THE MALAYSIAN DILEMMA (6): FINAL PART

SOME KEY ISSUES

DESIDERATA ends this National Day Project proudly by first thanking Mitochondria, Kyels and Sabrina with four salutes:);):);). This auspicious day's Essay is a sort of roundup really, starting with an anecdote from one of myGOodfRiend (mGf) in the singular or plural, Catherine De Costa. She was invited to contribute an essay, but as she was pressed for time moving house, she declined(hence Desi could not achieve the target of SEVEN! Ne'er mind, there's alays next year...). But as a self-published writer who thinks she’s by nature a Romantic Idealist, Cathy supports me fervently as I proceeded, and she explains why she deems herself:

A RELUCTANT MALAYSIAN

National Day is drawing near, and radio stations are encouraging us to fly the “Jalur Gemilang”. What does Merdeka symbolise, I often wonder.

We are still compartmentalised into Malay, Chinese, Indian and other less dominat ethnic groups such as Kadazan, Iban from Sarawak/Sabah, and the Orang Asli, truly the original natives of the land. The Malays still have their special position and privileges, and MARA scholarships are still exclusively for the Malays.

I hope that one day I will be able to fly the “Jalur Gemilang” with all my pride and patriotic nationalism. I must say I’m quite sceptical. Until the day comes when the bumiputra discounts for purchasing new houses are taken off, when MARA opens its door to all Malaysians, irrespective of race and religion; and when Bahasa Melayu subject taught at schools is reverted to Bahasa Malaysia as in my schooldays.

Allow me to share this story with you…

My son, Ethan Chan, likes to eat Indian food. One day when we were all watching TV in the living room, he complained that mosquitoes were biting him. My brother-in-law teased him, saying that the mosquito which bit him must be Chinese and also it’s because he eats Indian food most of the time. My son answered this. “Mosquitoes have no race.”

The true meaning of Merdeka will be realised if we can all think like my nine-year-old son, Cathy concludes, with sending her best wishes to all Readers a "Happy Hari Merdeka still!"

This story ties in with a comment sent in last night by another mGf, Yan, of yancorner.blogspot.co, and here is the extract:

***** Yan said...
Hi, Sabrina,

Love your writing though it brings that vain pain in my heart.

I read another AFP story today captioned "Malaysians live peacefully - but separately."

I pick the essence of this story -

Malaysia bills itself as a model of peaceful multiculturalism, but despite nearly half a century of nationhood, the races that make up its population have never been further apart.

Separate schools, separate friends, separate social lives - Malaysia marks 48 years of independence on Wednesday but many citizens lament the lack of ties between majority Malays and the Chinese and the Indians living alongside them.

Scholars and politicians warn that the existing peace and harmony in the country must not be taken for granted and have pressed for a national convention to identify a strategy towards a united Malaysian race.

"Overall, the people live in harmony but there is some degree of tension due to the feeling of being discriminated against ...

Well, Sabrina, move on, fly high ..

Yan *****



THE RACE CARD

The main dilemma, in my eyes, and based on the radar screens of my Esteemed Essayists and Commenters is that arising from the brazen abuse, and misuse of this issue of RACE, especially by politicians driven by questionable motives other than national interests.

For the past few General Elections, the Barisan Nasional had extensively publicised the May 13, 1969 Incident, using the elements of FEAR, THREAT and INTIMIDATON to garner votes. Sad, but true. Effective, but at what price? I’m glad to note there was less of such tactics when the BN was led by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi into battle in 2004. This portends well for the nation indeed.

Mitochondria, our Esteemed Blogger who flagged of this Essay Series, expressed apprehension whenever politicians raised the nation’s temperatures in their actions, which are highly irresponsible and imflammatory. A recent example is the UMNO YOUTH Chief Hishammuddin Hussein raising the keris at the party’s assembly at the PWTC,mayhaps to express the dated "Ketuanan Melayu" (Malay Supremacy)concept? Several years ago, a sizeable UMNO Youth group (‘em again!) marched on the Chinese Assembly Hall building in Kuala Lumpur threatening to burn down the office of SUQUI housed within the building. (This non-government organisation Suqui had earlier submitted a memorandum outlining some problems befalling Malaysian society, and enumerated many appeals for addressing those problems – surely a democratic and civil way of fowadrding citizens’ concerns to advance civil society?)


