THE MALAYSIAN DILEMMA (5)

DESIDERATA is the nick adopted by Y.L.Chong from his early days of writing – born out of necessity to earn a few bucks to see the cheap matinee at the the cinema, not your high-tech sen-surround cinematheque nowadays – and writing has remained a passion ever since. I used my writing craft earning bread and butter later as a Journalist, coursing through both mainstream and alternative media, plus a long-term imprisonment within some Diplomatic walls. Freelancing, for some years now, enables me to wander more publicly into CivilSociety&Political Discourses,and the engagement with Blogosphere conversationists, first via JeffOoi’s screenshots, then five months plus back via my own Blog, has restored some sanity and music to his much assaulted mind.

To fans like YoungKyels who wish to pursue Mass Communications, DESIDERATA can safely tell you that you can’t survive too long as a Freelance writer without a strong personal and lonely drive bordering sometimes on bewilderment and madness -- quite an expected trait of those with also a poetic bent? OtherWise, be prepared to soon become a Pauper (mGf Mr C…. says a Church-mouse is the apt term, oh, I digress, again, Mama-mia!). Today I shall allow myself some reflection aloud on a subject close to my heart as Our Country looks forward to celebrating its 48th birthday.

THE RUKUNEGARA and SOME MEANDERINGS


As our nation prepares to celebrate its 48th birthday tomorrow, Desiderata feels it meaningful and appropriate to re-visit the Five Principles adopted for nation-building and steering this country towards developed nation status in 15 years hence, in 2020. These five principles are the pillars constituting the RUKUNEGARA, which are as follows:

• Belief in God (Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan)
• Loyalty to King and Country (Kesetiaan kepada Raja dan Negara)
• Supremacy of the Constitution (Keluhuran Perlembagaan)
• Rule of Law (Kedaulatan Undang-undang)
• Mutual Respect and Morality (Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan)

Now we are a nation of some 24 million people, comprising ethnic groups who can trace their roots back to some of the greatest ancient civilisations of the world – Chinese, Indian, Malay, and other more localised and less ancient ones like the Iban, Kadazan, and other indigenous groups resident for centuries in the peninsula then called Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah in the Borneo region, before the formation of Malaysia.

From a potporri of cultures and ethnic varieties, the coming together of all these groups under one umbrella surely would throw up many challenges and push-and-pull strains and stresses, and the task of nation-building can’t be an easy one..

No journey in a nation of 48 years can be all smooth,rosy and sweet -– indeed, our forefathers foresaw the many obstacles in the way of building a new nation after the British colonial masters left us. But we started off on a strong footing -– luckily the British laid a solid foundation for a reasonably good adminstration and sound education legacy, though its parliamentary monarchy was still an infant in 1957, but allowed to grow slowly but surely.

Along the way, the nation saw some traumatic times, and an important landmark was the May 13, 1969 riots, (its true story had not been honestly told ... my view) which still remains a scar in the nation’s consciousness. The Government would want the people to talk little about this black mark in the nation's history – yes, we’re still healing, the dark spot has not been completely removed from the national landscape, especially for those who lived through those dark times at “close hand”. However, there is no real, sincere efforts to study, dissect the facts from fiction, discuss and ponder over what led to this “blip” in our nation’s growing years. Officialdom adopts the attitude that silence is golden – akin to that ostrich burying its head in the Sahara sand a few thousand miles away.

So what can DESIDERATA fall back on to learn some lessons from the past, that we may not repeat the “quick” sand? To me, maybe it is important to re-visit and understand more fully and clearly, the founding principles that our national leaders, representing the various groups across race, creed, gender and age, have agreed upon to move this nation forward, and guide us ordinary citizens in our daily living.

Let’s reflect on the five principles in the Rukunegara by which Malaysians are expected to lead their lives, individually, and collectively, as this writer views it.

• Belief in God is premised on the assumption that all the relgious faiths of the world instill in the human race good values to lead a positive life. Whiile the Federal Constitution recognises Islam as the official religion, there is complete freedom for the adoption and practice of other religions,as long as they do not deviate from universally accepted norms, or become a threat to the nation’s well-being. There is freedom to choose and practise one’s religion. I believe the majority of the people in this country are followers of one religion or another, as is evidenced by the common celebrations of major religious festivals, always observed as public holidays -- to put us all in a jolly good mood.

