Appreciate the ‘power-share’ privileges

Perpaduan or Unity is the fundamental basis of our success a very distinctive concoction of ‘power-share’ management way in nation-building. The nation comprises vast spectrum of ethnic groups and multi-faith. The much diversity is united into one. As the motto of the Federation, “Bersekutu, bertambah mutu“.

The diversity was about Malaya had a majority ethnic group and other minority ethnic groups. In the mid 50s, they started to work for a political common good and they managed consolidate, into a voice which was validated by the British as a voice of a nation. The same voice, brought by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra and his posse of Independence negotiators consist of Dato’ Abdul Razak Hussein, Dr. Ismail Abdul Rahman, Abdul Aziz Abdul Majid, Abdul Kadir Shamsuddin, Mohd. Seth Mohd. Said, Col H S Lee and T H Tan. Of course Dato’ Nik Ahmad Kamil and Hj Abdul Wahab (Dato’ Panglima Bukit Gantang) represented His Majesties the Malay Rulers.

This was the united voice of Perikatan. This was the voice that represented the rakyat to negotiate with the British colonialist authorities and gained our Kemerdekaan, with some conditions attached and agreed by all parties, which include the Malay Rulers. The Malay Rulers agreed to give up their inherited sovereign right to rule in favour of the Westminster style Constitutional Monarchy democratic system and the rakyat, be it indigenous or immigrants, shall equally determine the Government.

In August 1973, Perikatan transformed into Barisan Nasional (BN). It has been the helm of the Government, ever since. The people’s voices from the various component parties are represented in this power-sharing Government, including the Bumiputra groups from Sabah and Sarawak.

This was Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s message as the BN Chairman at MIC 61^st party conventions in Kuala Lumpur today.

Uploaded from Bernama.com:

All Races Must Progress Together, Says Abdullah 

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 (Bernama) — Malaysia will be safe and prosperous forever if all races are to advance together in the pursuit for progress without leaving any group to lag behind, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today.

The Prime Minister said it was crucial for leaders of the respective races, especially among the Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, to also consider the aspirations and interests of the other races when pursuing the interests of their own community.

“I feel happy when I hear leaders of parties representing other races also think about the positions of the other communities. Everybody understands that we are heading to the future with the same goal,” he said when opening the 61st MIC General Assembly at Dewan Merdeka of the Putra World Trade Centre.

Abdullah, who is also BN chairman, said although it appeared that there was competition among the component parties in pursuing the progress of their respective races, it was a good friendly competition in the BN which would yield benefits to all communities.

He said BN leaders, particularly in the cabinet, always gave importance to cordial inter-racial relations to discuss issues arising responsibly and to listen to views and opinions of all races.

“We have a common destiny, we have a common struggle…the struggle for the future of Malaysia,” he said, adding that Malaysia and the people are safe throughout the 50 years of independence.

Abdullah said the thrust of the time-tested cooperation in the BN was inter-racial understanding and tolerance to ensure harmony, mutual respect and co-exist peacefully.

“While we want the nation to progress, we don’t want any race to lag far behind. This is very important…and must be our norm, a reminder for us forever,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the MIC, in its pursuit to develop the education sector for the Indians as well as in other fields, the party should also take into account aspirations and interests of the Malays and Chinese.

“Parties representing their respective races, if they adopt the thinking and act by taking into account the interests of the other races, I believe Malaysia will be safe forever,” he said.

Abdullah said the cooperation concept had been the national policy to develop all races without letting any race to be left behind.

He said the concept of consultation and consensus was BN’s recipe of strength as clearly reflected in the April 28 Ijok by-election.

The BN candidate from the MIC won in the keenly-fought contest, with a higher majority, garnering the support of the other races, especially the Malays, he said. Ijok is a Malay-majority seat.

The Prime Minister said the diversity in Malaysia must be nurtured into a pillar of strength that needed all communities to be careful in their actions.

“It teaches us to be cautious when taking an action. It is akin to all of us on a ship…if the ship springs a leak, all of us will be drowned,” he said.

