The date of 31st August marked a watershed in Malaysia history. At that time, Malaya got its independent from British after 446 years of foreign invasion, started from Portuguese in 1511, Netherlands, Japan’s occupation and lastly British. Since the independence, the new nation has numerous races with different background. In 1963, Malaya accepted the joining of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore to form the federation of Malaysia. But, in 1965 Singapore was expelled from Malaysia after it unable to understand the concept of share and tolerance in Malaysia. Now Malaysia consist thirteen states with three federal territories.
As multi-racial country, surely there are a lot of stories and lessons to be written in the history. The five lessons that are significant in the country history, from Merdeka to the present day are political stability, balanced economy, fair law, culture preservation as well as integration, and diplomatic foreign affairs.
Political stability
Malaysia as a pluralist country is essentially needs to remain political stability towards achieving her mission and vision. Thus the biggest obstacle for Malaysia to become fully developed country by the year 2020 is to remain peaceful and unity in her diversity. But, could the peaceful and united Malaysia become reality, since 44% of the citizens are age below 20 years old and most of them are excluded from historical circumstances? (Hng, 2004,p 165).
The fact is when the country failed to curb the racial polarization, cultivate tolerance that means there are possibilities for the political stability to be diminished. History has proved it. In May 13, 1969, Malaysia faced her worst racial riot. The riot happened mainly between the Malays and Chinese in Kuala Lumpur. On that time, the races as well as the political parties ignored the Merdeka Compact, the racial sensitivities, and tolerance (Hng, 2004, p 103). As the result, it was reported that 196 died, 439 injured, thousands were homeless and hundreds of buildings were damage (Chomber, 1983, p 71).
Therefore, a formula towards a racial harmony is needed. The key factor is tolerance which means the willingness to accept the differences in the diversity. Integration among the races is the way to work out the tolerance in the society and education is the vital system that needs integration in order to nurture the tolerance. Thus, the idea of vision school should be proceed. Every races have to support the idea due to the aim of vision school is ''to foster solidarity among the pupils of the different races and background'' (Ministry of Education, 2006).
In addition, the integration in the population area especially in the new town should be focused. The circumstances which are consist only one race could bring racial polarization. So, it will make the race less sensitive towards other races and could break the solidarity. Ultimately, the integration among races should be the main agenda for the government to remain the political stability in this nation.
Balanced Economy
In a big family, sharing the foods and properties is the best solution to prevent the members from disputing. Akin to Malaysia, a balanced economy can remain harmony in the society. Recently, the Malaysian economic pie is still not well been distributed. However, the circumstance has improved when the New Economic Policy (NEP) was implemented from the year 1970-1990. This affirmative action has two objectives that is eradicating poverty and restructuring the society (EPU, 2006).
The imbalanced equity in Malaysia began in the British colonial era. They applied the dual economic systems which are the traditional and modern economy (Mardiana & Hasmah, 2005, p 210). In fact, the traditional economy is in the rural area, while the modern economy is located in the urban area. This system causes the poverty barrier between the villages’ and towns’ folk, includes the formation of economy classification according to the particular races. For the things to become worst, the rural areas are mostly occupant by the Malays and Bumiputra who is the major. In contrast, the urban areas are primarily live by the Chinese who is descended from immigrants. Hence, the Chinese obtain more opportunity in modern economy sector and able to develop the business skills. Unfortunately, the Malay and Bumiputra opposed different fate. As the result, the economy disparity exists till the presence days. The imbalanced equity could bring tension in the society. This was one of the several factors that cause the racial riot in 1969.
Thus, an affirmative policy which is satisfied for every race is needed towards the establishment of balanced economy. The main aims should be distributed the wealth and eradication poverty without according to the races but classify them in the poverty rate. However, the quota systems that according to races ratio can be apply, in order to balance the nation equity. This system will guaranteed the sharing of nation’s properties, integration in work place, population area and able to nurture solidarity among the races. Mardiana & Hasnah states that, “Place the people in one area will encourage communication and interaction frequently” (2005, p 181). If only one race dominate the economy, while other races endeavor to life, hatred society will be created. So, it is not good for the future development of the country.
Fair law
Malaysia as a nation with multi-races and multi-religions need a fair law to remain peace as well as harmony. Thus, the history of Malaysia law can not be denied in order to establish a fair law towards all races. Islamic law is the original law of this country, since it was first law applied during the reign of Malacca Sultanate. But, the system has changed by adopting more towards British law, when the imperialist conquer this country. Then, after the independence is conformed, the Reid Commission is responsible to form the new constitution for the country ( Mardiana & Hasnah, 2005, p 56 ). This commission has given serious attention on the issues that pertain to all races’ rights. As the result, the special rights of the Bumiputra is preserved with no discrimination towards other races, the official religion is Islam, but other religions is free to profess, the Malay language is the national language, while the freedom of using the other languages is guaranteed and also the citizenship for the new independent country
( Federal Constitution, 2005, p 13, 19, 21-33, 133-136).
