In this final part of the 3-part of interview, Professor Cheah Boon Kheng shares his thoughts on the issues of language, religion, political parties' ideologies and globalization in the context of Malaysia's process of nation-building.

Malaysiakini: Like it or not, Malaysians speak and write many different languages in their daily life, but there are still many monolingual Malaysians, be them the Malay-, Chinese-, Tamil- or English- educated. They seem to live in different social worlds and cultural universes. How does this paradox contribute to inter-communal misunderstanding, tensions and conflicts?

Cheah: I think the mono-lingual Malaysians are mostly of the older generation, who are slowly passing out of the scene. If we take a good look around, there are many positive developments that already make for cordial inter-ethnic relationships.

Thousands of our younger generation of different races speak and learn in the national language of Malay, on a daily basis in school. This is the language of national unity. They inculcate and demonstrate loyalty and patriotism. Some 60,000 non-Chinese children are studying in Chinese schools. Their numbers are increasing.

The English language is being taught and emphasised in schools, so again languages of communication are being broadened. Likewise, English the language of modern communications and technology on internet websites and chat sites.

In this way, Malaysia has moved away from the Furnivallian concept of the old 'plural society', in which the different ethnic communities remain distinct communities, and do not bond, mingling only in the market-place.

It is often reasoned that race-based political parties and political appeals to mono-ethnic and mono-communal sense of insecurity, sentiments of hope and fear as well as desires for in-group coherence and recognition, are obstacles not only to nation-building but also to democratisation and the protection of universal human rights. A person is often regarded exclusively as a member or representative of an ethnic group rather than a human being or common citizen of a country. What is your comment?

As I observed earlier, many non-communal political parties have failed to make much headway in Malaysian politics. A non-communal party tries to accommodate members of all races within its single organisation, like Dato Onn's Independence of Malaya Party or the Malayan Labour Party.

On the other hand, a communal party represents the interests of its respective community, like Umno for the Malays, the MCA for the Chinese and the MIC for the Indians, and so on.

In addition, a multi-ethnic coalition like the Barisan Nasional or the Barisan Alternatif attempts to accommodate the interests, demands and needs of its component communal or religious organisations.

The Malaysian public seems to prefer this multi-ethnic approach. The Gerakan and the DAP claim to be non-communal parties, but their members are predominantly Chinese. When the Gerakan and MCA leaders said they might consider sitting down for merger talks, what does this tell us of the nature of the Gerakan party?

The Malaysian public believes that a communal party is better able to promote and safeguard their respective community's rights. I don't think this direction threatens democratisation or human rights.

There is a school of thought opining that while the tide of ethnic polarisation between Malays and non-Malays may have subsided, religious polarisation between Muslims and non-Muslims is on the rise. In your observation, is it true?

I must admit that religious polarisation has become acute in the last two decades, but with halal restaurants mushrooming and with more inter-religious dialogues and multi-cultural practices, the problem hopefully will subside. I see this as part of the on-going process of

nation-building.

Globalisation and the borderless revolution in information technology as well as the consequent explosion of information and knowledge are often hailed by the business, scientific and media communities as desirable progress in human conditions, but there are also fears and anxieties that accepted or established national, ethnic, religious, linguistic and ideological identities will be diluted, eroded or even destroyed in the process dominated by the English language and western capitalist values. What is your opinion?

Globalisation is inevitable. Western culture is so pervasive. It enters our homes and offices through TV, radio, the media and the internet. On the other hand, most ethnic communities are aware that they need to preserve their own cultures, so that there will not be a total absorption of western cultures and values.

I believe there is a need for more openness, more tolerance of other cultures. I hope more multi-cultural practices will take place. It is rather late in the day to force anyone's culture on others. It is up to people to choose for themselves.

JAMES WONG WING ON is chief analyst of Strategic Analysis Malaysia. He is a former DAP member of Parliament for Kampar (1990-1995) and a former columnist for the Sin Chew Jit Poh Chinese daily (now Sin Chew Daily). He read political science and economics at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.