Yayasan 1Malaysia (Y1M), an NGO that promotes the 1Malaysia concept, has urged both the public and private sectors to eliminate the ethnic category in certain forms, to reduce the present preoccupation with ethnic affiliation.

“While ethnic identity consciousness is understandably strong in most multi-ethnic societies, it has become a sort of social habit in Malaysia. This has to be checked if an all-encompassing Malaysian identity is to assume greater significance in the present and the future.

“It is only such an identity that will ensure our cohesiveness as a nation and our solidarity as a people,” said Chandra Muzaffar, the chairperson of Y1M.

 

lebanon forum 050906 chandra muzaffar Speaking to reporters at a press conference to announce this stand, Chandra ( right ) noted that while a review is in order, it has to be done gradually, and with a great deal of sensitivity.

 

“At the outset, it should be made abundantly clear that since our concern is with ethnicity, a person will continue to state his or her religious status as required presently in certain forms associated with hospital records and the like.

“Similarly, if ethnic statistics are vital for achieving the larger goal of national unity, their continued usage would be justified”, he noted.

 

Also present at the press conference were the trustees of Y1M, Lee Lam Thye, Mahani Zainal Abidin, Tony Fernandes, Ismail Ibrahim, Peter Kedit and Ahmad Izham Omar.

Chandra explained that for instance, to increase non-Malay participation in the civil service, the police and the armed forces, it would be necessary for applicants to state their ethnic status.

By the same token, to strengthen the Malay, Indian, Dayak and Kadazan role in certain commercial enterprises in the private sector, the availability of ethnic data becomes indispensable.

 

“There are however many other spheres of activity which have very little to do with the objective of national unity where ethnic categorisation continues to be emphasised.

“Why is it necessary for instance for hire-purchase agreements or applications for a bank loan to include a column on one’s ethnic affiliation? What purpose does the ethnicity column serve in the public examination (SPM and STPM) registration forms?” he asked.

‘No longer viewing through an ethnic prism’

He added that this is perhaps the most appropriate time to conduct such a review.

 

“The government is giving more emphasis than ever before to providing assistance to the needy, on the one hand, and rewarding the able, on the other, regardless of ethnicity. When justice and excellence are no longer viewed through an ethnic prism, forms that continue to prioritise ethnicity become somewhat anachronistic,” he said.

 

Chandra noted that no one should fear this shift to values that are in fact in harmony with the essence of Islam and other faiths.

“The genuine interests of the different ethnic communities would be better served when these values are translated into policies and programmes, and implemented with sincerity and honesty.

“It is only those who have a vested interest in perpetuating unwarranted ethnic categorisation of our people who would be averse to this transformation,” he added.

“Y1M is convinced that reducing ethnic dichotomisation in the life of the nation is the way forward. Eliminating unnecessary and unjustified ethnic columns in forms emanating from both the public and private sectors is a small step in the right direction,” Chandra concluded.

Y1M was established in established in July 2009 as a non-partisan, independent, and non-profit foundation by a group of like-minded people who advocate the 1Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.