The dilemma of Malay privileges and Seditious Act

• Education is still staying on the biggest and continuous problem in Malaysia. The existence of vernacular schools since Independence makes the policy makers fickle minded, especially in making decision pertaining to teaching and educational aids at the third level. 
• Comprises of the three biggest races, Malay, Chinese and Indian, Malaysian policy for educational aids is a bit disbelieving. The Chinese and Indian claimed that ‘The Bumiputras’ are given extra rights and privileges as stated in the constitution of Malaysia. For this reason other races are getting less opportunity to continue their training at the third level. 
• They said the government is biased towards other races and claim that scholarship and spots in public universities have been awarded not only on merit but along the racial line.
• The Chinese extremist have been making vicious attack in all aspect of the government policy and claiming that if the government is acting in a discriminatory manner at the remainder of the day the country will lose the potential renters.
• However, in Rebutting this particular subject’  Minister in The Prime Minister Departmenent, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim says, “The numbers don’t lie.” He explained, in 2008, a total of 2,000 scholarships for overseas studies were awarded by the Public Services Department (JPA). Of these, 1,000 or 55% went to bumiputras and 900 (45%) to non-bumiputras.
• By 2012, the ratio had changed to 60:40 in favour of bumiputras. Shahidan had argued that given the racial makeup of the Malaysian population, of which 67.9% are bumiputras, 24% are Chinese, 7.2% are Indians and 0.9% others, it was more than fair that non-bumiputras made up at least 40% of scholarship recipients.
• On the issue of getting placed in the public university again, they accused the government of being biased by pointing out that of the more than 50,000 students who secured places in local public universities, only 20% of them are Chinese and less than 5% are Indians. Up till 2002 when there was a quota, bumiputras accounted for 55% of new intakes at public universities.
• “The entire university intake issue in Malaysia has nothing to do with race,”   The deputy minister of education and higher learning II,  MIC’s P. Kamalanathan said.
• He stressed that the result this year is proof that the system was based on merit instead, pointing out that 76 per cent of Chinese applicants were successful, compared to 72 per cent from Bumiputera. Of the Indians, 69 per cent succeeded.
• “The success rate of the Chinese community in university is the highest in this country,”   Kamalanathan told the BBC.
• According to Kamalanathan, the reason why some Chinese and Indian applicants failed to gain places is because of intense competition for a limited number of places on courses popular with the community.
• There were also applicants with perfect scores who refused to accept intakes in programmes that they had not applied for, he added.
• Constitutional rights versus Merit
• Education is not only the issue of contention, another issue such as individual freedom become agenda of public discussion in the social media. It worries the government because social media might be used by the irresponsible person to create social tension in the country. Still looking at the scenario, the Chinese and Indians may press out their prospects with full of stable but on the government side all decisions regarding the wealth of it citizens, including the Chinese and the Indian are distributed equally and all races in the country is always having ample opportunities to enhance their progress in the country.
• For instance, regarding the scholarships and getting placement in the university, there are Chinese and Indian accusing the government is racist, so whatever decision made is based along the racial line, however facts do not plump for such accusation, knowing the fact that, the government comprises of three major races, Malay, Chinese and Indian and including Sarawakian and Sabahan. Unless the Chinese and Indian ministers are “dumb”, racial discrimination might occur.
• Although “merit” system as insisted by the some non-bumi is goodwill, intangible and not prejudice, it is the government discretion not to implement meritocracy system because the Constitution protects the indigenous people who are among the poors and the disadvantage who need training.  The clause (153) of the Federal Constitution  has given sole rights to the Bumiputras. Unless the article is read out, not a single soul is experiencing a greater advantage  of the others.
• Alluding to the history, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tuanku Abdul Rahman had initiated to materialized the 153 Federal Constitution as to recognize the special position of the Malays but the article did dot defines “the Bumiputras, it defines only Malay as the indigenous people. When Sarawak and Sabah entered Malaysia, the definition of Bumiputras included those native people of Sarawak and Sabah which was written in the article (160 (2)) for the indigenous people, (161A (6) (a) for the native people of Sarawak and 161 A (6) (b) for the native people of Sabah.
• In the1970s, The government took affirmative actions in developing the Bumiputras’ standard of living by opening up the opportunities for the Malays to pursue their education at the highest level and encouraging them to participate in the business sectors. The government had introduced the New Economic Policy emphasizing in the eradication of poverty of the rural people which is mostly Malays. Remarkably, the policy has been expended, not only the government was helping the Malays by providing quotes for granting scholarships, position in the civil service, business licenses and the preservation of land, but the rubric of the New Economic Policy includes subsidies for real estate purchases, the quota for equity shares, and general subsidies for bumiputras business.
