pinnacle of this crisis is when the government proposed to impose a regulation to all cinemas to play the National Anthem before shows are screened. This regulation will continue for one month in conjunction with the National Day celebrations. They hope that the audience will stand up when the national anthem is played, as a symbol of patriotism and respect.

Is this regulation is a political joke by the government? We're not sure. However, what is certain is, any coercion for the sake of symbolism or honor, is not a good culture. In fact, it is not culture.

Courtesy, respect and a sense of love can not be imposed by force, it is natural, not artificial. Presumably, this regulation is derived from the government’s insecurity towards their people to respect symbols of state institutions. Or perhaps the government deliberately uses their power to show that through the act of law, the prestigious image of the nation will be created, respected and flourished. Subconsciously, this is a model of an autocratic government.

Same thing happened with the recommendation of the Prime Minister after the 13th general election - National Reconciliation. It reaffirms the failure of the integration policy of the Barisan Nasional government. After failing to raise the standard of living and foster better cultural ties, they are now forced to implement 'national reconciliation'. We wonder when have Malays, Chinese or Indian been enemies?

Malaysian national identity continues to deal with a crisis of confidence as a result of endless racial politics. In the National Cultural Policy itself, Malay culture and Islam are the core. Unsurprisingly, the non-Malay communities themselves do not really understand the policy, let alone to experience it. This is the result of policies that are based on the dominance of a particular race or religion.

In this cultural policy, the government puts Islam as an element that must be accepted in the formation of Malaysia's cultural identity. Unfortunately, the dynamic religion of Islam was used to further narrow our understanding in respect of the cultural diversity of different races and religions.

The government is the author of such contradiction and confusion. The disease later spread to religion and culture, symbols of different races.

Ibrahim Ali is an educated man, but why does he act as a racist? Alvin and Vivian are also well educated, but why do they act like people who do not go to school? Hassan Ali is also highly educated, but why is he so afraid of other religions? His actions seem to portray that Christianity is dangerous to Muslims.

All of this is not due to lack of education or the person's cleverness or stupidity, but because of a sense of caring and a sense of openness. These values ​​form part of culture. These people are not uneducated people, but they are not cultured.

In fact, in recent years we can see how some people use legal force on Shia devotees, using “national harmony” as a reason. Now, not only Christians, Hindus or Buddhists but Shia also seems to be a threat. Is the government encouraging us to be more remote and isolated? I believe that people who live in isolation will find it very difficult to move forward.

We should realize that our country's highest philosophy was formed without the domination of one race or religion. In fact, the rukunegara takes a more liberal stand. Sadly, today the term ‘liberal’ is desperately hated and feared.

This philosophy is rarely internalized. Instead we only read the pledge “NOW THEREFORE, WE, the people of Malaysia,” while ignoring the main content of the rukunegara. Has the government’s National Culture Policy failed?

WHEREAS OUR COUNTRY, MALAYSIA nurtures the ambitions of:

achieving a more perfect unity amongst the whole of her society;

preserving a democratic way of life;

creating a just society where the prosperity of the country can be enjoyed together in a fair and equitable manner;

guaranteeing a liberal approach towards her rich and varied cultural traditions; and

building a progressive society that will make use of science and modern technology.

NOW THEREFORE, WE, the people of Malaysia, pledge to concentrate the whole of our energy and efforts to achieve these ambitions based on the following principles:

BELIEVE IN GOD

LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY

SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION

RULES OF LAW

COURTESY AND MORALITY

MAHDZIR IBRAHIM IS A CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER OF DAP’S YOUTH WING, DAPSY. HE IS ALSO AN ARTS AND CULTURE ENTHUSIAST.