PKR rep: Using post-May 13 pointers for new cultural policy not a good idea
The new policy should embrace and promote cultural diversity, says Bukit Tengah assemblyperson.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Mohamaddin Ketapi's statement that recommendations of the National Cultural Policy of 1971 will be used in the drafting of the new policy has raised some concerns.
PKR Bukit Tengah assemblyperson Gooi Hsiao Leung said the recommendations are "outdated, narrow-minded and unworkable".
In explaining this, Gooi pointed out that the raced-based 1971 National Culture Policy, introduced after the May 13 riots of 1969, was based on three principles namely that the national culture must be based on Malay culture; suitable elements from other cultures may be accepted as part of the national culture; and Islam is an important component in moulding the national culture.
"I believe we have to move away from the outdated, narrow-minded and unworkable race-based assimilation approach adopted almost 40 years ago, which has failed to foster genuine national unity in our multi-racial and multi-religious country," Gooi said in a statement.
"Instead, the core principles to be embedded in our new culture policy must be premised on building a Malaysian identity as opposed to race-based identity," he added.
Gooi was responding to Mohamaddin's statement that the final draft of the new National Culture Policy to create an advanced nation steeped in culture through the promotion of arts, culture and heritage is expected to be ready in September.
He added the drafting of the new policy took into account the recommendations made in the National Culture Policy 1971 study.
Yesterday, Bernama quoted Mohamaddin (photo below) as saying that "It is still at the stage of gathering information and we are confident that the new policy will bring more benefits with the focus on building a Malaysian identity".
However, Gooi lauded the Tourism Minister’s statement that the government is drafting a new national cultural policy, which he said must be focused on building a “Malaysian” identity as the previous government had failed to promote national unity.
"We now have a golden opportunity to correct BN's failure.
"The importance of such a policy in nation-building cannot be overstated – as it would chart the socio-economic and political development of our country for decades to come," Gooi said.
"In this regard, the Pakatan Harapan government’s national framework of its new culture policy must be guided by objectives that embrace and promote pluralism and cultural diversity in our multi-ethnic and multi-religious country," Gooi added.
"Only when we genuinely embrace and promote cultural diversity in our multi-ethnic and multi-religious society – will we be able to move forward in creating a nation that is truly moderate, inclusive and united.
"This will make Malaysia a global model of inter-racial and inter-religious harmony that is respected internationally, as envisaged in the 5th Pillar of our Harapan manifesto."
It is not going to work. It is never going to work. Culture is handed down from generation to generation. It is organic , it is dynamic and some will say that it is even biological. Some will say that it is who we are. Traditions and values are handed down through family systems. Our minds and our psyches and our values are configured through our cultures. Of course culture is dynamic and it is constantly evolving. It adapts, it adjusts and it absorbs whatever is good from its environment. Religious beliefs are an important part of ones culture. For the Malays there is Islam and Adat. For the Chinese Confucianism and Buddhism And for Indians it is Hinduism. And there are so many other elements - there are elements from other religions, western culture and civilization. The strands of culture and influence traverse thousands of years and come from all corners of the globe. It is foolish for the Government to try formulate a Malaysian Culture for all Malaysians. Why lose that which is valuable to each of us ? Why cut off cultural streams that give so much richness and depth to all of us ? And perhaps also explain the different strengths and positive attributes we have which we use for the benefit of the nation ? Unfortunately there are some who think that these differences divide us and somehow threaten us. It is myth to believe that sameness will make us more peaceful and harmonious. We already are peaceful and harmonious. . What divides us is hatred and distrust of differences.. What divides us are feelings of superiority of one race over the other or of one religion over another. It is OK to pursue a national language. It is good for us to learn to appreciate each others culture - music, dance forms, literature, cuisine etc. That will make us more of what we already are - multilayered culturally. It is wrong for some committee to decide what elements of which culture will become national culture. We will simply go on doing what we have always been doing.
Great to see a politician speak out firmly but politely against "ketuanan Melayu". The elites running our country need to lead with the idea that we ARE a multicultural country and that this is a strength, instead of pushing the same old idea of what S. Thayaparan has called "don't spook the Malays".
In any developed country May 13 would be a day of sadness and disgrace. But in UNDEVELOPED Msia, it is celebrated and used by the majority race as a stick to threaten the other races.