On the problem of “Ketuanan Melayu” and the work of the Biro Tata Negara

I must first congratulate “whackthembugger” the author of “Thumbs Up for BTN” for an insightful analysis and response to the argument we posted re: BTN. I would love the writer/blogger to sit in my classes and enrich the experience of my American students studying Cross Cultural Perspectives. Many will benefit from his critical sensibility. I think he/she has mounted a good piece of argument. On a related note, democracy — and dialogue on difficult issues — is certainly alive and well in Malaysia-Today, Malaysiakini, and other alternative media forums.

However, there are flaws in his argument we need to reflect upon. This concerns the nature of history and the structure of propaganda and mass indoctrination disguised as “patriotism”.

I agree we must give credit to those working hard to “improve the psychological well-being of the Malays” and for that matter for any race to improve its mental wellness. This is important. This is a noble act. The question is: in doing so, do we want to plant the seeds of cooperation and trust– or racial discrimination and deep hatred? Herein lies the difference between indoctrination and education.

These days, the idea of Ketuanan Melayu is going bankrupt, sinking with the bahtera merdeka. It works only for Malay robber barons who wish to plunder the nation by silencing the masses and using the ideological state apparatuses at their disposal. In the case of the BTN it is the work of controlling the minds of the youth. The work of BTN should be stopped and should not be allowed anymore in our educational institutions. It is time our universities especially are spared of counter-educational activities, especially when they yearned to be free from the shackles of domination. Look at what has happened and what is still happening to our institutions with the University and University Colleges Act and the Akujanji Pledge.

Over decades, many millions of Malays and non-Malays have not been getting the right information on our nation’s history, political-economy, and race relations. History that is being shoved to us or filter-funneled down the labyrinth of our consciousness is one that is already packaged, biased, and propagandized by our historians that became text-books writers. History need not be “Malay-centric”. Special rights for all Malaysians should be the goal of distributive and regulative justice of this nation, not the “special rights of a few Malays“. History must be presented as the history of the marginalized, the oppressed, and the dispossessed — of all races. We toil for this nation, as the humanist Paramoedya Ananta Toer would say, by virtue of our existence as “anak semua bangsa … di bumi manusia“. Malaysia is a land of immigrants.

In this regard we can learn from the former British colony called America. Whatever the shortcomings may be, America is a land of immigrants and still evolving. Even a Black man or a woman can become president. This is what America conceives itself to be and this is what Malaysian can learn from. Can a non-Malay become a Prime Minster is he/she is the most ethical of all politicians in the country?

No one particular race should stake claim to Malaysia. That is an idea from the old school of thought, fast being abandoned. Each citizen is born, bred, and brought to school to become a good law-abiding and productive Malaysian citizen is accorded the fullest rights and privileges and will carry his/her responsibility as a good citizen. That is what “surrendering one’s natural rights to the State” means. One must read Rousseau, Locke, Voltaire, and Jefferson to understand this philosophy. A bad government will not honor this — and will fall, or will sink like the bahtera merdeka.

The history of civilizations provides enough examples of devastation and genocide as a consequence of violent claims to the right of this or that land based upon some idea of “imagined communities.” We must teach our children to make history — a history of peace amongst nations. This must be made into a new school of thought: of “new Bumiputeraism” that encompasses all and do not alienate any — because life is too brief for each generation to fight over greed.

The eleventh hour of human existence and our emergence in this world has brought about destruction as a consequence of our inability to mediate differences based on race, color, creed, class, and national origin. Each ethnic group thinks that it is more socially-dominant than the other. Each does not know the basis of its “self”. Each failed to realize its own DNA-make up or gene map.

Life is an existential state of beingness, so must history be conceived as such. Nationalism can evolve into a dangerous concept– that was what happened to Europe at the brink of the two World Wars. It happened in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and Indonesia when Suharto fell. I argue that we must live evolvingly in the “historical presence of historical constructions”. The past and the future is in the present.

Back to BTN.

Courses devoid of critical treatment and sensibility and ones that retard student thinking — such as “Kenegaraan” — in our universities are designed to tell our mind to live in an imagined past. BTN is playing this dangerous game of blind nationalism still passing down packaged information that do not take into consideration the complexities of globalization and the promise of multiculturalism. We need to offer courses such as Multiethnic Malaysia that will have students aspire to think like multiculturalists and help this nation evolve better.

The ministry of education higher education combined has hundreds of experts — many overseas trained and have tasted the “spirit of multiculturalism” and the “beauty of intellectual freedom” in their classrooms abroad — who ought to have engineered a paradigm shift to help dismantle indoctrination agencies such as Biro Tata Negara.

But where are the voices in the wilderness of our public universities — those who should be speaking up against ‘Ketuanan Melayu or Ketuanan this or that race’? Why are many of these experts, instead of fighting for radical changes to affect radical-peaceful structural changes, are making big decisions to further advance the cause of racism? One-dimensional thinking prevails — the thinking that does not allow diversity of ideas and failed to develop cross-cultural perspectives. Ideas move nations but indoctrinations remove intelligence. Political masters– however corrupt to the core they are — dictates the work of our academicians.