Bu no police action was taken in both these cases. Suddenly, the Royal Malaysian Police Force had been very, unusually, visibly tolerant. But the trouble is that it has been a consistent “selective” treatment of common citizens – other NGOs or groups of ordinary men in the street conducting similar actions, even on less controversial, issues, would have the full, half, or at least quarter force of the FRU (Federal Reserve Unit) on them. Ask Keadilan or DAP or SUARAM members, with whom I also fraternise sometimes, and I know the majority are law-abiding citizens. They all have the concern and love for OUR MALAYSIA as much as the national leaders or public officials waving Jalur Gemilang on National Day.

That is why Desiderata feels the May 13, 1969 incident should be properly evaluated by a suitably established GROUP OF EMINENT PERSONS so that we can learn some lessons and avoid similar incidents that can or may lead to blood-shed.We can also minimise the exploitation by certain quarters to feed o fear and apprehension to advance their bigoted, racist agendas.


EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY COSTS TO PAY

Young Malaysian students, and their parents, every year without fail would have to bear with the indignity of seeing their sons/daughters being denied places at local universities to pursue tertiary courses. Why – many feel they have been discriminated against, on critera other rather academic performance. Even allowing for some leeway being granted to “certain disadvantaged” groups, most feel they has been much abuse of the system, aided by politicians and their cronies, to push ahead children who are already well to do, and whose families have indeed arrived.

In passing, I just note here two points relating to House Price Differentiation and the institution of MARA. I already had expounded on the former, when I called for the removal of discounts for houses above RM100,000 to Bumiputeras. If Malaysians who are deemed to “have arrived” in society (surelt those who can tafford to buy hiuses prived above RM100,000 fall within this category? Do I hear a NO? That you want to enjoy that 7-15 percent discount to but that RM300,000 bungalow, and at the same time driving around an imported spanking new Mercedes or Kleesman? I sometimes say ISA (I say amen…) to such people’s desires, and that the Good Lord has a special hearing for their needs.


On MARA, I know it’s specially set up to advance the Bumiputeras – but what the average Joe Public is afraid the poor kampong youth or the urban squatter Bumiputera youth are not the final recipients of such aid or programmes, tye major benefits again go to the well connected.And commission collectors along the way. It’s the culture of GREED and RENT-SEEKING, SUBSIDY DEPENDENCY and CRONYISM that deprive of the truly NEEDY AND NEEDFUL from government assistance. Even the PM has acknowledged such ills, and the breaking out of the APPROVED PERMITS into public glare was an eye-opening Xperience for all, Bumiputeras and non-Bumis alike.

I know for a fact that MARA has a budget of RM500million to RM700million to sponsor Bumiputera students for overseas and local tertiary studies. Most Malaysians would not object to such special aid for a certain period, but again, Malaysians need to be weaned away such a dependency culture. If a minister’s son or daughter continues to take away such a scholarship, he/she deprives another less-finnacially well off fellow Malaysian – be it Bumi or non-Bumi – from such a scholarship, I recall our PM stating this at an official function. A salute to him, God-fearing and caring.

I know many Chinese parents would sell off a house, or forego buying a second home, or sacrifice that Round-the-world second honeymoon tour in their twilight years, just so to raise that RM300,000 to RM500,000 for a child’s university education overseas. Sabrina Tan tells us of why she needs to stay back to work in New Zealand for she has an NZD300,000 loan to pay off! And that’s being filial, surely in line with the Rukunegara precept of civil society behaviour and being a responsible son/daughter?

I don’t even want to talk about scholarships by other quarters such as the Public Services Department, or PETRONAS, as I might have worked these subjects to death,in my own Blog or at other forums like Screenshots. Just a reiteration for the national oil corporation to flow its benefits more directly to the Rakyat. A PETRONAS FOUNDATION PLEASE, giving our YoungOnes a helping hand across RACE, COLOUR AND CREED?

