Monday, December 15, 2008
Of rights, royalty and language
translation by Jacqueline Ann Surin
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SIMILAR to the other press, the 6 Dec 2008 Bukit Antarabangsa landslide dominated the news in the Malay press between 5 and 12 Dec. But several other issues were also highlighted in the Malay press. These were primarily about Malay rights, the royalty, and the Malay language.
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On 10 Dec, Berita Harian published a column titled Pemimpin Cina, India dulu lebih hormat hak Melayu by Mohd Ayop Abd Razid, who argued that the non-Malays of the early Merdeka days were more respectful of Malay rights than the non-Malays today.
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"Non-Malay leaders of before had the right perception and understanding of the position of the Malays," Mohd Ayop said, citing former MIC president Tun VT Sambanthan and former MCA president Tun Tan Siew Sin.
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"[Both these leaders] criticised non-Malay politicians of that era such as KL Devaser and SM Yong who questioned the special rights of Malays that were enshrined in the constitution," Mohd Ayop said.
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Mohd Ayop said Sambanthan, one of the founding leaders of independent Malaya, argued in 1957 that the Malays, who were being called "first class citizens" by critics, were actually poor and disempowered.
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Tan also defended the Malays, Mohd Ayop said. "Among others, he told the non-Malays not to hope for and ask the Malays to give up what belonged to them. Tan's view was that the Malays were economically backward and needed help."
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Mohd Ayop said that for 50 years after independence, ketuanan Melayu was not questioned but suddenly it was being criticised by non-Malay leaders including Umno's political allies.
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"We would not be surprised if these voices were from the opposition which claims it wants to uphold equality and fairness. But questions arise when these criticisms are from Umno's allies who have before this agreed to and accepted the implementation of the New Economic Policy," he said.
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Noting that Malay equity ownership in 2006 was only 19.4% compared with Chinese ownership of more than 40%, Mohd Ayop questioned why these allies would express views that were hurtful to the Malays. "Is this to pressure Umno or to provoke the Malays?"
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Mohd Ayop is the head of the media communications unit of the Information Ministry's special issues department.

- national-express-malaysia.blogspot.com