Malaysian Chinese & UMNO

The relationship of UMNO and the Chinese community is like the tale of “The Blind Men and The elephant” - both look at the same object, but sees it differently.

UMNO leaders and the Chinese community leaders are aware that they have to initiate something to improve the not-so-cordial relationship. Unfortunately, like blind men touching different parts of an elephant both parties interpreted the same problem differently.

Hence, the proposed solution (in the form of a new consensus) will not bring about an amicable outcome but is likely to make the situation murkier. The misunderstanding between both parties, UMNO and the Chinese community leaders, is deep and unhealthy.

Since the beginning, in the “Malaysian Politics and Malay Nationalism” context, between majority Malay community and the Chinese community, it was accepted and understood that the partnership was a symbol of power sharing but not meant to be an equal one-a Malay Agenda. However, the political shrewdness of UMNO leaders then such as Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak and others was able to reassure the other communities that UMNO’s intention was to lead and not to dominate.

However, Chinese community’s inability to understand the Malays’ anxiety and insecurity over its political fortune, sovereignty, special position and freedom has created a perpetual distrust and displeasure between them and UMNO. So much so that now a days, UMNO is seen as an agent of discrimination against the Chinese community.

In a recent survey conducted by a well-known research centre, a total of 54 percent of Chinese respondents thought that the NEP benefited only the rich and politically well connected. A total of 64 percent of the respondents are not in favour of the policy. Surprisingly,43 percent of the Malay respondents who felt similarly.

Other problem areas includes the Cultural Rights, Chinese Vernacular Schools, Constitutional Rights, Citizenship, Fair and Competent Governance and Racial Polarisation etc. Through the Merdeka Center survey, only 38 percent of Chinese respondents favoured the BN while almost 82 percent of them favoured a stronger opposition in the next parliament.

An UMNO which aspires for a democratic, peaceful, fair, equitable and prosperous Malaysia is more beneficial to the party than the one which pushes for the creation of a divisive, socially disruptive, economically backward and hostile Malay-sia.

 

Understanding Malaysian Chinese Community From Historical Viewpoint

In 19th-20th century, large group of Chinese were brought in to Malaysia for rubber and tin sector by British colonial. At the early stage, majority of the Chinese are located at a same area. Chinese community organization like temple, guild, clan association, chamber, and dialect association were established in order to survive, to help each other, to protect their rights and to sustain their cultural.

Chinese community organizations are mainly established to take care of welfare, arbitration, social, education and cultural affair for the benefits of its members. The establishment of temple is aim to provide a platform of Spiritual sustenance for the Chinese who left their country (China mainland), family and came over to Tanah Melayu.

Chinese believed that they can get their direction of life from God through believes. Guild and Clan Association are the main factor in the way to create a successful Chinese Community. For example, Selangor KL Hokkein Association built Chong Hua Confucius in year 1919. Selangor Chha Yong Association built Tong Shin Hospital in year 1881.

Chinese Chamber also plays important part in helping Chinese entrepreneur in business, lots of local level chamber were established around the country to help Chinese entrepreneurs. Dialect association mainly take care of the cultural development of its members who came from the same province in China.

Chinese cemetery association were also play important part in building up the Chinese community in Malaysia. This type of association will take care of the death affairs for those who does not has any relative to take care of their death affairs. Chinese cemetery association has showed the loyalty of Chinese and they are trying to leave over this good morality practice to next generations.

As conclusion, Chinese organisation and association play very important part in creating the stability of today’s Chinese community. As what we see today, Malaysian Chinese has passed through a long historical journey to have such achievement today. Therefore, we must continue to leave over the morality taught by the forefather who set up all these Chinese organisations and associations which benefited the Chinese community.

 

Cultural Crush of the New Generation

The “Negarakuku” incidence happened as an example of the youngster’s frank feeling towards the politics nowadays.

Recently the younger generation especially Chinese have been disappointed with the existing political parties because they have no avenues in expressing their feeling through this platform. Hence, most of the youngsters choose to take part in NGOs and commercial line rather than participate in politics. They felt that they are not being appreciated by their own country even if they have good achievement in education.