Abdullah also reiterated his emphasis on developing a strong human capital for the country’s continued progress and to embrace the challenges ahead in the next 50 years.

“I believe if human beings are imparted with useful knowledge, good education, high integrity and moral ethics, physical strength and firmly uphold the Rukunegara…we’ll emerge stronger in future,” he said.

Abdullah said he had high confidence in the younger generation in continuing the struggles of their respective communities because many of them had ideas.

“I’m happy to see young people having ideas but it is our responsibility as the elders to remind them on the importance of preserving congenial ties among us,” he said.

He said that it was the duty of everyone to remind the younger generation on how the country had progressed so far so that they would not be easily influenced by the extremists.

Leaders of other BN component parties also attended the assembly.

— BERNAMA

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Perpaduan was achieved from understanding the various parties have. They ‘give and take’. ‘Win-win’ formula, as they started saying in the 90s. Actually, they started this formula much earlier.

Post WWII Malayan politics most significant juncture is when UMNO was formed 11 May 1946 and the founder, Dato’ Onn Jaafar managed to use the strong conviction of the Malay voice to persuade His Majesties the Malay Rulers to reject the treaty brought by Sir Harold MacMichael for the formation of Malayan Union. The Malays under Dato’ Onn opposed the erosion of powers from the Malay Rulers and saw the recognition of immigrants such as Chinese and Indians as citizens. When Malayan Union failed, British Malaya became the Federation of Malaya and was not regarded as a crown colony.

UMNO under Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra decided to work together with MCA and MIC, for a common cause. In first General Elections in 1955, in the spirit of working together and inter party co-operation, 17 Malay majority seats were surrendered for MCA and MIC candidates, who eventually won.

This landslide co-operation was brought to Whitehall as the mandate of the Malayan people. Tunku negotiated for the Independence and willing to have the concession of accepting the Chinese and Indians as citizens as long the constitution of the new nation is agreed by all parties to incorporate the Islam as the religion of the Federation, Bahasa Melayu is the Bahasa Kebangsaan, the Special Malay Rights under Article 153. Everybody shook and an agreement had been achieved. An agreement which translated to the hoist of Jalur Gemilang on 31 August 1957 and the instruments of indepedence was signed.

That was the basis of Perikatan’s working together, until today. UMNO decided to “share its power” with MCA and MIC and together, administer and manage Malaya. Even today, most of 31 MCA and 9 MIC important seats are Malay majority area.

This concept of power-share has conveniently been watered down and sometime “forgotten”, especially by the younger generation. Little that they realize that they are being represented and their rights and interests as minority ethnic groups being voiced in the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara its out of the understanding and tolerance of the UMNO leaders willing to continue the working co-operation started by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra over 52 years ago.

The Malays are tolerant enough to allow non Malays be candidates in their constituencies for over 52 years. Without this tolerance and without the UMNO leaders ability to convince the majority Malay voters continuously to support their ‘power-share’ work-cooperation candidates, most of these MCA and MIC candidates, some GRM too, would not be voted in. Some of these candidates even face PAS candidates in a Malay majority area.

Its time these ‘power share’ and ‘tolerance for support’ being re-assessed , so that the current generation of non Malays are aware how their voices are being represented, therefore they are not freely marginalized like descendants of immigrants ethnic groups in other nations.

Dato’ Dr. Nordin Kardi, Vice Chancellor of UUM has this to say (uploaded from Utusan.com, www.utusan.com.my):

 

Fahami pemberian orang Melayu

Oleh: NORDIN KARDI

Semenjak meninggalkan Biro Tatanegara (BTN) untuk mengetuai Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), sudah hampir dua tahun saya tidak lagi bercakap mengenai politik. Namun, melihat kebelakangan ini pelbagai pihak semakin kerap membangkitkan isu kaum di Malaysia, kali ini saya memilih untuk turut serta. Tambahan pula saya banyak juga menerima sms dan e-mel yang sinis menyebut kata-kata ‘inilah demokrasi acuan Malaysia’. Kata-kata yang merujuk bahawa demokrasi Malaysia ialah demokrasi mengikut tafsiran nafsu Melayu.

