Unsustainable Politics & Bastardisation of Citizenship
from Straight Talk
Like the Malay Rulers, I share their concern over current political trend. However, I am surprised that the Rulers have taken such a one-sided approach regarding their concern. There is no democratic government in the world which has done so much to bastardize the sovereignty of citizenship like Malaysia.
A Malaysian citizen is a citizen regardless of race or creed. This federal government has tried to usurp the sanctity of the federal constitution by creating a politically motivated multi-tiered citizenship e.g. Malay Bumiputera, Non-Malay Bumiputera, Chinese, Indian & Others. This action is a dangerous attack on the federal constitution.
The Malay Rulers urged the people to understand and appreciate the history of the formation of the country and the Federal Constitution founded on the social contract, that is the spirit of consensus and understanding among the races and the concurrence of the Malay Rulers.
It is pertinent for the Malay Rulers to touch on the need to appreciate the nation's history. The history content of this country must be objectively presented and shared with all Malaysians. However, the Rulers should be mindful of attempts to rewrite our nation building history which may alter the multiracial dynamics of this society. Malaysia's fate since independence was to become a home to a multiracial society.
Politicians and Rulers had agreed that there was a need to restructure the society to ensure equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities. This task must be complemented with efforts to build the capacity of Malays and indigenous people to compete on the same level playing field with the rest. It is important to note the difference between privileges & rights. There was no perpetual exclusive rights embedded in the federal constitution. It would be against the spirit of the constitution to subjugate any person(s) or community in the Malaysian society.
The statement said that the meeting viewed with great concern the current political trend, which was seen to be stoking racial sentiments and challenging the sovereignty of the Federal Constitution.
It said the meeting took note of current developments as well as the anxiety expressed by individuals and non-governmental organisations over matters touching on Islam, the position of the Malay Rulers, the Malays and the Malay language.
Make no mistake that politicians who refused to accept and respect the full citizenship rights of non-Malays as enshrined in the federal constitution should be found guilty of challenging the sovereignty of the federal constitution. The constitution does not only protect the rights of Malays. It protects the rights of all Malaysians. The federal constitution is citizenship centric and there is no special mention of the term 'Bumiputera' - which was a political creation.
Hence, the Rulers should reprimand politicians who have continued to belittle, show disrespect and try to marginalize the minorities through their governance. Malay Rulers should review their position within the constitution. They are not only Rulers to the Malays but to all Malaysians. Malaysians respect the role and sanctity of constitutional monarchy, the position of Malay language and the supremacy of the federal constitution.
However, the people cannot and must not tolerate attempts to bastardize the citizenship, distort the nation's history, subjugate the federal constitution, corrupt the public institutions and abuse their constitutional power to protect their personal and political interests.
The statement said the Malay Rulers and all the Yang Dipertua Negeri understood and appreciated the efforts of the federal government to unite the people based on the spirit enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
Apart from praising the federal government, the Rulers should remind the government not to perpetuate the current political practice. It is clearly unsustainable. National unity is synonymous with equal rights, mutual respect and justice for all citizens. History had shown us that governments which tried to create and sustain a supreme race had perished in the world. Rebellions and revolutions were started because there were political & class arrogance, feudalism, massive corruption & poverty, oppression and unfairness in societies.
How many 100 storey towers this nation can afford to build in order to impress the outside world of Malaysia's socio-economic superiority and advancement? The credibility gained can be quickly cancelled out by acts of contempt, unfairness, brutality & lawlessness as shown in the cases of abuse & unlawful detention of witnesses, unnaturally delivery of justice, massive corruption, failure of governance, mediocrity, malaise and political violence?
Race supremacy & national unity are different sides of a coin.
Who is threatening the federal constitution? One who champions race supremacy or one who asks for equality & fairness?
A Malaysian citizen is a citizen regardless of race or creed. This federal government has tried to usurp the sanctity of the federal constitution by creating a politically motivated multi-tiered citizenship e.g. Malay Bumiputera, Non-Malay Bumiputera, Chinese, Indian & Others. This action is a dangerous attack on the federal constitution.
The Malay Rulers urged the people to understand and appreciate the history of the formation of the country and the Federal Constitution founded on the social contract, that is the spirit of consensus and understanding among the races and the concurrence of the Malay Rulers.
It is pertinent for the Malay Rulers to touch on the need to appreciate the nation's history. The history content of this country must be objectively presented and shared with all Malaysians. However, the Rulers should be mindful of attempts to rewrite our nation building history which may alter the multiracial dynamics of this society. Malaysia's fate since independence was to become a home to a multiracial society.
Politicians and Rulers had agreed that there was a need to restructure the society to ensure equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities. This task must be complemented with efforts to build the capacity of Malays and indigenous people to compete on the same level playing field with the rest. It is important to note the difference between privileges & rights. There was no perpetual exclusive rights embedded in the federal constitution. It would be against the spirit of the constitution to subjugate any person(s) or community in the Malaysian society.
The statement said that the meeting viewed with great concern the current political trend, which was seen to be stoking racial sentiments and challenging the sovereignty of the Federal Constitution.
It said the meeting took note of current developments as well as the anxiety expressed by individuals and non-governmental organisations over matters touching on Islam, the position of the Malay Rulers, the Malays and the Malay language.
Make no mistake that politicians who refused to accept and respect the full citizenship rights of non-Malays as enshrined in the federal constitution should be found guilty of challenging the sovereignty of the federal constitution. The constitution does not only protect the rights of Malays. It protects the rights of all Malaysians. The federal constitution is citizenship centric and there is no special mention of the term 'Bumiputera' - which was a political creation.
Hence, the Rulers should reprimand politicians who have continued to belittle, show disrespect and try to marginalize the minorities through their governance. Malay Rulers should review their position within the constitution. They are not only Rulers to the Malays but to all Malaysians. Malaysians respect the role and sanctity of constitutional monarchy, the position of Malay language and the supremacy of the federal constitution.
However, the people cannot and must not tolerate attempts to bastardize the citizenship, distort the nation's history, subjugate the federal constitution, corrupt the public institutions and abuse their constitutional power to protect their personal and political interests.
The statement said the Malay Rulers and all the Yang Dipertua Negeri understood and appreciated the efforts of the federal government to unite the people based on the spirit enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
Apart from praising the federal government, the Rulers should remind the government not to perpetuate the current political practice. It is clearly unsustainable. National unity is synonymous with equal rights, mutual respect and justice for all citizens. History had shown us that governments which tried to create and sustain a supreme race had perished in the world. Rebellions and revolutions were started because there were political & class arrogance, feudalism, massive corruption & poverty, oppression and unfairness in societies.
How many 100 storey towers this nation can afford to build in order to impress the outside world of Malaysia's socio-economic superiority and advancement? The credibility gained can be quickly cancelled out by acts of contempt, unfairness, brutality & lawlessness as shown in the cases of abuse & unlawful detention of witnesses, unnaturally delivery of justice, massive corruption, failure of governance, mediocrity, malaise and political violence?
Race supremacy & national unity are different sides of a coin.
Who is threatening the federal constitution? One who champions race supremacy or one who asks for equality & fairness?
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