1 Malaysia and the new Malaysian equation

Malaysia's sixth Prime Minister, Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, has taken the helm of the nation and has just completed the first 100 days of his ascent to office. Along with it, he has promoted the slogan, "1 Malaysia", in order to unite the variegated communities in this nation and encourage nation building. The slogan has, however, been quite ambiguous in its interpretation, no thanks to the vagueness of what it means. It has not been spelt out in full. What do my fellow Malaysians make of this slogan? What does it mean? Malaysia has always been one and the same. Yet we all have our own views of what Malaysia means. East and West Malaysia? Rich and poor Malaysia? Privileged and unprivileged Malaysia? Modern and backward Malaysia? Malay and non-Malay Malaysia? Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra Malaysia? Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat Malaysia? What does it mean?

As a nation which aspires to walk together to mutual prosperity in the new millenium, we have faced setback after setback since the turn of the millenium. We now approach the end of the first decade of the millenium: what can we do to achieve unity amongst our children, and grandchildren? My personal opinion is that efforts should be made to recognise, and incorporate, the various communities. They who are backward, no matter where they are, no matter what race and no matter what religion, should be given equal opportunity to progress. If a prime minister is sincere, he must give equal opportunity to all people, and not institutionalize the segregation and victimization of minority communities. Indeed an equation for a multi-racial country can be considered fair only if the majority consider it acceptable and fair to switch places with the minority. If it were otherwise, all talk by representatives of the majority is only word of mouth, and unrepresentative of anything significant.

What do you think?

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Further reading:

• Our Prime Minister's blog at www.1Malaysia.com.my (English section)
• NST: They criticise 1Malaysia but, horrors, they want Najib to succeed (25-6-2009) Extract: "The ‘People First, Performance Now’ enunciation last week in the Dewan Rakyat was the first time he pitched it inside the House before the meanest horde of cynical sceptics from PKR, DAP and Pas, whose MPs’ hearts may agree with the basic precepts of 1Malaysia but predictably, whose political heads went with beastly instincts - rip the concept at its infancy before it can grow some legs."
• The Malaysian Insider: The malaise of 1Malaysia (24-6-2009) Extract: "But what about the rest of the country? What about the Chinese, Indians, Kadazandusuns, Dayaks, Sikhs, Eurasians and others? What role will they play in a Malay unity government? Who will look after the interests of non-Malays? Will crumbs be tossed their way?"
• Khairy Jamaluddin: 1Malaysia vs 3Malaysia (3-7-2009) Extract: "In BN, there clearly exists a working understanding between the component parties - this system has been the foundation of our leadership and the harmony within the coalition."
• Bernama: Islam Hadhari has similarity to 1Malaysia (30-6-2009) Extract: "Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Maj-Gen (R) Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom said the Opposition claim that Islam Hadhari had failed and not linked to 1Malaysia was untrue."
• Bernama: Najib confident BN, UMNO and Malaysia will support liberalisation measures (3-7-2009) Extract: "Times have changed, old instruments have not really worked, not delivered. But this whole notion of having a fair and equitable society is a dream and I think all Malaysians share that dream. It is just that it must be fair in the way we implement it, we must ensure that no ethnic group is marginalised and disincentivised as well. So, within the premise of what I have mentioned, I came up with the tag line of 1Malaysia, and I am interpreting 1Malaysia of specific policies but we must work together as one people, one nation and above all one dream."

I sincerely hope that the implementation of the 1Malaysia policy will be equitable to all. Again, I would like to say that an equation will be considered fair to all concerned if all players in the equation do not mind changing places. Although it is a hypothetical test, it will show you whether a certain party is only talking nonsense or trying to make a genuine effort.