Again in mitochondria’s words in one conversation, I’ve become “too tired of being tired”. If the Government does not transform its mindset, and those of the Government-Linked Companies, and Statutory Bodies and Agencies, from THINKING RACE, NOT NEEDS to THINKING NEEDS, NOT RACE as advocated here on many occasions, then don’t talk about nurturing patriotism, because you’ve sown so many seeds of discontent.

Nine-year-old Ethan’s true story of THE MOSQUITO has somethin’ there to teach us ADULTS – I believe all our politicians are adult? – our blood, is commonly red, and the mosquito does not discriminate. I believe we Homosapiens have brains bigger than mosquitoes, or don’t we?


UNDER-PERFORMANCE OF THE 4 ESTATES

Another major DILEMMA in Desiderata’s summary is that of the lack of transparency and accountability in Government -- the Executive branch, and the Legislature(s), and the failure of the Judiciary and the Fourth Estate in discharging their public duties and obligations. These are grouped together as they constitute the Four Estates respectively. Usually the levels of performance of these estates are inter-related, for one affects the other beause the standards of performance and behaviour in one set a trend for the others. At the apex, Desiderata places the onus on the Government to set the lead and example, being the country’s administration and house-keeper. If PAGAR MAKAN PADI, all else will also follow, and all the people will suffer and society decay.

In my opinion, the electorate gave too huge a majority to the Barisan Nasional in the last GE2004, resulting in the ruling coalition having 90pecent of the 219 seats in Parliament. I hope to see some progress in our country heading towards a mainly two-party system like in the US, UK and Australia. But the Opposition parties must get their act together; and the people too must get wiser. At the end of the day, stop complaining too much, for you -- the VOTERS -- put the Government there. You finally deserve the Governmnet you get -- arrogant, complacent, and not accountable.


TOWERING MALAYSIANS, WHERE ART THOU?

Another Dilemma is that of LEADERSHIP BY EXAMPLE. I know of many fellow Malaysians swtitching off a TV channel, or stroll to another channel, when certain “ministers” appear on the news. I don’t blame them, because quite many are swimming in the same whirlpool I would liken its occupants to CROCODILES. I won’t go into many examples save that former Chief Minister caught at a place his religion even forbade him from entering -- at casinos overseas – and chalking up debts of tens of millions. I can’t stop any of my Sabahan fRiends fom moaning and groaning and quietly asking: How much has gone missing from the satte’s coffers during his tenure?

Yet another case involved another former Menteri Besar, of 22 sshort years, found guilty of “money politics” All he received as punishment was suspension from party and Government posts, followed by subsequent sacking the most, from the Cabinet. But what about paying a price for the purported "millions" spent in "money politics"? SEMUANYA OKAY, sebab dia adalah Brudder?
I'm afraid Pak Lah has a Herculean task in promoting a Towering Malaysian culture, because among his Cabinet members, not many can even rise to just competent levels, what more towering! Maybe half of the members have over-stayed their welcome -- Desiderata definitely thinks so, I don't know about Pak Lah. Maybe his hands are tied? I don't really know.


THE RULE OF LAW, BUT...

Another DILEMMA is the unequal treatment of citizens under the law.
For small breaches of the law, Public Joes and Janes are being sent to jail, like 6 months for petty theft of RM100 worth of snacks from the supermarket, or imprisonment for a few months or several years, in breach of trust of a bank’s funds of RM10,000-RM50,000? But tycoons get away with mere slaps on the wrists for almost bankrupting a bank, or fines of several million ringgit when they have taken away hundred of million; and at the most, short jail terms, and on release,these Datuks/Tan Sris spend their vacation oversea for the rest of their life living off the loot? (Actually the tax-payers like you and me pay for their offences, as the Government had to step in to bail out the banks by the BILLIONS -- the 1997/98 financial crisis and share market meltdown, remember?