Differences between Chinese youngsters and Malays youngsters:
Chinese
Many of them preferred to express their political feeling through internet – BLOG! They write their diary in blogs so that the information can be shared around the world.

Malays
They are very committed to the country because they treat the country as their homeland. If they find that they are unsatisfied with the government, they will choose to join the political party to express their feeling and solve their problems.

UMNO responded fiercely towards this incident especially in Utusan Malaysia because it is under the control of UMNO. The main issue of this incident is that the writer for this song is a Non-Malay.

Some commentator agree that Namawee is very creative but disagree with the contents and words he used in the song. It seems like Namawee do not understand the Malays and he has limited exposure to the Malay culture.

Some opined that this incident is a very good indicator to the Chinese based political party such as MCA and non racial party dominated by Chinese such as Gerakan. It has proved that the rights and position of Chinese in this country has been shaken by UMNO while the Chinese based political parties cannot defense the Chinese’s residual rights.

 

Introduction to Islamic Law

The concept of Reality stated by the Quran and Hadis is true, it is for one to step forward and surrender one’s will to the will of God.

It is this submission which is called “Islam”, and those who do so i.e. those who of their own free will accept God as their sovereign and surrender to his divine will and undertake to regulate their lives in accordance with his commandments are called “Muslim”.

All those who surrender to the will of God are welded into a community and that how the Muslims society comes into being. This society is the result of a deliberate choice and effort; it is the outcome of a contract which takes place between human beings and their Creator. Those who enter into this contract undertake to recognize God as their sovereign. His guidance is supreme and his injunctions are of absolute law.

Philosophical concepts of Islamic Law
i) [Surah al-Baqarah] - Any Islamic laws can only be executed after the promulgation
ii) [Surah al-Maidah] - Islam believed that whoever does anything sinful, they will be punished by God.
iii) [Surah al-Zukhruf] - Islam believed meritorious will be rewarded to posterity; criminal will be punished to posterity.
iv) Islamic law to maintain the close relationship between legislative, religious and ethics.

Punishments of Islamic Law
i)    HUDUD – for adultery, accusation, theft, robbery, apostasy, drinking alcohol and rebellion cases, offences and punishments are following the “al-Quran”, can not amend and demolish any articles of “al-Quran”.
ii)    QISAS – for murder, deliberate murder, manslaughter, and wounding cases, victims can make revenge on criminals; the punishments are making by the victims’ family.
iii)    DIYA – for murder, deliberate murder and manslaughter cases, victims’ families are allowed to kill murderers.
iv)    TAZIR – punishments are making by the civil court and Judiciary.

Objectives of punishments in Islamic Law
i)    Deterrent – to prevent repetition crime.
ii)    Retributive – Victims is allowed to revenge on criminals.
iii)    Reformative – to feel regret to the crime.
iv)    Expiatory – reparation for a wrong or injury.

 

Haze and forest fire – do we care?

Every year in Malaysia without fail we are familiar the haze episode and we always talking about this issue when haze coming, but after that we will forget about it.

However, we never focus on what is the solution to resolve it, but we focus on about the mask, which brand mask is the best for us.

Impact of fire and haze:
• The total economic losses for the 1997/98 fire episode was estimated to be US$10.3billion
- Indonesia – total losses in forestry, health, tourism and others estimated to be US$9.3billion (CIFOR)
- Other countries (Malaysia and Singapore) – total losses in forestry, health, tourism and others estimated to be US$1billion.

