Perkasa’s pro-Malay antics bordering on insanity

The noises made by Perkasa about Malay rights have by now been testing the patience of right thinking Malaysians.

The ideas they have been harping on are getting very tiring and boring, and yet they keep throwing them around, trying to make them sound logical.

But how long can they shout and scream about the same things before they prove themselves to be really out of their minds – wild crackpots who should be relegated to the lower ranks of the human species.

And why not, for the antics of this strange movement called Perkasa is now so twisted that it is really bordering on insanity!

The latest ‘logic’ from Perkasa, as reported by one online media, is that its Secretary General, Syed Hassan said national unity could only be forged if all Malaysians respected the special privileges accorded to the Malays under the Federal Constitution. He disputed MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek’s call yesterday to think as Malaysians first to work together to maintain a peaceful nation.

This begs the question of when did we ever tried to or managed to infringe on Malay rights in Malaysia. As I remember it, the Chinese got peeved off when the Malays keep calling them ‘immigrants” (pendatang) and accused the Malays as immigrants as well. But the real roots of the Malays’ unhappiness is the inability of the Malays to compete with the Chinese no matter what the Malays do to favor and benefit themselves.

Somebody has to be blamed for the failures of the Malays in commerce and industry, so it must be the ‘greedy’ Chinese. But the fact is, this is a twisted way of looking at history and current realities in Malaysia. We all know this is not true. In one open letter (available online) to Tun Mahathir, the patron of Perkasa, one “Bryant of India” writes: “As you are aware, the Malays control the rights to all the lands and natural resources in this country. They control all government institutions, GLC and state-owned companies. The Malays also dominate the lawmaking process in Malaysia including the decision-making processes in the formulation of the country's economy policies.

“From statistics we also know now that the Malays not only own the largest national assets but are also freely – and without conditions – allocated shares in public-listed companies. The Malays have also been accorded all kind of priorities when it comes to buying properties, awarding of public contracts, tertiary education opportunities including the granting of scholarships and even securing jobs in any of the government departments and agencies.

“Yet with all these privileges and rights enjoyed by the Malays, you still complain that not enough is done to help the Malays to catch up with the other ethnic groups, principally the Chinese? Then what else should Malaysia do to satisfy the Malays? Did the Chinese seize or rob anything away from the Malays or were their accomplishments the result of their hard work?

“If it is all due to their diligence, why do you say it is unfair? Many of us don't quite get your point here. May I therefore ask you what you expect the Chinese to do in the event that your so-called NEP fail to achieve the desired result? Would the Malays be happier if the ethnic Chinese in your country do any of the followings: (1) Surrender their assets and hard earned money to the Malays unconditionally; (2) Not to engage in any business activities; (3) Not to do well in all sort of school, college and tertiary examinations; (4) Not to earn more income or achieve greater than the Malays; (5) Not to advance to higher education; or (6) Renounce their citizenship and return to China or migrate to somewhere else? Have you ever stopped to think why 30 years of implementing the NEP had not brought about the desired results or should I say, not achieved the principal objectives and that is to economically equip ALL the Malays in the country? Maybe the NEP could have but you and your cronies denied it the ability to; instead allowed the system to carry on for more years than it ought to so that others can call you god because of the illicit money you funnelled to them.

“Under the NEP there is a complex series of policies that favours the Malays. And despite these policies, the Malays still can't get what they want – again the question is what else do you want the Chinese to do? Do you blame the Chinese simply because they are industrious and focused? Or should you level your blame at those Malays who do not treasure the opportunities that you claim you have given them? Having asked that did you or did you not give them these opportunities?”

Why does Perkasa believe that only the Malays should be respected in Malaysia? To say that unity can only be forged in Malaysia if all Malaysians respected the special privileges accorded to the Malays under the Federal Constitution is ridiculous because the Malays have already been accorded more privileges than they deserve.

We also need to remember that Article 153 of the Federal Constitution says that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is responsible for protecting the special position of the Malay AND THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF ANY OF THE STATES OF SABAH AND SARAWAK AND THE LEGITIMATE INTERESTS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES.

Even in the Sabah State Constitution the Tuan Yang Terutama is made responsible (dipertanggungjawabkan) for the special rights of the natives. So it is really downright silly and a deliberate lie to say that the Federal Constitution guarantees the “special privileges” of the Malays (actually it is “special position”)!

Note that the natives of Sabah and Sarawak HAVE THE SAME POSITION as the Malays of the Peninsular. Take this as a reminder that respect must be earned through merit and not by threat or force. So, big-mouthed Perkasa, shut up and grow up! We are sick and tired of you!

Because of this Malay mentality which have been promoted by a lot of Malay supremacist groups long before the existence of Perkasa, even the so-called Malays in Sabah and Sarawak have become arrogant and think that the Malay/Muslims have bigger rights than the non-Muslims in the Borneo states.

That is why the PSD officers have been discriminating against job and scholarship applicants who are non-Muslim Kadazandusuns and Muruts. We have been tolerating this injustice for 47 years.

It started with the pro-Muslim policies of Tunku Abdul Rahman (which victimized Donald Stephens and Peter Mojuntin), and it cannot continue any longer.

The present BN government is perpetuating this injustice and there is no indication of this ever going to stop in spite of all the big talk about national unity, national integration and now 1Malaysia.

We can only stop this injustice by changing the system, by changing the government, and building a new Malaysia.

DANIEL JOHN JAMBUN