• Mahathir administration marked  the booming of the Malay economy and education. The positive effects of the plan are remarkable, it bore a strong Malay community, Malay economics, social and politics are excellent comparing to 50 years ago, but on the contrary,  the policy also had engaged in an unremarkable attitude of the Malays- lean on the government and charging the government  if things do not satisfy them, the Malay become unproductive and myopic, prejudicial mind and racist. Whether the government likes it or not, it has to carry and maintain a bunch of myopic, prejudicial attitude of the majority, fearing that it could have been lost the majority backing in the general election.
• The Chinese and Indians are also benefited through the economic expansion of the country. Some of them becomes a billionaire. Chinese and Indian are Malay’s business partners, they lent the service and business expertise to the Malays and  the big chunk of the winnings belonged to the non bumi. The term “Ali Baba” spurred at that moment. Upon taking a serious revision, the government had succeeded in its plan to expense Malays knowledge and experience in business and other professional spheres.
• During the ten to twenty years, the process of eradication of poverty under the New Economic Policy had been so favorable to all races. Presumably, all races held up the sound policy of its form. This can be seen of how formidable the ruling party was. The three dominant parties, namely, The UMNO, the MIC and MCA could work together to purge  the land from abject poverty.
• Given the scenario of what had happened today, we may say that our new generation is in the state of forgotten the history. They challenge the constitution. They demand the equitable rights, accusing the government is racist and corrupt. They humiliate the King and the Sultan and the official religion of the country. They protest on the street and demand to repeal the law forgeting that the government had putting their previous generation at the pedestal of economic success and make them economically sound as what they were today. There is no a true answer to the accusation for this nation was run by the component party, the UMNO, the MCA and the MIC which is representing the interest of the all races in Malaysia. The Malay, the Indian, the Chinese, The Sabahan and Sarawakian all are having their representative in the parliament.  The Malay privilege which is noted in the constitution can be fixed unless the bulk of people in Malaysia agrees upon   writing of the article 153 of the Federal constitution.
• The non- Bumis, under some circumstance, they are the victim of history. On the other hand the privileges, the Malays, have advantages over other races because they are the earliest settlers of the land. Still, all races the Malay, Indian and the Chinese live happily before and economically prosper under the administration of the Malay power. So the question is what has gone wrong?
• When there is no need to recall about the basic needs such food, clothing and shelter, people begin to think something besides the basic human requirement.  One starts to think his aspiration, ambition and more often than not one’s  identity in society. Often times, the value that they inherited will be used as a weapon to call upon other people of the same value to go against what they see as incongruent with their belief system.
• In the modern times Malaysia, There are a myriad of problems arise out of the desires of the young non-Bumis to ignore the fundamental law which they feel unfair to the extent of humiliating  what has been composed in the fundamental laws regarding the Malay and bumitputra’s rights, the King and the Sultan, the Islamic religion, the national nomenclature, the Malay reserve land, and pushing the government to the wall. The problem has become worse when the opposition parties the DAP and PAS  fueling the sentiment, utilizing the media and particularly the social media , incite the masses to protest against the government whereas none of the parties acting opposing the fundamental law in the parliament.
• Should the government, condone behavior of those who humiliate the law? Just because some “few bad guys” deterred the process of democracy, the whole democratic set up of the multiracial system that historically proven benefits to all races will be abolished. Or just simply the Federal Law states the priority should be given to the Bumis because they were the early settlers of the country and other non-bums should be afforded the same rights, In fact, they have already been getting so much benefit out of the system for instance, freedom to practice their own religion, possessing their own schools and their terminology under the vernacular school system, they have freedom to accumulate riches of the state to identify a few. Even then, if the law is obsolete or outdated, it is the obligation of the parliament to reconsider mending it, depending on whose having the 2/3 majority that dominated the state. But this does not happen in Malaysia in which the 2/3 majority belonged to the Barisan Nasional which is made up of many races who do not want the establishment to be repaired. The resistance to demand for equal rights is simply a mere desperate voice of a few who against the will  of the government.
• Given any country in the world any resistance against the law that is not benefiting the masses or disrupt civil order and stability, any government won’t hesitate to  use appropriate force or law against their behavior.
• In the case of Malaysia, it appears, the desperation come from a few people who dissatify with the government policy.  It is just mere individual fueling the rhetorical sentiments who want  to be in power or the people who without no reason feel threatened with the existing system, not so much the loss of one’s rights but it is more worrying about political believe.  To be more specific, they against  the Islamic legal philosophy of the country, in which  the Federal law stated, although Islam is the main faith of the country, other religious belief than Islam  will be protected. They can hold their own sanctity. They also against the national language as an official language in Malaysia whereas the law, not prohibit other races to use their own language in  schools and in any sector.. They can put up an establishment of racial based to protect their interest. The Federal constitution does not  deprive individual freedom. They should bear in mind that the constitution is existed upon the understanding of the three major races during Independence. If the jurisprudence does not deprive the freedom of individual rights or victimized other races should we allow the “desperados” to destroy the democracy.