• This does not take into account the estimates US$5billion lost through emission of carbon into the atmosphere

• 1997/98 fire episodes
- School in Sarawak closed for 3 weeks
- Agriculture sector recorded an estimated yield reduction by 30%
- Malacca strait experienced several cargo ships related accidents
- 90% reduction of tourist arrivals and cancellation of flight recorded

• 2005 – Malaysia declared state of emergency on 12th Aug

• 2006 – Malaysia and Singapore badly affected where Ministers of Environmenthad to convene emergency meetings in Pakanbaru, Indonesia (Oct) and Cebu, Philippines (Nov)

Can we provide solutions to ensure reduction in forest fires and haze emission? Answer is yes, the solutions are as below(more info at Global Environment Centre):

• Stop destructive practices
• Prevent or control fires
• Stop further drainage and restore hydrology
• Develop alternate livelihoods for local communities
• Stop illegal/uncontrolled logging and encourage rehabilitation
• Introduce sustainable management options
• Block or control existing drains
• Encourage re-growth of vegetation
• Integrated management for multiple use
• Prediction and monitoring

 

Buddhism in Malaysia

Buddhism and defined that there are 2 main types of Buddhism i.e. Mahayana (大乘) and Hinayana (小乘).

Few things can be said with certainty about Mahayana Buddhism especially its early Indian form, other than that that the Buddhism practiced in China, Korea, Tibet, and Japan is Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana can be described as a loosely bound bundle of many teachings, which was able to contain the various contradictions found between those differing teachings. Mahayana is a vast religious and philosophical structure. It constitutes an inclusive faith characterized by the adoption of new Mahayana Sutras, in addition to the traditional Pali canon or Aghama texts, and a shift in the basic purpose and concepts of Buddhism.

About Hinayana, Hinayana is used by Mahayanists as a name to refer variously to one or more doctrines, traditions, practitioners or thoughts that are generally concerned with the achievement of  Nirvana as an Arahant or a Pratyeka-Buddha as opposed to the achievement of liberation as a Samyaksambuddha wherein the Samyaksambuddha is deemed to operate from a basis of vowing to effect the spiritual liberation of all beings and creatures from the suffering of samsara (not just himself or a small number of others).

The development of the Buddhism in Malaysia in the aspect of temple or monastery and Buddhism organizations are as follows:

1.    The first temple in Penang is Kong Hock Keong (广福宫) which founded by a group of Hokkien and Cantonese Chinese in 18th century
2.    1891, the development of Kek Lok Si pagoda 极乐寺宝塔which completed in 1906 with 3 types of culture i.e. Thai, Myanmar and Chinese
3.    1925, the establishment of Penang Buddhism Institute 槟城佛学院 which started with the involvement in education
4.    1939, the foundation of Par Tay Institute with the strong financial support from Hu Wen Hu.
5.    1955, the formation of Malaysia Buddhism Association 马来西亚佛教总会
6.    1970, the formation of Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia 马来西亚佛教青年总会
7.    1989, the entry of Fo Guang Shan Malaysia 马来西亚佛光山总会
8.    1995, Malaysia Tzu Chi 慈济功德会founded and has actively involve in the voluntary works

 

Thailand Today

After the Coup d’etat in 2006, Suan Dusit Rajabhat University (SDU) has conducted a poll to get public’s response. The findings showed that 83.93% agreed with the military intervention and 75.04% felt that the situation would be improved. Some of the people shortly realised they have perhaps created another necessary evil.

As result of the Coup d’etat, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 1997 was abrogated and the Senate, House of Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the Constitutional courts – the Council were abolished.

A Constitutional Drafting Committee is responsible to draft a constitution. After 4 weeks of the releasing of the New Constitution, a referendum will be held. People are responsible either to vote NO to endorse on the New 319 Articles’ Constitution and the Military Government or to vote YES to support Thaksin and will delay election.

If the referendum succeeds, the junta can then justify the coup that ousted the elected but corruption-prone former Prime Minister Thaksin and claim credit for honoring its promise to implement political reform and restore democracy BUT Thaksin supporters could take street protest. If it fails, the military could impose its own constitution and before holding elections, which would cast doubt on the legitimacy of the polls.

Major changes in the 2007 Constitution in comparison to the 1997 Constitution

• The new constitution bars a prime minister and any spouses or children from owning major stakes in private companies and from having a stake in media groups.
• The entire cabinet and all lawmakers would have to disclose all of their assets and would also make it tougher to pass free trade deals.
• The Senate house is consists of 76 selected and 74 appointed, total 150 senators.
• Senators have the power to expel senior political officials.
• The New Constitution limit the Prime Minister to two four year terms.
• 80 party list MPs will be elected through eight clusters of provinces.

