Echoing What’s Important To You

Recently, I attended the 2nd Malaysian Student Leaders Summit and an interesting topic was discussed during the summit. Two respected public figures, one who is a prominent academician in Malaysia and another, who is a political analyst and commentator expressed their views on the topic of “Malaysian National Unity: Organic or Manufactured?” As a student activist, I decided to express my opinions as well after listening to what the two speakers had said.

What crops up in your mind when we talk about national unity? I have friends who told me that they see friends with different skin colours chatting together at a mamak stall. Some said that national unity is about bringing the people together, regardless of skin colour, social and economic backgrounds. Apparently, to Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz (one of the speakers of the topic), national unity is far simpler than all these. What we need is a national identity that all Malaysians are proud of, and that has to be the lingua franca of our nation, the Bahasa Malaysia.

At least, that is what he believes in. In his speech, Pak Ungku said that to create national unity, Malaysia needs to create a national identity. He claimed that national unity has not been well created in Malaysia because Malaysians lack the understanding of the national language. To improve the situation, we need to understand the language and everyone has to know the language and use it as frequent as possible.

“I believed none of you here have attended any courses on the grammar of Bahasa Malaysia.” He said during the event, indirectly hinting the importance of understanding the structure of the language to foster relationships among us, Malaysians. I can’t help but to laugh cynically when he said that. Undoubtedly, communication is the key to national unity but I strongly disagree with what Pak Ungku said, because I believe that our nation needs more than just a national identity. We need a stronger mutual understanding and respect among the people.

Having at least 14 years experience of learning the language, I have indeed attended courses on the grammar of Bahasa Malaysia and understand the language very well. However, that does not help me in understanding my friends who speak or do not speak in Bahasa Malaysia and to foster the relationships among us. To me, national unity is way beyond the superficial actions of creating false impressions or images that we are unite as one. Yes, when we all converse in the same language, we are able to avoid communication problem and our ideas and views can be shared more effectively with the people around us. Arguments or conflict due to miscommunication can be easily avoided when there is a national language which brings the people together in terms of communication but comprehension and respect are two different things.

I personally agree with the comment that another speaker, Khoo Kay Peng made. He said that the focus should not be put on whether the national unity in our country is organic or manufactured. The emphasis should be given to the sincerity in the process of creating it. On that note, I think Malaysia lacks the sincerity when we try to create national unity and I have a few examples to illustrate what I have just said. After the racial riots on 13 Mei 1969, the National Principles were born. Being one of the ways to create national unity, you can now see the National Principles printed on almost everything- the back of your exercise books, mineral water bottles, the plastic wrapper of your breads and the list goes on. I appreciate the effort of informing the public about National Principles, but isn’t it better if we could educate them on the issue, instead of merely stating the principles? How many of us actually appreciate and understand the essence of the National Principles? Is national unity really going to be created by having everyone memorizing the National Principles? Is the situation going to improve when we changed the name of Bahasa Melayu to Bahasa Malaysia? Is calling everyone Bangsa Malaysia instead of our respective races going to help improve the situation? All these are superficial, and to a certain extent redundant moves.

Yes, we need a national language but that is not the only thing that we need. We need everyone to love Malaysia as a country and we need everyone to be colour blind if we are to bring everyone together. All these can only be achieved through proper education and that does not include only the Ethic Relationship lessons, Malaysian Studies lessons or National Service, where students study for the sake of getting good grades or to complete the programme. The mentality has to change. Labeling has to be removed and we must all be opened to equal opportunities. We don’t want anyone to feel segregated and that can only be done when everyone in the country is determined in making a change.

How are we going to feel like we are part of Malaysia when some of us don’t get what they deserved because they are not classified as the special ones? How can national unity be created when unfairness prevails and some of us felt like they are second class citizens and they do not get equal opportunities? I’m not saying the we should breach the social contract (which in fact does not exist in black and white), but if we are to make all Malaysians to feel and think like a Malaysian, we would have to create mutual understanding among the people. Go beyond changing names and putting up shows. Instead, the government and the people must start taking actions to improve the situations. The “give and take” rule should be practiced if we want to create mutual understanding that leads to national unity. On top of that, we should also apply what I called the “moderate” rule. Give and take moderately. We understand that some groups in Malaysia need special treatment and they need the opportunities to make a living. However, the protectionism or favourtism must be fair and is only given to those who really deserve it. We want need-based opportunities, and not racial-based chances.

It is always easy to comment and to blame others for what has or has not happened. I understand that the government is doing their best to promote national unity and so we must also support the actions that they have taken. However, with the political war and economic war that the government has created, how ready are we for a real national unity? Are we sincere in creating national unity or are those actions simply political gimmicks that our politicians employed? I believed only those involved would know the answers but if the process is sincere but yet the nation does not get the message, something must have gone wrong with the process and Malaysians have to be educated to know the mistakes and not to be merely informed.

Share the same language and let national unity be created by an invisible hand? It doesn’t work that way.