Dalam konteks universiti, buku teks yang penulisannya diterajui oleh rakan saya Jayum Jawan, dari Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) mendapat perhatian mesyuarat Kabinet sehingga Shamsul Amri dari Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) ditarik untuk ‘memperbetulkannya’.

Meskipun tidak pernah di mana-mana di dunia Kabinet mencampuri urusan buku teks di universiti, di Malaysia nampaknya tradisi akademik ini telah pun dipecahkan. Saya tidak bermaksud Kabinet tidak mempunyai kuasa berbuat demikian. Memang Kabinet ada kuasa terhadap universiti awam, sebaliknya saya hanya mengatakan bahawa hal demikian tidak ‘biasa’ dalam tradisi pengajian tinggi. Demikian sensitifnya soal kepentingan kaum atau etnik sehingga hal yang bukan biasa pun telah dijadikan biasa.

Pemimpin-pemimpin Melayu terutamanya sangat defensif dalam menguruskan masalah kepentingan kaum ini. Kadangkala di Parlimen, ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat Melayu di pihak kerajaan seperti begitu ofensif dalam serangan balas mereka atas tuduhan perkauman. Namun, nyata tindakan ofensif itu pun hanya merupakan sebahagian daripada strategi defensif.

Seperti ada rasa bersalah di kalangan pemimpin Melayu setiap kali bercakap mengenai kepentingan etnik sehingga ruang rundingan kepentingan Melayu terutamanya tidak begitu terbuka, sebaliknya perlu ‘diseludup’ dengan cara lain. Pemberian terhadap orang Melayu secara terbuka ditakuti akan dilihat sebagai tindakan diskriminatif.

Frasa popular yang dilemparkan kepada kerajaan semasa ialah bahawa kerajaan perkauman kerana dibentuk oleh gabungan parti utama yang berasaskan kaum – UMNO, MCA dan MIC. MCA dan MIC selalu dimomok sebagai parti bukan Melayu yang yang tunduk dan menjadi alat kepada UMNO untuk menegakkan kepentingan Melayu.

Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) yang diasaskan selepas Peristiwa 13 Mei, yang menekankan sasaran penyertaan Melayu sebanyak 30 peratus dalam semua sektor untuk tempoh 20 tahun (1970-1990) adalah ibu kepada segala dasar ‘jahat’ perkauman UMNO.

Orang bukan Melayu dilihat sebagai telah berkorban selama 20 tahun untuk membiarkan orang Melayu merebut segala peluang ekonomi, pelajaran, sosial dan sebagainya. Oleh yang demikian sebarang usaha melanjutkan sasaran itu selepas 1990 adalah suatu usaha diskriminasi yang menzalimi kepentingan kaum lain.

Pemimpin UMNO selalu mempertahankan keputusan-keputusan berkaitan kaum dengan mengulang-ulang cerita kontrak sosial yang telah lama. Ini berterusan sehingga mata masyarakat Malaysia, lebih-lebih lagi mata asing (mungkin dengan minat tertentu), melihat seolah-olah benar kaum Melayu terus menerus mendapat laba selepas kontrak itu, sementara kaum lain sentiasa memberi.

Orang Melayu sudah tidak memberi lagi selepas 1957! Orang Melayu menerima subsidi, orang Melayu membolot kuasa, orang Melayu kaum penerima!

Bilakah orang Melayu memberi? Besar sangatkah pemberian orang Melayu itu kepada kaum lain sehingga kaum lain terpaksa membayarnya kembali tanpa kesudahan? Tambahan pula kontrak itu bukan dibuat oleh generasi pelbagai kaum sekarang. Dia buatan orang dahulu, mengapa orang sekarang harus terus membayarnya? Benarkah?

Memang pada tahun 1955, dua tahun sebelum merdeka, orang Melayu telah menghadiahkan sesuatu yang sangat berharga kepada kaum lain. Biasanya, orang akan cepat menyebut bahawa hadiah besar kepada kaum lain itu ialah kerakyatan.

