By TK Chua

I read an interesting piece by the Association of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) on national schools and national unity. Its president, Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, said national schools have effectively become de facto Malay schools that hamper unity among the races. Our Rukun Negara, unlike Indonesia’s Pancasila, he said, existed only in form. Its true intent and spirit had not permeated among Malaysians. He further said Malaysia was in dire need of its own identity to withstand the onslaught of liberalism which included the LBGT (Lesbians, Bisexuals, Gays, Transgenders) grouping.

I cannot argue much on the views expressed by Mubarak, except to say that the devil is in the details.

We all see the same weaknesses prevailing in our country – disunity, intolerance, chauvinism, backwardness. However it is most likely we will assign different reasons for these problems and offer different approaches to solve them.

Take for example the view that national schools have essentially become Malay schools. What exactly are the reasons behind this? Some would say that non-Malays are chauvinistic and unpatriotic. Others, however, would say that our national schools are not competitive and do not promote a good work culture. Obviously how we see the problems will determine how we provide the solutions. If you belong to the first category, you would propose compulsion and forced integration. On the other hand, if you belong to the second category, you would propose improvements and changes to our existing national schools, making them more cosmopolitan, competitive and liberal.

The same goes with the Rukun Negara. What exactly is its true intent and spirit? First, what if believing in god included looking down on others who believed in different gods? Second, what if loyalty is blind obedience and submission? Third, what use is the supremacy of the constitution if the interpretation is subject to the whims and fancies of those in power? Fourth, what if rule by law is mistaken as rule of law? Fifth, what if mutual respect and good social behaviour is fake, based not on mutual respect but dominance and subservience?

It is easy to talk about forging a strong Malaysian identity – a common bond for all Malaysians. But what exactly do we have in mind? We must ask whether we are a nation based on one dominant religion, race, culture and language. We must be honest if we are a nation that talks about god and his precepts every day but live very little of it. We must consider if we are a nation that believes and thrives on multiculturalism and liberalism, and if liberalism and multiculturalism ipso facto is bad, why? We must ask if we want our people to be self-assured, confident, dynamic and knowledgeable or if we prefer our people to be docile, subservient, indoctrinated and dependent.

Seriously, I am not sure of Malaysia’s preferred identity anymore. Are you?

TK Chua is an FMT reader.

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