Race first, or nationality first?

Update 6 April 2010: Chandra Muzaffar wrote a good piece in New Straits Times today –

“A Malay who is committed to the Constitution and appreciates Malaysian nationality would defend the rights of all religious and cultural communities and their economic and political roles.

Likewise, a Chinese or Indian Malaysian who is passionate about his Malaysian nationality would not only champion his community’s own rights and roles as envisaged in the Constitution but also demonstrate a commitment towards the economic well-being of the Malays and other Bumiputeras.

He would be enthusiastic about propagating Malay as the national language and strengthening the Bahasa Malaysia-based national school as the school of first choice for all Malaysians. An appreciation of the role of Islam as the religion of the federation would also be part of his outlook.”

Not much different from what a reasonable Orang Malaysia should think. A view which PERKASA can relate more  to than Lim Kit Siang could ever hope to comprehend. Please click on the above link to read the rest of the article. Thank you.

Original article:

There is no right or wrong answer to this.

Because, ladies and gentleman, race and nationality are two separate issues altogether.

Hence, I really do not get it when Lim Kit Siang, who by the way I suspect is at wits end trying to dent the rising popularity of 1Malaysia, asked Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin the most idiotic question ever – is he malay first or Malaysian first?

Actually, whatever answer Muhyiddin gives would be correct.

The only wrong answer he could give would be for him to say as an example, he is Taiwanese first or an indian first. Why would this be wrong?

Because he is neither.

He is neither a Taiwanese national nor someone of the indian race.

Therefore, when someone who is politically bankrupt as Lim Kit Siang and his equally bankrupt cadres in DAP asking Muhyiddin to declare he is Malaysian first instead of he being Malay first, what were their true intentions?

I would find it hard to believe that Lim Kit Siang, who used to study law, is so stupid not to recognise the difference between nationality and race.

He was trying to merge two different context into one. Which is by far, the most idiotic thing to do.

Let me put things into perspective.

Imagine Schumacher, the former F1 champion, won the F1 race in Sepang yesterday. He will be a toast to his country, Germany. He would be proud as a GERMAN. Because that is his country. His nationality.

He does not say he is proud to be a CAUCASIAN if he had won the race. Because that is his race. His “bangsa”. Afterall, the F1 racing is between nations and engine make. Not, between caucasians and indians and japanese or malays.

Schumacher adalah orang Jerman berbangsa kaukasia.

Muhyiddin adalah orang Malaysia berbangsa melayu.

In another context, I am sure Schumacher is very proud to be a caucasian also. As a caucasian, he has his own  characteristics that befits for one to be called a caucasian.

Hence, nationality and race are two sets of different things.

So what if Lim Kit Siang declares himself as Malaysian first, chinese second?

Is he not a Malaysian? Is he not a chinese? The word chinese here means your race, not Chinese as in the citizen of the People’s Republic of China. Is it wrong to say that?

In this context yes, because there is no race called ‘Malaysian’. Only nationality. He will be shunned by the chinese if he say he puts his race as second because his main race is ‘Malaysian’.

See the confusion?

So what if I say I am malay first?

I am a malay!

I talk malay, I eat using my fingers. I live in the malay culture. Kalau berkahwin, ada adat meminang dan bersanding.

Sejak lahir hingga meninggal dunia, semuanya dilakukan dalam adat melayu.

Why should I declare myself as malay second?

Sebagai orang melayu, mestilah saya berbangga menjadi bangsa melayu!

Some malay liberals had the audacity to say they are Malaysian first, and malay second. What kind of stupid symptom are they displaying?

You have malay names, you live in the malay culture, and yet you shun being malay because you want to be known as a Malaysian?

Hello?! Being Malaysian is not a “bangsa” my friend. That is nationality.

Unless of course all of us are assimilated into one  dominant culture, having one religion and one language. Now that we can call everyone as “Orang Malaysia Berbangsa Malaysia”.

But for now, with the hypocritical Lim Kit Siang leading the way of not wanting Sekolah Wawasan or the abolishment of vernacular schools, we just have to settle with “Orang Malaysia Berbangsa Melayu/Cina/India/Iban etc”.

That is why, when you are overseas, you call yourself as a Malaysian to differentiate yourself from other people there. But when you are here, and talking among your fellow Malaysians, you can call yourself malay, iban, bidayuh, indian or chinese. All of us ARE Malaysians! And it is not wrong to be proud to declare your ethnicity.

Afterall, one of the values of 1Malaysia is the culture of acceptance. You accept the diversity that is within the scope of the Constitution.

Why must you ridicule someone who said he is malay first? Nobody will ridicule you if you say you are chinese first (unless of course you are saying you are a citizen of China  – that would be an unpatriotic thing to do).