• Loyalty to King and Country is premised on the fact that Malaysia on independence has chosen a parliamentary monarchy system which acknowledges the Yang diPertuan Agong as the Sovereign Head of the country to which all Malaysian nationals accord the Royal status as King, The unique system sees a new King being elected by the Conference of Rulers every five years, with the helm being rotated among the nine brother rulers at the state levels. All Malaysian citizens owe absolute loyalty to the Flag, and there is no provision for any Malaysian to carry dual citizenship.

Any Malaysian who acquires citizenship of a foreign country shall automatically surrender his citizenship in Malaysia. I believe all Malaysians are fully aware of their obligations towards this country if they in return expect their full rights and freedoms to be protected by the King and his duly elected or appointed officials.

• Supremacy of the Constitution recognises the Constitution as the highest authority for the final reference as to the legality of any Act of legislation adopted by the Federal Legislature (Parliament) or the state legislatures (State Assemblies). And no Acts can be enacted that run counter to the written Constitution, governing the citizen’s rights and freedoms, in word or in the spirit so intended by the framers of the Constitution.

• Rule of Law ensures that every Malaysian citizen is accorded the same and equal treatment in any Court of Law, subject to the legislation adopted by the Parliament and State Assemblies. An accused person facing any charge of having committed a breach of the law shall be presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a properly constituted Court of Law, and the accused person is entitled to legal counsel or representation to assist in his/her defence.

• Mutual Respect and Morality is premised on the nation’s pursuit of a Civil Society in accordance with the laws of the country. Every citizen is expected to exercise conduct that will promote harmony and civility within the community, and shall not commit acts that lend to disharmony or to the disturbance of the public peace. Hence, a certain standard of public behaviour in accordance with the religious values universally present in all the religions of the world is expected from each individual to ensure the promotion and the maintenance of peace and harmony among the people. Such moral standards are consonant with the First Principle governing Belief in God in that such a belief would tend to promote the moral uprightness and behaviour of an individual as well as his responsibility towards his/her community and neighbours.


Here come Desiderata’s Meanderings:
I re-state the dictum I follow in my discourse with my EsteemedReaders, and hopefully to be followed by Conversationists via Comments, which is allowed and aloud, with mutual agreement and respect, from VOLTAIRE:

“I may disagree with what you say but I will defend, to the death, your right to say it.”

With the Rukunegara Principle Number 1, I believe most Malaysians have no problem in accepting the Belief in God, however we deem Him to be. Whether we practise it in whatever degree, it’s an individual right and concern. I think most of my fellow citizens are God-fearing, although we may follow different faiths – Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Bahai'ism. I don’t have any problem if all Malaysians are allowed to practise our faiths openly and willingly.


Principle Number 2 requires all citizens to pledge Loyalty to King and Country. Under this requirement,I would state that any Malaysian who acquires citizenship of a foreign country shall automatically surrender his citizenship in Malaysia. I believe all Malaysians are fully aware of their obligations towards this country if they in return expect their full rights and freedoms to be guaranteed and protected by the King and his duly elected Government or appointed officials.

This point raises the issue governing many Malaysians who have studied overseas, or even gone as expatriates to be employed overseas, and later acquire Permanent Residence there. Desiderata reminds that their loyalty remains with their home country as long as they do not surrender Malaysian citizenship. Hence it is incumbent on them to promote the interests of Malaysia as much as possible, even if it is not out of a sense of gratitude, at least in respect of their family members and many GooD friends they have left behind?

