From: subraman@andy.bgsu.edu (ANAND)
Subject: Re: MY: Think Malaysian, not Malay, Chinese, Indian.
Organization: Bowling Green State University B.G., Oh.
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 18:16:43 GMT

In article <9211050323.AA26350@news.cis.ohio-state.edu>, C587307@mizzou1.missouri.edu (Theresa McConnell) writes:
> 
> Hi, the following is a transcript from The Straits Times (10/17/92).
> Permission has obtained for interested group circulation only.
> 
> Best wishes,
> Theresa McConnell
> Dept of Asia-Pacific Newsgroup
> School of Journalism
> University of Missouri
> 
> 
> -- article 232:NST:10/17/92
> 
> KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian must make a conscious effort to accept and practice
> the concept of "bangsa Malaysia" (Malaysian nationality) to promote unity
> and goodwill, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Raja
> Datuk Ariffin Raja Sulaiman, said on Tuesday.
> 
>     He said there were still some, especially Malays, who had reservations
> about accepting the concept as they did not understand it fully.
>     "National integration is possible if there is a total acceptance of
> the concept of 'bangsa Malaysia' among the people," he said.
>     He was speaking to reporters during visit to Balai Berita where he met
> senior editors and management officials of the New Straits Times Press
> (Malaysia) Berhad.
>     Raja Ariffin said the press should be pro-active in promoting the
> concept of a Malaysian nationality to make people more aware of it.
> "Malaysians cannot run away from the reality that, to attain a cohesive
> and united society, they ..... should identify themselves as a Malaysian
> and not as a Malay, Chinese or Indian," he added. - NST. 10/15/92.
> 
> --- end of article

I believe the above article relates what we have argued before and some of 
us are still arguing about. Myself and all of us I hope has been identifying
ourselves as a Malaysian. There is no doubt about it. There is something thta
we need to concern here is how to not to confuse the foreigner in this case
anyone who is from outside Malaysia. In my university here there are Malaysian
Indian, Malaysian Chinese and there used to be bunch of Malays too. For the 
new students in this university, when a Chinese introduce himself/herself
as a Malaysian and then when an Indian introduce himself/herself as a
Malaysian, for a moment they get confuse because of the skin color 
differences. So, quite often I have to explain to them little bit about
our country's nature and who lives there. So my point is, how can you just
introduce yourself as a Malaysian and not specifically say who you are?

When we fill up any forms, we always state our nationality as a Malaysian.
Some of you might say that, what Raja Ariffin trying to say is, not to 
introduce yourself just as a Malay, Chinese or Indian. I know that but
I think it is the uniqueness of our country being as a multiracial country
and we should introduce ourselves as Malaysian Malays, Malaysian Chinese
or as a Malaysian  Indian and still keeping the identity as an Malaysian
and work towards the "Satu Bangsa" way.

Here I would like to express my dissatisfaction against our government who
is trying to show to rest of the world how peaceful we are and how integrated
we are living as a Malaysia. For Chinese and Indians there is so much to go
through in order to achieve anything in Malaysia. For example, my parents are
born in Malaysia. I'm the second generation who was born in Malaysia. But,
we are still not considered as the first clas citizen. This applies to any
Chinese too. Maybe this explains why a lot of Chinese migrates to different
country as well as Indians. If you take America, once you become a citizen
of this country, there is a chance for you to be a President. I know is not
that easy but atleast there is no law or constitution saying that you can't.
What about Malaysia? There is so much that we as an Indian and Chinese can't
achieve eventhough we are the citizen of Malaysia. Maily because of the 
special priveledges for the bumis. Well, how many our you think that we don't
work hard for our country's growth and don't deserve the same priveledges?
Is this situation will be carried on forever?

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***                       Holy father Holy ghost,                        ***
***                 Who is the one that hurts you most?                  ***
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Geeva Subramaniam
University Computer Services
Bowling Green State University.


D
***                       Who is the one that hurts you most ?