Now, what is the real motive of Lim Kit Siang asking that particular question to Muhyiddin?

The DPM got it wrong when he said Lim Kit Siang wanted to drive a wedge between him and the PM.

That is only partly true Tan Sri.

But the real reason for the vile Lim Kit Siang to ask you that question is for him to tell all the misguided opposition supporters, especially the chinese, that since Muhyiddin had declared he is Malay first, he will not take care of other races in Malaysia.

He hoped to get more political mileage that way. We know the racist propaganda of the DAP all these years. They can only survive if they use the racial card.

That was his real reason.

And a few did took his bait. You can read Lim Kit Siang’s followers in his twitter account to know the effect of this racist question.

Muhyiddin said he is malay first!

*GASP!*

That means, he will not take care of the chinese!

*GASP!*

He will further alienate and will not support other races!

*GASP!*

But he is the Deputy Prime Minister for God’s sake! How can he say such things? How racist can this malay leader be?! The chinese will be ruined!!!!!

Double *GASP!*

So you see, that is the real motive of the DAP. Lim Kit Siang, the father of racist politics will use whatever means to criticise others as racist although he is the one who had been playing the racism card all this while.

Yes you can shout you are Malaysian first. That shows you’re patriotic.

But never forget who you are too. That’s what makes Malaysia unique. A multi ethnic country with a lot of diversity and a headache for any ruling government to manage.

Especially when we have racists like the DAP stalwart in the opposition.

I challenge Lim Kit Siang to tell us all what is the prerequisite of being Malaysian?

How should they live? What should they speak? What religion should they profess? What should they learn in school? What kind of names should we have? Chinese names? Malay names? Indian names? English names? Esperanto names?

Lim Kit Siang’s cheerleader, Kee Thuan Chye, wrote an article to say that he is Malaysian first.

Another misguided soul who could not discern the difference between nationality and race. The effect of Lim Kit Siang’s racial politics had this one poor fellow writing a view as if the Deputy Prime Minister will shun other races! He is writing as if the Barisan Nasional government will not be inclusive. He is writing to say that the DPM must walk the talk and be more inclusive than exclusive.

Being a part of a race is already an exclusive thing to be in. I can’t be chinese even if I change my name into one.  Other races can become a malay. But not vice versa.

So why is declaring oneself as malay first be such a bogey to other races?

Luckily, Muhyiddin did not say he is Communist first. Unlike some of the supporters of Chin Peng reading it here. But that is another story altogether.

Furthermore, Kee Thuan Chye should direct most of his lamentations to Lim Kit Siang instead of Muhyiddin. DAP is the most exclusive anti-Malay party out there who claimed erroneously that they are multi-racial.

Back in 2004 and 2008, is there any malay candidates from the DAP that entered the general elections? None.

They are not interested to field any malay candidates. Only AFTER the 2008 general elections did they take in Tunku Aziz as a token vice-president. What a farce.

I challenge Lim Kit Siang and all those who dare say they are Malaysian first to:

SUPPORT THE 1SCHOOL FOR ALL.

The New Economic Model should pursue it. Most Malaysians want it.

If you can change or amend the New Economic Policy, surely you can change this mistake we call the ‘Education Policy’. If a touchy and sensitive subject like the special position of the malays are being discussed and criticised by some quarters, why can’t our education system be discussed and reviewed as well?

Does Lim Kit Siang want single stream school? A simple yes or not answer will do. This will show how real a Malaysian he claims to profess. Hope he will sign the petition here.

But knowing Lim Kit Siang, he will counter this challenge with another challenge; or with some other diversionary tactics.

Hahahaha.

DAP ruler 1969 - present

Lim, you have been in politics since 1969. You helmed DAP for the past 41 years. The longest serving ruler in Opposition politics in any parts of the world. In fact you are the longest serving politician in the world! Maybe except for Lee Kuan Yew.

Two peas in a pod yeah? Hence, the bigoted dictatorial tendencies huh?

Dinosaurs like you should have called it a day long time ago. Give it a rest will you?

So what should we answer if any racist people ask you what kind of Malaysian are you?

Just say you love your country. That’s why you’re a Malaysian. And you are also a malay/chinese/indian/others too because you are of that race and culture. You can’t rank race and nationality into first and second because those are two separate things.

Now do we understand how stupid all these fiasco that Lim Kit Siang had started?

Now here’s a bomb I would love to ask Lim Kit Siang personally – Is the basis of middle Malaysia to do away with the malays and bumiputra’s special position, namely Article 3, 32, 152 and 153 and eradicate them completely from the Constitution? Please answer in perfect Bahasa Malaysia.