I read an interesting piece by the Association of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) on national schools and national unity. Its president, Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, said the national schools have effectively become de facto Malay schools which hamper unity among the races.

Our Rukunegara, unlike Indonesia’s Pancasila, has existed only in form. Its true intents and spirits have not permeated among Malaysians. Malaysia is in dire need of its own identity to withstand the onslaught of liberalism which includes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).

I can’t argue much on the views expressed by the Mubarak leader, except the devil is in the details.

We could all see the same things prevailing in our country - disunity, intolerance, chauvinism, and backwardness. But it is most likely that we will assign different reasons for these problems and offer different solutions to solve them.

For example, when national schools have become Malay schools as highlighted, what exactly are the reasons behind this? Some would say the non-Malays are chauvinistic and unpatriotic. Others, however, would say that our national schools are not competitive and do not promote good work culture.

Obviously how we see the problems will determine how we provide solutions. If you belong to the first category, you would propose compulsion and forced integration. On the other hand, if you belong to the second category, you would propose improvements and changes to our existing national schools, making them more cosmopolitan, competitive and liberal.

The same goes with Rukunegara. What exactly is its true intent and spirit? First, what if believing in god includes looking down on others who believe in different gods? Second, what if loyalty is blind obedience and submission? Third, what use is the supremacy of constitution if the interpretation is subjected to whims and fancies?

Fourth, what if rule by law is mistaken as rule of law? Fifth, what if mutual respect and good social behaviour is fake, basing not on mutual respect but dominance and subservience?

It is so easy for us to talk about forging a strong Malaysian identity - a common bond for all Malaysians. But what exactly do we have in mind? Are we a nation based on one dominant religion, race, culture and language? Are we a nation that talks about god and his precepts every day but has lived very little of it?

Are we a nation that believes and thrives on multiculturalism and liberalism? Is liberalism and multiculturalism ipso facto bad, why? Do we want our people to be self-assured, confident, dynamic and knowledgeable or do we prefer our people to be docile, subservient, indoctrinated and dependent? Seriously, I am not sure of Malaysia’s preferred identity any more. Do you?