Or have Malaysians forgotten those infamous billion-dollar bailouts -- BANK BUMIPUTRA(3 times!)-BMF, MAS, PERWAJA STEEL, BAKUN DAM, etc, ad nauseum. On a lesser scale, but highly visible before human eyes --the Bukit Cahaya Alam Seri Alam Park, and other state agricultural lands -- devastation and encroachment cases, with blatant removal of rich state timber. What's the penalty for these politician-connected businessmen who breached the law? Mostly getting away with mere fines (paid for by the offending companies). The country just needs ONE CASE of massive environment degradation, done usually in the stealth of the night in a jiffy, and it puts paid to dust all the efforts of thousands of good, law-abiding citizens over long years in caring for the neighbourhood and environs. So who the bloody hell cares?-- is a common attitude creeping into the Joe Public's psyche. NOT HEALTHY. DISASTROUS. A NATIONAL TRAGEDY.OUR DILEMMA.


No wonder my fellow-writers like mitochondria don’t feel motivated to celebrate Merdeka Day; it’s just another holiday to catch up with sleep or watch television; no wonder mGf like Sabrina Tan has many unanswered questions floating about, and she constanly shakes her head, and I too share their feelings and predicaments.


A younger student like Kyels might in a few years' time encounter experience and incidents narrated by her peer older by a few years that would yield a sense of déjà vu. Yes, she’d be brought down to earth that her rose-tinted lens from the high school, or even pre-university college, days, needs to be replaced by more REALISTIC lenses, in order to cope, in order to survive. Yes, mostly resulting in a more cynical outlook, with some youths turning even desperate and then like “opting” out of the system, or slightly better for some lucky ones, staying back in a foreign land, because “my government seems to be taking actions to drive us away”. What a sad refrain, and the Government laments -- sincerely? - BRAIN-DRAIN.I personally know many of such youths' parents have chosen to "opt out" of the political arena. SAD. TRAGIC, BUT TRUE.


CHALLENGES BROUGHT ABOUT BY GLOBALISATION

Is our Government properly educated and informed of this threat posed by Globalisation? I hardly think so. We are losing our young talents, in big numbers, every year. Do our leaders care? We then pay exorbitant salaries to Expatriate workers instead, also for second generation technology transfer when other countries have moved on to another higher plane. Are we suckers for international CON-men?

Like one well publicised, recent example. The UMNO YOUTH calling for the revival of the New Economic Policy (NEP), based mainly on the ground that the 30-percent share equity to be owned by Bumiputears, stated in 1970 had not been achieved. By their own leaders’ figures, the share had been raised from an initial 5 per cent to abot 18 percent in 1985. BUT 20 years later, in 2005, the figure had stayed stagnant at 18-19 percent. (The sources, Hishamuddin and Shaberry Cheek, had been quoted in DESIDERATA’s earlier posts.)

So two conclusions:

(1) The UMNO politicians have been telling us half-truths, basing their latest figures on wrong criteria and not reliable statistics. Some academic sources argue that the current Bumi share equity of 19percent DID NOT INCLUDE those stakes held in Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) which are highly capitalised, as well as those held in trust or by proxy in certain State or Federal agencies/companies whose accounts are not made public.

(2) Even if the claims stated by these UMNO Youth leaders, are true ( which Desoderata strongly believes ARE NOT TRUE), then there is no reason why a policy that had failed miserably like the NEP should be revived. I should NOT say more because those so-called Barisan Nasional brothers to UMNO Youth like MCA, MIC and Gerakan are keeping deafeningly silent. They are elected for what? Well, sharing the loot?

Otherwise, why do 21st century so-called leaders want to revive the NEP,an instrument of the 1979s-1990s that had proven to be not effective? Don't we learn from history and current developments? The big bad world of GLOBALISATION has descended on us like a Tsunami. We still want to walk with crutches. The competition now comes from China, not the local Chinese badly represented by the MCA; from the Indians from the near continet, not from the local Indians doubly badly represented by the MIC.

As Thomas Friedman in "THE LEXUS & THE OLIVE TREE" rightfully pointed out, the world is now a Global Village. Investments and big dollars go where there is the best ROI (returns on investment)-- the bottomline decides where the investors will go, and Malaysian racist politics doesn't help. It's a boderless world, and the YoungOnes know it. That's why they want to seek the best education available within their means, to arm themselves properly to face a borderless world. Manpower is now very mobile. The richest man in the world, BILL GATES, has outsourced many of MICROSOFT's operations to INDIA. (Digressing a wee bit -- can? Microsoft's total corporate net worth and share values surpass all the combined capitalisations of Malaysia's 1,000-odd listed companies -- just Food for Thought...)