 

Pre-schooling Education System in Malaysia

Parents: What do you think about pre-schooling education system in Malaysia?

The Malaysia pre-schooling education system started to develop since 1986. Under section 22 of the Education Act 1996 - Programmes and activities of every kindergarten shall follow the curriculum guidelines for kindergartens approved by the Minister. In 2003, the Ministry of Education officially directed every kindergarten to comply with the standard syllabus.

Comparing the pre-schooling education system in Malaysia with other countries in Asia, Japan and China,we can see that these two countries have used the similar syllabus like us for example but they have gave different priority to each syllabus;

(i)  Japan emphasis on: Health, Society, Language, Natural and Music;
(ii) China emphasis on: Health, Language, Society, Science and Art;
(iii)Malaysia emphasis on: Language & Communication, Cognitive Development, Moral, Social & Emotion, Physical Development, Creativity & Esthetic

Japan and China respectively concerned more on the health’s issue and therefore have allocated plenty of outdoor activities, group discussion and music in their syllabus. As a result, we can observe that the children in Japan and China have grown up healthily and less pressure as compared to the children in Malaysia.

Challenges of pre-schooling in Malaysia
1.    Most of the parents pre-decided what they want teachers to teach to their children;
2.    Parents lacking of knowledge and awareness on pre-schooling education system. Hence they are unaware that some of the teaching method does not comply with the curriculum of Malaysia and the standard of pre-schooling system.

 

Malaysia Plan 9

There are Five Thrust in MP9:
1) To move the economy up the value chain;
2) To raise the capacity for knowledge and innovation and nature “First Class Mentality”;
3) To address persistent socio-economic inequalities constructively and productively;
4) To improve the standard and sustainability of quality of life;
5) To strengthen the institutional and implementation capacity.

In MP9, a total of RM220 billion are allocated in the field of economic, social, security and general administration. There are about 23,000 projects involved and almost 30% projects were implemented up-to-date.

Through this MP9, the Prime Minister is trying to reduce the expenditure in order to reduce the gap of over-spending, while consolidating the savings fund and the capability in crisis management.

Meanwhile, a new concept of “Regional Development”, which covers the whole of Malaysia, from Northern region to the Eastern Coast, was also introduced in MP9 as a means to develop as a whole despite geographical or ethnic barriers.

The government intended to eliminate the hard core poverty (monthly income less than RM300) from 1.5% to 0% by year 2010. Meanwhile, the poverty rate (monthly income about RM1,500) will be reduced from 5.7% to 2.8%. In order to reduce the income gap between different ethnicities, the effort to “expand the economic cake” needs to be accelerated and strengthened.

MP9 not only for economic expansion but also with elements of social and education but also to address the imbalance between the poor and rich and between the ethnicities.

Education is very important to up-lift the income of the poor, specifically in the long term. Meanwhile, the skill up-grading, in the short term should be emphasized, to enhance the competitive capability.

However, the efficiency of the implementation process and it’s evaluation become the main concern as a whole.

 

Challenges of Multicultural Politics

It was due to historical situation where the people of Malaysia started to be separated especially Malay and Chinese.

The strategy of “Divide and rule” by British has damaged the integrity of Malaysian People. The colonist broke the Malaysian society into 3; where Chinese were located in cities, Malay in Villages and Indian in estates.

During Second World War, the situation became more serious when the Malays supported Japanese and Chinese were anti Japanese.

After the Second World War, the situation became worse when the Chinese and Colonial British wanted to punish Malays because of helping Japanese during the Second World War.

Therefore, British implemented Malayan Union to destroy the Sultanate system, to open up citizenship and to control Malays. UMNO was formed to resist the Malayan Union and to protect the Malays’ rights.

In the process of nation building, it is undeniable that there is a lot of unresolved issues, for example issues related to social contract like Malay rights, Islamic issues, Language issues and Education Policies.

The most worrisome issue is the Islamisation and Malaylisation of civil servants. In fact, all citizens should have equal chance to be recruited as civil servant and decisions should not be made based on race.