Recently, certain parties have denied the federal constitution, including the idea to form Inter-faith Commission (IFC) with the actual objective to revoke the special position of Islam in the constitution ( Pembela, 2006 ). If this happen, another chaos situation will occur again. Islam has strong relation with the major citizen (Mohiyuddin, 2005, p 53 ). Moreover, anybody should not denied the contain of constitution, since the rights of every person is guaranteed.
It is irrational to interrupt the others rights just because to achieve certain interests. The feel of sensitivities and respectful towards each other should have
embodied in the soul of every citizen. So, the media and education system shall play their role to cultivate the sensitivities and respectful. The sensitive issues should be fairly distributed by the media. While, education systems can help to distribute the knowledge and understanding about the constitution as well as the country through the history subject in every stage of learning.
Culture preservation and integration
Cultures play a big role in fostering solidarity. In Malaysia different culture are allowed to be applied, even though the Malays are the major citizens. While, the Malay culture is based on Islam, whilst, the Chinese and Indian are basely on traditional China and traditional Indian respectively. It is tolerance that help Malaysian to understand the outcome of restricted others culture. Mahathir has given an example the practice of tolerance by Malaysians as follows:
The Muslim Malays abhor pork which the Chinese love, while the
Indians do not eat the beef which the Malays love. But somehow we
manage to sit at same table to eat, each sensitive to the sensitivities
of other. (2000, p 35).
Albeit Malaysians today are more tolerance and respect toward others’ culture, which remain the peaceful ambience, the challenges have changed. Malaysia cultures are facing the globalization that makes the world borderless. This new era spread not only the positive impact, but also the negative cultures
Since the globalization cultures are based on freedom as well as hedonism, it opposed the Malaysian culture. The culture of freedom without religions guided will destroy the society. For instance, nowadays, the youths have influenced much with the negative cultures, including black metal and skin head. These cultures make the youths degrade themselves. The generation today is the future leader. So, the effects are just not only for presence days, but also in the long term.
Therefore, could the culture of the society be prevented from the globalization? Exactly it is impossible. Nevertheless, the counter-actions have to be taken. For sure, the government has taken several strategies for the short and long term. In 1971, National Culture Policy has been introduced with the objective to strengthen the nation and country solidarity (EPU, 2006). Otherwise, some legal acts have been legitimated, including censoring the electronic materials that inappropriate with Malaysian culture.
Thus, the culture preservation in Malaysia is important to remain high moral values and directly can decrease the social ill. While, in order to nurture solidarity among inter-races, cultural integration is the recipe.
Diplomatic foreign affairs
Diplomatic foreign affairs help the country to develop well. Now, Malaysia has five Prime Minister who each of them have their own stand toward world order. In Tun Dr. Mahathir era, Malaysia foreign affairs have significant role in the world order. Malaysia had been given the mandates to manage certain world organizations, including organization of Islamic countries (OIC), and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Now, the challenges have changed due to the uncertainty of the world orders. Terrorism according to the United State of America and the western countries has contributes to the prejudice towards Muslim countries. Actually, terrorism is the propaganda of the U.S. and its alliance, Israel. They have a mission which is to conquer the world. Their mission became real after the tragedy of 9/11, where the WTC ‘was destroyed’ by ‘the hijacking commercial plane.’ This nightmare has been described as the ‘New Pearl Harbor’ (Zikry, 2006, p14). After that U.S. starts it campaign which is ‘War on Terror’. Not enough with invading Iraq and Afghanistan, it gave full supports to the Israel’s terrorism in Palestine. Thus, Malaysia as an Islamic country has clear stand about the issues. One of the policies is the nation does not has any diplomatic action with Israel.
The good diplomatic relations have given Malaysia many benefits. The Malaysia ways to solve any provocation and controversial issues at the world stage at the conference table should be praised. For instance, the confrontation between Malaysia and Indonesia. The Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman has solved it with the diplomatic actions through the United Nation (Rohani, 2003, p 158). As the result, any new war was prevented. In addition, these diplomatic ways, has make Malaysia gains the economy prosperities. This is proved through the active participation of Malaysia in world economic and political communities, especially, ASEAN as well as World Trade Organization (WTO).
Conclusion
Now, the fifty years of nationhood is around the corner. The Malaysia diversity would become more complex in the future with more foreigners interested to be a Malaysians. Thus, the slogan ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’[1] can not be refuted anymore. What has Malaysia achieved today is not only the efforts of the leaders but also from all walks of life. To know the fame of Malaysia, the history should be revived.
In the nutshell, the blueprints of the triumphs are political stability, balanced economy, fair law, culture preservation as well as integration, and diplomatic foreign affairs. Education in every stage of learning is the basic way to work out the blueprints.
aizuddin mohamad noor
December 2006
[1] Tourism Malaysia (2006). About Malaysia. Retrieved December 16,
2006, from http://202.157.188.226/consumer/about/default.asp
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