Giving meaning to Bangsa Malaysia
Published: Oct 31, 2005 4:30 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
As the nation celebrates Deepavali tomorrow, Malaysians should reflect on the process of 'Malaysianisation', said Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang.
As the nation celebrates Deepavali tomorrow, Malaysians should reflect on the process of 'Malaysianisation', said Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang.
"Next year will see the start of the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the mid-point of the 30-year Vision 2020 to create a Bangsa Malaysia in a fully-developed Malaysia. Are we reaching both goals?" he asked in his Deepavali message.
He said the answers are a "double negative", as seen in the marginalisation of Indian Malaysians as the new underclass in the national politico-socioeconomic-corporate landscape. The use of the derogatory term keling in the Dewan Rakyat was an insult to Indians as well.
"If Malaysia has made substantial progress in the creation of a Bangsa Malaysia, there should not only tangible cessation in racial discrimination, but a greater consensus that any derogation against any Malaysian community, is equally derogatory to all other communities," he said.
He said it is very unfortunate that Jerai MP Badruddin Amiruldin's derogatory remark in the Dewan Rakyat last week had been regarded as a problem merely of the Indian Malaysian community and of the Opposition.
"It should be regarded as a problem for all communities, whether Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban, and (for) all political parties," he said.
Needs-based strategy
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)'s president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail also sent wishes for a "happy and spiritually fulfilling" Deepavali.
In a press statement today, she said the moral message of Deepavali is not only timeless but also universal for humankind.
"It focuses on universal motherhood, a concept of goodness and regeneration, all for care, protection and comfort," she said.
Indian Malaysians have made contributions and sacrifices in building the nation economically, politically and socially in all spheres of national life.
Unfortunately, she said a segment of the ruling elite has also inherited the racialist and chauvinist attitude of the colonisalists against the Indian Malaysian community.
"Many working class Indians are still living in poverty and socio-economic deprivation, especially in the estates and also increasingly in urban slums," she said.
PKR called on the government to seriously address the question of the many socio-economic problems confronted by the community with a needs-based strategy to eradicate poverty.
"Many socio-economic problems faced by the community today can only be solved with a multi-ethnic approach and within a multi-ethnic context," she added.
"Next year will see the start of the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the mid-point of the 30-year Vision 2020 to create a Bangsa Malaysia in a fully-developed Malaysia. Are we reaching both goals?" he asked in his Deepavali message.
He said the answers are a "double negative", as seen in the marginalisation of Indian Malaysians as the new underclass in the national politico-socioeconomic-corporate landscape. The use of the derogatory term keling in the Dewan Rakyat was an insult to Indians as well. "If Malaysia has made substantial progress in the creation of a Bangsa Malaysia, there should not only tangible cessation in racial discrimination, but a greater consensus that any derogation against any Malaysian community, is equally derogatory to all other communities," he said.
He said it is very unfortunate that Jerai MP Badruddin Amiruldin's derogatory remark in the Dewan Rakyat last week had been regarded as a problem merely of the Indian Malaysian community and of the Opposition.
"It should be regarded as a problem for all communities, whether Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban, and (for) all political parties," he said.
Needs-based strategy
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)'s president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail also sent wishes for a "happy and spiritually fulfilling" Deepavali.
In a press statement today, she said the moral message of Deepavali is not only timeless but also universal for humankind. "It focuses on universal motherhood, a concept of goodness and regeneration, all for care, protection and comfort," she said.
Indian Malaysians have made contributions and sacrifices in building the nation economically, politically and socially in all spheres of national life.
Unfortunately, she said a segment of the ruling elite has also inherited the racialist and chauvinist attitude of the colonisalists against the Indian Malaysian community.
"Many working class Indians are still living in poverty and socio-economic deprivation, especially in the estates and also increasingly in urban slums," she said. PKR called on the government to seriously address the question of the many socio-economic problems confronted by the community with a needs-based strategy to eradicate poverty.
"Many socio-economic problems faced by the community today can only be solved with a multi-ethnic approach and within a multi-ethnic context," she added.
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