28 June 2008, a social contract forum was held at the Bar Council Kuala Lumpur today. Approximately 300 people attended the forum attracting all races and age groups. The panel members were Dr Mavis Puthucheany, political scientist, Dr Kua Kia Soong, director SUARAM, Dr Farish Noor, political scientist, Tommy Thomas, advocate & solicitor.
For those who attended the forum, they could clearly see that it was not a healthy and open discussion. One could basically describe it as an UMNO bashing session where all panelist were basically pro-opposition. Even the famous Dr Farish who supposedly represented the Malays was a liberal Malay who has clearly forgotten his routes. The panel was one sided and there was no balance in views and opinions. It is disappointing that the Bar Council who preach for justice and healthy discussion only had pro opposition on the panel. This is where I come in to give a differing view and probably a more balanced view.
All four panelist started off by talking about the history of Malaysia. However, the panel was divided in its conclusion. Thommy Thomas and Dr Farish Noor concluded that the social contract should not be scraped as it binds the fabric of this country. It must however be reinvented so that it becomes relevant to 2008 and the years to come.
The underlying message of the forum or the hidden agenda, if you like, was that every Malaysian should have equal rights and we need to re-look at what was agreed 50 years ago.
I have to admit, for the sake of unity I have to agree that the social contract needs to be revisited. Whether the timing is now or later remains debatable. But one has to remember that when one asks the Malays to give up their rights and privileges they should understand that the Malays would naturally be upset for the obvious reasons.
So let us turn the tables just for a moment. During the forum, Dr Kua said that the Chinese Schools and Indian Schools should be maintained for the Chinese race and the Indian race as it is human rights issue and no one should question that. Even if it is true that it is a human rights issue, all I am asking is that can’t you can learn Chinese and the Indian language at a National School?
One could argue that if the Chinese are sincere about racial unity than they should start to act in a sincere manner. Why should they be afraid that the vernacular schools be closed down? As the saying goes, if there is a will there is a way. They can still learn the mother tongue in national schools. How convenient? Let us look at the social contract and lets take out what favors the Malays but let us maintain whatever is convenient to the non- Malays.
My conclusion is that the idealism and the spirit of Malaysian Malaysia can only come true when all races are ready and willing to give up their rights and privileges and not at the expense of any one race.
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3 comments:
Social Contract dan Ketuanan Melayu yang akan di bawa dan di perjuangkan oleh Anwar Bertuankan DAP, Wolfowitz, Foundation for Future dan yang ketara Agenda YAhudi di sebalik PR.
Being so one-sided makes it all a farce. The bar council should practice what they preach when it comes to being just and fair.
I agree totally that the non-malays esp the chinese are not sincere in their pursue of equality amongst races. What they are actually championing is merely the rights of the Chinese and the Chinese only.
Their mass branding of everything UMNO as racists is very cheap and they should look no further than themselves to find who the real racists are. C'mon man, their questioning of Jawi, Songkok, Azan, Zakat is way way racist.
All I can say is this, these past few months have really transformed me into a Malay ultra and most worryingly a racist. I know this is unfair but I blame all this on the Chinese. My being a racist is simply a response to their daily anti-Islam and anti-Malay rhetoric.
keep blogging bro. try and bring some sanity into Malaysian politics, you know how badly we need that.
ayam
*aku panas wey*
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