YOURSAY | 'Independence only comes when true racial integration is recognised, equal opportunities exist for all.'

COMMENT | Merdeka at 69: Reclaiming Tunku's inclusive vision

Apanama is Back: Why is the first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman’s inclusive vision forgotten, and what happened?

It is not forgotten in the real sense. It is deliberately forgotten, and the nation took a wrong turn in the late 60s and early 70s. The rest is history.

While the inclusive vision is almost dead with Tunku, what surprises most people is that politicians are willing to pursue a completely wrong vision and even defend it at the expense of people's well-being.

Back in 1957, Malaysians would ask, "We are here as a new and young independent state, and where do we want to be next?"

When we talk about “next”, a country will always strive for the best. Looking back, Malaysia is not doing so and is always moving backwards.

Let me share part of Clive Kessler’s 2007 foreword in Rustam A Sani's book titled "Failed Nation? Concerns of a Malaysian Nationalist."

"The recent 50th anniversary of Malaysian Merdeka was marked by some odd ‘atmospherics’.

“Joy and pride seemed tinged, among many thoughtful Malaysian citizens, with a certain wistfulness, a mood of resignation and quiet regret: about what might have been, about things earlier hoped for that had not come to pass, and a wondering ‘why not?’

“Adults of mature years often look back upon the dearest hopes of their younger selves and wonder. They ask themselves, ‘Why so?’ – why had they dared and felt entitled to hope so generously – and ‘Why not?’ - why had their best hopes remained unfulfilled."

The above paints a picture of the country's situation in 2007. Almost twenty years later, in 2026, Malaysia is still the same and getting worse.

Rustam chooses the word "failed" not in the sense that what now (back in 2007) exists is nothing, but that it is so much less than what might have been.

For Rustam, "just good enough" is just not good enough. Malaysia, he insists, and rightly, is capable of, and deserves, so much better. Most of us know the root causes. There is nothing to comment further.

However, most of us have lived long enough to see the country's decay and decline. One cannot deny it. Malaysians deserve a better country after being independent for nearly 70 years, yet the country still seems directionless and clueless, and can't even solve simple problems such as the sock issue and the flag issue.

Spoon-fed for close to 60 years, yet a certain section of society becomes too dependent on it until they feel it is an entitlement without feeling shame. It itself is retarding the nation's progress.

They do not care as long as the handout is there, and each administration sees it as an obligation, even though the national debt is in the trillions. Coupled with the apartheid and discriminatory policies, the nation seems stuck in its own making.

Being independent seems meaningless when no one knows how to run the country. Instead, the country is being screwed up.

The Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory, have a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of approximately £86,050 (RM469,152.86). In comparison, the gross national income (GNI) per capita - which better reflects resident earnings - stands at about £58,749.

At the same time, Malaysia's nominal GDP per capita is estimated at US$15,085 (RM60,747.30). If Malaysia were another British overseas territory, we would be better off by now.

Exile: We need to take off the rose-tinted glasses when discussing Merdeka. Political independence in 1957 was largely an elite project; economic independence did not reach everyone equally.

Three large groups remained outside its benefits: the rural Malay majority, Chinese new villagers displaced and disrupted by the Emergency, and Tamils descended from plantation workers whose labour had sustained the colonial economy.

Each inherited a different form of economic disadvantage.

Malaysia’s second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein recognised the problem, and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad perhaps understood its political consequences better than most.

Yet Mahathir eventually lost the plot despite an extraordinary concentration of power.

Instead of eliminating the structural inequalities, the system increasingly produced patronage, rent-seeking and a politically connected class while significant pockets of disadvantage survived.

The present quarrel between ketuanan (supremacy) and meritocracy therefore misses something fundamental. Both have become euphemisms for deeper resentment over wealth, security, opportunity and belonging.

Many kind-minded Malaysians hoped Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the reformasi movement would provide the answer.

Regrettably, the problem may simply be too large and too deeply embedded for one leader.

The hope now lies increasingly with the post-baby-boomer generations. They need not inherit our arguments.

Reduce inequality through excellent common schools, healthcare, housing, productive employment and genuine equality of opportunity, and much of today's racial polarisation may lose its fuel.

Merdeka gave us political independence. Economic independence for all Malaysians remains unfinished business.

KNSamy: The biggest problem is the political agenda of race-based parties that want to wrest full control of the government to make sure that their race supremacy policies can be planned and executed using the provisions in the same Federal Constitution.

If only Sarawak and Sabah were not part of Malaysia, they would have done this long ago!

The disproportionate population increase among Malaysians also seems to help the designs of these divisive parties.

Of course, the enlightened Malaysians may still be championing a more balanced outlook - but may be brushed aside by the majority stand.

Our education system produces a new generation of Malaysians who do not really understand our history, and will continue to be gullible to the race supremacy agenda.

In any case, alternative education channels are still available to reach Malaysians who may be keen to ask questions.

This group needs to be active in speaking up to seek the attention of Malaysians - with the hope that a change occurs in thinking.

Keep writing, Ranjit Singh Malhi, and let us hope more Malaysians are reached in time.

GalaxyM: Sixty-nine years after Merdeka, should race-based policies be abolished? All races and religions should be given equal status.

The country and the people can only progress and prosper if they work hard and compete. It is absurd to retain a protection policy for the majority community who commands 70 percent of the population.

Krabian: Merdeka at 69. Time for all Malaysians to grow some backbone to stand up and compete among equals, and not rely on privileges and concessions at the expense of others.

MarioT: I think we should ask ourselves, are we truly independent after 69 years since the colonial powers left the country? We are being plunged deeper into a racial divide.

Has a non-Malay ever led the parade? Every year, the celebration is mainly focused on the Malays, giving scant exposure to the other Malaysians.

Independence only comes when true racial integration is recognised, and equal opportunities exist for everyone.

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