YOURSAY | “Some only muddy the waters further with misplaced or uninvited commentary.”
COMMENT | History, homeland, and who belongs in Malaysia
Milshah: Let it be known to all Malaysians why we have Article 153 (and this coming from independent historian Ranjit Singh Malhi).
The constitutional settlement at Merdeka was one where Malaysia’s founders understood a delicate balance. When independence was negotiated, they did not attempt to erase the country’s historical foundations, nor did they seek to establish an ethnically exclusive state.
Instead, they crafted a constitutional settlement that balanced historical continuity with inclusive citizenship.
The Federal Constitution preserved the institution of the Malay rulers, recognised Malay as the national language, established Islam as the religion of the federation, and accorded the Malays a special position - later extended to include the natives of Sabah and Sarawak following the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
These provisions reflected the historical reality of the peninsula and honoured the political role of Malay rulers in the independence negotiations.
At the same time, the Constitution established a common citizenship for those who qualified under its provisions. It reflected the understanding that the new nation would be built upon both its historical foundations and the loyalty of citizens from different ethnic backgrounds.
This was a conscious design reflecting the vision of Merdeka.
Article 153 illustrates this careful balance. It entrusts the Yang di-Pertuan Agong with safeguarding the special position of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak while also protecting the legitimate interests of other communities.
These principles are complementary, not contradictory. The constitutional settlement recognised historical distinctions without creating citizens who belong and citizens who merely reside.
Doc: When it comes to building a viable economy, ensuring the social well-being of the Malay people, and ensuring that the rakyat get basic human rights - a good education that leads to a job and an income (not PAS tahfiz types), clean water, and employment - PAS scores a big zero.
The only way PAS can stay in power and win elections is to play the race game. Their broken record rhetoric claims every single Malay hardship is caused by DAP and the kafir (infidel).
They use the religious card to ensure the feeble-minded keep voting for Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Nor.
Once the Kedah economy is brought to its knees - much like what we are witnessing in Langkawi - PAS will ask non-Malays to invest in PAS-run states after stabbing them in the back, assuming investors are as gullible as their voters.
Darmakochi: "An honest understanding of Malaysian history begins with a fundamental fact: the Orang Asli - the peninsula’s first inhabitants - predate all others." Thank you, Ranjit! Well said. Technically, everyone else came later to this land!
Sanusi and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang must understand this very important fact. Of late, day in and day out, the whole nation is wasting time just debating this issue.
It is high time our Agong and our prime minister put an end to this discourse. There is far too much real work to be done for our beloved multiracial nation.
GreenFalcon2290: Curious use of words. The author claims the Malays originally came from Sumatra and, in the very same breath, claims this peninsula is their historical homeland.
Ordinary logic would tell us that if Sumatra is where the first of their people migrated from, then Sumatra must be the historical homeland.
Take the United States, for example - the historical homeland of a large percentage of current American citizens is Europe.
President Donald Trump repeatedly points out in public that his mother and father came from European countries.
Equally, the author himself acknowledges that the Orang Asli were the first inhabitants of the peninsula.
At the end of the day, citizenship is the sole true measure of rights. Those constitutional rights are not meant to be separated by ethnicity, irrespective of time or historical ancestry.
Undecided: "My question to Hadi and Sanusi is therefore simple: by what moral or national standard can a man who risked his life for Malaya, served its people honourably, was decorated by the king, and was granted land by the government still be dismissed as a ‘pendatang' (migrants)?"
Using that same standard to measure service and loyalty to the country, "pendatang" might actually be a far more appropriate label for Hadi and Sanusi themselves, given their conduct and behaviour as MPs.
Ipoh pp: That was the price Malaya had to pay to get independence from the British. If the non-Malays were not given citizenship, Malaya would not have been granted independence by the British.
Mazhilamani: How did a Malay population of 3.1 million in 1957 become close to 20 million today?
Almost seven times more over a period of 70 years, or an increase of three million every decade. If it has little to do with reproductive prowess, where were the rest coming from?
It is like asking how our national football team became so non-local, displacing local Malay players.
Has anyone truly studied what percentage of Malays belong to the high-income bracket, middle class, and those below the poverty line?
The outcome of such a study might surprise many. Also, looking into how the top tier of Malays suddenly amassed wealth and their political linkages - even ordinary Malays would be astonished.
There was undeniably a steady inflow of Indonesian migrants over the last seven decades who were granted bumiputera status and “ketuanan” (supremacy) privileges to bolster the Malay political base. This cannot be denied. The man instrumental in this is an ancient figure in political history.
Historically, anyone born in Malaysia after Merdeka or holding Malaysian citizenship is a full Malaysian.
You know why this narrative remains a serialised, unending episode? Because those in high authority refuse to address this sensitive issue head-on. Instead, some only muddy the waters further with misplaced or uninvited commentary.
People like Sanusi must be charged with sedition. Being a menteri besar should not shield anyone from the law.
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