Itu pun kata mereka kerana pembesar Melayu dipaksa oleh Inggeris. Tidak ada pilihan. Namun demikian, saya lebih cenderung mengatakan hadiah besar itu bukan kerakyatan sebaliknya hadiah selepas kerakyatan itu diperoleh. Jangan lupa, hal ini tidak semestinya terjadi jika keputusan sedemikian tidak dibuat orang Melayu.

Apakah perkaranya? Perkaranya ialah kerusi pilihan raya. Pada tahun 1955 itu diadakan pilihan raya dan orang bukan Melayu hanya mempunyai majoriti di dua konstituen. Namun demikian Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman telah memutuskan supaya orang bukan Melayu diberikan 17 kerusi. Lima belas untuk MCA dan dua untuk MIC. Segolongan pemimpin UMNO meninggalkan UMNO kerana hadiah yang terlalu mewah ini. Namun, rupanya orang Melayu.

Kebanyakan pun bersedia merestui pemberian hadiah ini. Keputusan pilihan raya itu menunjukkan orang Melayu memangkah untuk berwakilkan bukan Melayu di kesemua tujuh belas konstituen itu. Maksudnya, keputusan itu bukan lagi keputusan Tunku berseorangan. Orang Melayu berani meletakkan kepercayaan dengan berwakilkan bukan Melayu untuk memperjuangkan kepentingan mereka.

Apakah ada bukti lain yang lebih besar untuk menyatakan bahawa asas pemikiran politik UMNO tidak perkauman.

Itu dahulu. Sekarang bagaimana? Demikian lanjutan perbualan ahli politik generasi muda. Jawapannya tetap serupa. Semenjak pilihan raya 1955 itu UMNO secara berterusan memberikan konstituen majoriti Melayu kepada bukan Melayu. Jika tidak demikian semangatnya, MIC boleh dikatakan tidak akan diberikan satu kerusi pun.

Cuba perhatikan hadiah UMNO kepada orang calon bukan Melayu dalam pilihan raya terbaru iaitu tahun 2004. Ong Ka Ting, Presiden MCA menang di P165 Parlimen Tanjung Piai, Johor yang pengundi Cina hanyalah 40.14 peratus berbanding dengan pengundi Melayu 53.02 peratus. Kawasan itu boleh diyakini sebagai kawasan selamat menang kepada Ong.

Naib Presiden MCA, Ong Tee Kiat menang di P100 yang pengundi Cina hanyalah 42.56 peratus berbanding pengundi Melayu 51.42 peratus. Demikian juga dengan pemimpin MCA yang lain bergantung kepada undi Melayu seperti Chor Chee Heung di Alor Star (58.43 peratus), Lim Bee Kau, di Padang Serai (52.51), Tan Kian Hoe di Bukit Gantang (62.95), Yew Teong Lock di Wangsa Maju (52.67), Wee Ka Siong (55.26), Kerk Choo Ting di Simpang Renggam (54.29) dan Ling Ban Sang di Tebrau (51.09).

MIC pula mendapat konstituen yang majoriti pengundinya adalah Melayu di Hulu Selangor untuk Palanivel (50.50 peratus Melayu berbanding pengundi India hanya 19.04 peratus) dan Vigneswaran (50.05 peratus Melayu berbanding pengundi India hanya 27.30 peratus.

Dalam konteks ekonomi pula adakah benar orang Melayu sahaja yang menerima sedangkan kaum lain sentiasa memberi? Orang berniaga atau orang yang mempelajari pengajian perniagaan akan faham bahawa dalam sesebuah ekonomi setiap ahli masyarakat menyumbang kepada pertumbuhan.

Tentulah tidak munasabah mengatakan Melayu hanya sebagai penerima sedangkan mereka setiap hari berurus niaga dan berperanan sebagai pengguna yang berbelanja.

Baik DEB mahupun Dasar Pembangunan Negara (DPN) memang ada memperuntukkan bajet negara atas nama Melayu. Contohnya Felda. Majoriti penerokanya ialah Melayu. Namun demikian, jika katakan kawasan Felda itu adalah getah, peneroka akan menunggu tujuh tahun baharu getahnya boleh ditoreh untuk mengeluarkan hasil.