• Is seditious acts is applicable, why it is applicable in Malaysia.
• It is rather alarming when there are people daringly mocking and ridicule the power of the King and the Sultan, belittle the national language and Islam and accusing the government as racist. What more there are people using social media to advocate hatred and animosity against the ruler and the government. The national flag was burnt and the national anthem was distorted by derogatory words disrespecting the Malay power and the government  through the social media.
• A Malaysian student Wee Meng Chee was mocking “the Negara Ku” where he published a video using social media, creating hatred towards the government which sparked the racial sentiment. Teressa Kok published the most offending video that touches the security of the country. However, Kok maintained that the video doesn’t offend anybody. The late Karpal Singh (for saying that the Sultan can be sued), Lim Guan Eng (for saying that the AG used double standards in a rape case of a 15 year old malay girl), and Dr Ooi Kee Saik (for commenting that Malays dominated the civil service). With the expansion of the sharia law,  some Chinese and Indian contemptuously criticizes the government that could lead to seditious statements. And Many more seditious charges against the opposition had been brought to court.
• In the recent event,  Malaysia’s legal practitioners protested against the Sedition Act in the “Walk For Peace and Freedom” outside Parliament on the 16 at Padang Merbok car park.
• Organized by the Bar Council, it saw mostly lawyers and members of the Bar turning up to oppose the Sedition Act, which they say has oppressed freedom in Malaysia since its time of inception.
• Bar Council President Christopher Leong said that this struggle, is not merely for the Malaysian Bar or their families. But “We do this for the future generation of Malaysia!” This kind of a loose statement again and again becomes the opposition’s  weapon of political statement as to full fill their personal agenda and biased opinions towards the Malay dominant party and the government and the constitution. Could he thinks otherwise, the repercussion of his statement could constitute the legal age of the Malays stands up against the Chinese race. The bar Council could call for other peaceful measure by negotiating as to obtain the objective of repairing or amending the law. There are non-bumis, for example the MCA and the MIC have taken a friendlier approach go hand in hand with the Malays  for the betterment of the nation  since the Independence. . Driving “the powerful ” would only create imbalance, disharmony and social ferment that would result in the conflict of races in Malaysia as what we experiencing in the 13th May 1968.
• Malaysia is one of the multi racial and multi religious countries, one of its kind in the world that has existed for so long under the texture of diverse culture and faith.  Perhaps, Malaysian law, for example, the Internal Secuiorty Acts (which had been abolished) and the seditious act, especially as a useful mechanism to reduce racial tension, suppress individual’s vested interest and  extremism. If there is no law, such as seditious act, the people might have existed in the specter of hate. What we are witnessing today, there are crowds of extreme views and behavior who want this nation to be torn asunder. Under the flagship of “freedom” they need the government to repeal seditious acts. And then that they can freely defame others with derogatory words, publish unethical material so that the people will detest the regime. This alleged “propaganda of hatred is the most unethical and barbaric behavior of humans.
• The social media are the most effective vehicle to disseminate rumors, defamatory and libelous news and seditious statements. The public is using them, without conscience, they are hurting other people and unconsciously they are creating the feeling of hatred among people. In Canada, disseminating information of hatred will be punishing:
• “Hate speech is, outside the law, speech that attacks a person or group on the basis of attributes such as gender, ethnic origin, religion, race, disability, or sexual orientation.
• In law, hate speech is any speech, gesture or conduct, writing, or display which is forbidden because it may incite violence or prejudicial action against or by a protected individual or group, or because it disparages or intimidates a protected individual or group. The law may identify a protected individual or a protected group by certain characteristics. In some countries, a victim of hate speech may seek redress under civil law, criminal law, or both. A website that uses hate speech is called a hate site. Most of these sites contain Internet forums and news briefs that emphasize a particular viewpoint. There has been debate over how freedom of speech applies to the Internet.”
• Malaysia is among the highest index of the social media users. In such country that populated with different group of race hate speech becomes too coarse. Political leaders, professionals and other leaders in the organizations who represent the pursuit of each race and religion spat out their dissatisfaction with full of hatred. Without respecting laws, others’ values and belief system, the whole democratic system in Malaysia will fall apart. Thus, the non Malay should stop initiating the hatred against the Malays and vice versa. The government on the other hand should strengthen its seditious acts and creates the hate acts to control the irresponsible users of the social media. – Merdeka Online