Today, it's the Internet and Information Age where communications between world communities is almost instantaneous, and knowledge powers a nation's progress. We may boast the best infra-structure of the First World standard, yes, Petronas Twin Towers is still the tallest in such category, but what about our human resources. Our mindset, is it First World? Are we grooming our own young talents, or are we driving them away. Our leaders have to answer these questions with a conscience.

But some of our leaders are still living in an Age of the Fixed Telephone Line. Fixed mindset, seeing the dollar signs everywhere they venture. Indulging in rent-collection; collecting commissions, like renting out the APs for a quick and easy buck. The future they see is now -- with instant gratification. Even a village idiot can do that, collecting rents, and instantly gratifying themselves.

Today I must take stock, and many fellow Malaysians may advise me to count OUR BLESSINGS. I do. I cherish our multi-culturalism, our generosity of spirits, sometimes sorely tested by certain bas....quarters; I am thankful for a relatively stable place of residence. But our nation;s security has been highly compromised == by acts of commission of vested interests, or by acts of omission because their immdeiate greed is not promoted. I want to celebrate Merdeka Day in my own individual way. I want to reflect on what's happening. I ant to build a united nation. But I am also bewildered. Maybe, most of it, or just sometimes, I really don’t know what the bloody hell is going on. Like our country exports premium petroleum and is a net beneficiary, but every time the world petrol price goes up, the pump prices also go up, when logically, it should go down. However, when world prices go down, as it had occurred several times in the past, the pump prices for petrol and diesel NEVER CAME DOWN. Sab shakes her head. I'm dumb-founded. Shall we 'Rakyat-ise' PETRONAS, fellow Malaysians?

In closing, I express the fear that our natural resource's riches are not flowing down to the Rakyat. I wish my government leaders are more forthright, transparent and honest with us. Are some robber barons stealng from our Treasury and GLCs?

I don't know. I have raised many don't knows. I have questions which the media should have raised, but they didn't. Can Desiderata band together with fellow writers to start a newspaper, anyone with a RM50million spare cash? FOR ANOTHER NOBLE PROJECT?

More down to earth, let's develop Blogsworld -- the 5th Esate? -- to slowly wind our way our of this Haze, or Maze? I don't know. We can only give it A FAIR GO. Mitochondria, kyels, Sabrina, Stay the Fight? THANKS FOR TRAVELLING THIS EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY. RIBUAN-RIBUAN TERIMA KASIH.

Maybe the right sources or authorities will respond to my effort. Answer some of my questions? Like the bank/s who can tell me how they could lend RM1.2BILLION to a 27-year-old while you and I have many hurdles to cross, even do a hop-stepo-and-jump, to get a RM50,000 to RM150,000 loan for a house. Or a RM500,000 for expanding a small-and-medium enterprise business? Or Bank Negara could explain why no action was taken against any banker leading to the banking crisis in 1997/98 which required any bailout using tax-payers money? Too many questions, too few answers.

I don’t have faith in the second echelon leadership in the BN, because you have people of questionable background (like the youngest billionaire ar age 27 years) becoming role model for the youth? And the UMNO counterpart one rank higher using a RM960,000 HUMMER? Promoting the national car project, mGf? I say a prayer for the YoungOnes. I also wish myGoodfRiends, cyber and real, Happy Merdeka Day.

For all our efforts, can someone send over a bouquet of flowers each to Kyels, Sabrina and mitochondria. For Desi,posting this last of a series of SIX ESSAYS at just past midnight, a piping glass of HariDas' tehtarik, kurang manis, please...

Ten hours later, I can adjourn for a Merdeka Day celebation of a CONTINENTAL BF, plus A CONTINENTAL BRUNCH when I wake up at 10am. I allow myself some capitalist adventurism and some bourgesoie indulgence on special occasions. National Day surely qualifies. Someone has called me a closet socialist. I'm coming out.


MERDEKA! MERDEKA!! MERDEKA!!!