Sedangkan, kontraktor pembina jalan, kontraktor pembuat rumah peneroka, kontraktor memasang paip, kontraktor elektrik, kontraktor membina kompleks dewan, sekolah dan sebagainya yang menelan jutaan ringgit (berbanding beberapa ringgit yang bakal diperoleh oleh peneroka tujuh tahun kemudian!) yang umumnya melibatkan golongan bukan Melayu serta-merta menyejat peruntukan jutaan ringgit itu.

Inilah yang dikatakan oleh Tun Razak dahulu bahawa DEB yang memperuntukkan 30 peratus kepentingan Melayu dalam semua sektor dalam tempoh 20 tahun untuk dicapai bukan bererti merampas daripada bukan Melayu kepada Melayu, sebaliknya ia dilaksanakan dengan memperbesarkan kek ekonomi.

Walaupun sesuatu projek itu diluluskan atas tajuk Melayu namun nikmatnya tidak semestinya dirasai oleh Melayu sahaja.

Saya teringat kata Profesor Bazerman, pakar strategi perundingan Harvard yang menyebut jika ada dua pihak sedang berunding yang kesudahan rundingan itu satu pihak mendapat lapan dan satu pihak lagi mendapat 10 tetap lebih baik meneruskan rundingan berbanding jika setiap pihak mendapat masing-masing tujuh jika menamatkan rundingan.

Dari sudut politik, sehingga semenjak 1955 sehingga pilihan raya 2004 orang Melayu masih setia memberi apa yang mereka biasa beri. Ini akademik. Mungkinkah Profesor Bazerman pernah secara diam-diam belajar dari Malaysia?

DATUK DR. NORDIN KARDI ialah Naib Canselor Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).

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Dr. Nordin’s analysis missed MCA and MIC heavyweights such as Chang Kong Choy, Dr. Chua Soi Lek, Fong Chan Onn, Lim Si Cheng, Donald Lim, Tan Chai Ho, Ng Lip Seong, S Samy Vellu and S. Sothinathan. No longer heavyweights like Jimmy Chua Jui Meng should be included too.

According to Dr. Nordin, UMNO’s ‘power-share’ partners owes it to UMNO who worked hard to ensure that the Malay votes remained strong. This is a strong statement why the minority are allowed to be in power and that should be treated as a privilege.

Understanding the fold of history is imperative to see the linkage of what at hand today and how it got there. In May 1969, some of these urban Chinese got over excited with the leftist and socialists ideology left by the constantly pain-in-the-behind PAP. They irresponsibly chose to express their new found winnings in the most provocative fashion. The Malays, on the other hand, have been harbouring a lot of dissatisfaction on too many issues, being systematically provoked and insulted and a devastating inter-racial scuffle followed on.

Everyone promised the bitter and bloody experience of the May 13 incidence were never to be allowed to happen again. All of them sat (except DAP) and formulated a long term plan to ensure that no one should thread on those dangerous lines, again.

When Barisan Nasional was launched in August 1973, it is a statement of the ‘power share’ once enjoyed is being strengthened further and a more structured working relationship be forged.

It is important that the minority ethnic group which enjoy being represented in the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara realize that the tolerance of the Malays towards their demands and pettiest expressions might have a limit. Their voice are allowed to be heard with the concessation and constellation ‘allowed’ the majority (of course in the spirit of ‘power-share’). Therefore, the minority must realize that the majority also reserve the right to revoke this privilege if its overly used or abused, one day, in the universally accepted practice of democracy.

Of course the consistent argument that the nation is moving along in a more dynamic world and all the trimmings that go on with it. However, as Malaysians, we chart our own affairs in our own fashion. We stride along our own pace. We are responsible of our futures. Most importantly, we measure with our own values.

Yes, the values, which are most acceptable by the majority. Unavoidably, we will always look into everything with the half glass perspective, half empty or full. Which ever, it is not good to rock the boat when everyone is settled in. It is also not good to throw pebbles when one lives in glass houses.