I left a question mark there because this is an attitude issue, not a duty duly defined. Desiderata has in a comment yesterday to The Scarfer stated that it’s quite a disappointment to read of rantings and ravings by such Malaysians resident overseas, blatantly without any good intention, but to run this nation down. To such Malaysians, I would say in a soft voice: Cease and desist. Remember, don’t burn the bridges you have used behind you – leave them firm and open for others who may come later, and also wish to use the same bridges to cross to the other shores; mayhaps, even to return later! Hey, readers are welcome to re-but this point if you disagree – but be civil avout it, OK? (This is a rhetorical question.;)

Principles number 3 and 4 concerning Supremacy of the Constitution and the Rule of Law are taken together as often the outstanding cases of national interest and concern often intrude into both principles, with their fundamentals being sorely tested. In the enforcement of common law in the everyday scheme of things, in general there is good and satisfactory adherence to the law and the Constitution.

However, there have been certain worrisome breaches in recent times. I’d cite here the pronouncement of Malaysia being an “Islamic State” by former Prime Minister then Datuk Seri (now Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad in fact is still in “grey” territory as to its validity and concordance with the Federal Constitution. And the Rule of Law was sorely tested in many cases of detention of Malaysians under the Internal Security Act, and of course, that highly controversial case of former Deputy Prime Minister then Datuk Seri (still Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim for allegedly committing homosexual acts under the criminal law, where clearly the conduct of the trial was blatantly questionable even in the untrained legal eyes of Joe Public, what more among the legal practitioners.

Principle number 5, which promotes Mutual Respect and Morality, is closely related to Principle number 1. When over-zealous officials in the name of Good Morals step into the realm of “private space”, as I believe the Squad Skodeng spearheaded by the 4B Youth Movement did, they were not showing any respect to their neighbours. Fortunately, our God-fearing and our beloved Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told these misguided ones to “Cease and Desist” in its infancy. During such excursions to play moral guardians by non-religious bodies and individuals, Malaysians, including Desiderata, have grounds to be worried.

There is enough problem for any family to bring up their own children in the “straight and narrow” moral path of their own choice and accord. Neighbours should not poke their eyes and nose into any peace-loving Malaysian home to check on their religious faith, ceremony and private behaviour. I wonder if the Chief Minister of Malacca or his Press Secretary is listening in? Unless, of course, there are some deviant cases of Devil worship, which could be a security threat, and that is best left to the Royal Malaysian Police to handle. Mutual respect must be accorded to your neighbour in everyday conduct, across creed, colour and race, also gender and age. Absolutely essential, and non-compromisable.

So where and what's is THE MALAYSIAN DILEMMA? Please be patient, I’ll come back early morning to ruminate on that. Buy me a CON BF for all my hard work?

Just a parting shot to a certain Minister who has sometimes made himself a laughing stock. He had called on the Rakyat to fly the Jalur Gemilang as widely and as generously as possible, and when he sees a lack of response, starts to mouth things like the Rakyat are not showing sufficient "patriotism". Mr Minister, patriotism, like that thing called LOVE, comes naturally; it comes from the heArt, it has to be watered, nurtured, given air and sunshine to breathe, bloom and flower. It cannot be grown by mere posturings and mouthings of some funny mini-tongue.At 8.30pm as I write this, over Light&Easy my fav actress Nicole Kidman is singing Somethin' Stupid with that funy man ...

And let no fellow Malaysian ever question anyone of my neighbours and my loyalty -- and patriotism -- to this land we call HOME. Home is Where the HeArt Is, as Elvis Presley sings.

In closing, I hope all Malaysians will fulfill their responsibilities and duties as citizens to foster goodwill and harmony among all the communities, regardless of race, creed and colour. I send too a special appeal as Merdeka Day dawns soon to the politicians, cease and desist from using the Race Card – this is no more 1969, it’s 36 years later, for heaven’s sake! – in their game, or is it lust? for power. Only in unity, and a clarity of mind and civil behaviour, and a single-mindedness to attain the Towering Malaysian status as promoted by our Prime Minister Dear Pak Lah, will Malaysia slowly but surely emerge as a sovereign nation we can proudly call OUR MALAYSIA.

Come midnight, I hope you'll rise with me and sing in SweetSpirit the Negara-Ku, in the fast tempo beat,then adjourn for a late sleep-in. Yes, it's another HolyDay. Wishing all fellow Malaysians a "Happy Hari Merdeka" come Wednesday August 31, 2005.