Whoever writes history and turn that into say, BTN propaganda, controls the future (or at least they think they do). We must question what is taught during the sessions or during any history lesson; fundamentally:

– Whose history are we studying?
– Is it meaningful to me?
– Who wrote this history? Why? Who benefits?
– Who gets included and excluded in this history textbooks?
– Who’s the hero — who’s the villain?

The author “whackthembugger said this:

“…I also do not share Dr Azly’s many desperate wants (“I want this lah and that lah, no not that lah, should be like this lah etc”), it reflects something horrible must have happened him; he sounds really confused, frustrated and very much sickly. He should have more Faith; if the pleadings are too many or too unrealistic, He may not grant want any at all. Be reasonable, accept that we are merely human and have limitations on what can we achieve.”

This comment does not add value to the core of his argument; although what “I want..” is what the rakyat wanted as evident in the results of March 8 Elections. What I want to see is a stop to the systematic and ongoing stupefication of the Malays and the non-Malays and to let them be free from being run-down emotionally by boot camp facilitators who make a living humiliating people. We have a new generation of best and brightest Malaysians to educate. As an educator I have worked with thousands of them. These are extremely creative individuals who enjoy being challenged at the most respectable and intellectual levels — not through indoctrination methods such as those used in BTN camps. They want to be fed with more questions and not be shoved with BTN-type of answers. We cannot afford to turn term them into docile beings while at the same time we holler the slogan “human capital” or modal insan the world over. It will be a “modularly insane” human condition if we continue to capitalize on human docility.

The Biro Tata Negara as an indoctrinating institution was conceived by “intellectuals” who themselves are trapped in their own cocoon or glass coconut shell of “wrongly-defined” Malay-ness and in a paradigm that teaches a poor understanding of Malaysian history. These intellectuals are running around in our public universities promoting a more sophisticated and pseudo-intellectual version of racism. Inciting racial sentiments in classroom and boot camps is big business nowadays — profits made in the name of patriotism. But who’s monitoring the trainers?

Education is not about insulting one’s intelligence and instilling fear in our children. This is what the creators of BTN need to learn. In short, the indoctrinators need a good education on how not to indoctrinate. “Melayu ‘kan hilang di nusantara … ” if we allow the dumbing down of Malaysians to continue.

Progressive parliamentarians must discuss this serious matter concerning the organization’s deliberate attempt to promote disunity and to further fertilize the seeds of racism, at a time when we need to come together as Malaysians in order to face humanity’s greater problem such as the food, oil, and water crisis that will plague us as human beings — at a time when we must focus on constructing a new republic of virtue that will be founded on transcultural ethics, responsive and reflective politics, and a social-democratic-based economic system that do not tempt and feed human greed of the things they do not need. Our Asian despotic brand of capitalism continues to destroy the very foundation of our existence and our moral fibre. It is greed — big time — that brought down the National Front.

Through the work of the Rakyat, Divine intervention helped speed up the process of removal of Greed disguised as political parties in power. That’s the metaphysical interpretation of March 8, 2008.

The author “wackthembugger” however did a decent job putting forth some substantiated, supporting points. I think this is a learning experience for all of us in dealing with a subject matter as delicate as “Ketuanan Melayu” and in discussing challenging issues in an open public forum.

Let us now do a compare and contrast activity.

Which argument for and against the fate and survival of Biro Tata Negara is stronger, you think?

We can next write to our elected representatives to raise the issue of Biro Tata Negara in Parliament for the programs to either be monitored, reconstructed or discontinued:

His/her argument: Thumbs up for BTN

THUMBS UP FOR BTN

(in response to the article “Refection of a sinking Bahtera Merdeka” by Dr. Azly Rahman in Malaysia today)

Astonishing! From his article, Dr Azly Rahman claims

- an educator and of an astute stature having given a speech at Harvard University on “ambiguities of freedom” in post-March 8 revolution in Malaysia.

- “the BTN is the chief institution that disseminates the idea of Malay supremacy, makes Malays docile, wages nDoc germ warfare on Malays, breeds inter-racial hatred, destroys the possibility of inter-race dialogue, makes Malays afraid of themselves and their own shadow, and psyches Malays into believing that only UMNO is their true saviour”

- “his own personal experience with BTN in1980’s that BTM programs turning the Malay participants into leaders to hate especially the Chinese”.

I also did attended and found, unlike Dr Azly, that the BTN course satisfactorily achieved its objectives of inculcating the sense of Ketuanan Melayu (for my definition of Ketuanan Melayu see my blog at www.whackthembugger.blogspot.com), an alien concept to me then.

Backgrounder

Living among the Chinese communities in Ipoh during my entire schooling days, many of trusted friends were non Malays. Somehow after the infamous May 13 incident perhaps out of inherent fear, suspicion and sense of security, I got acquainted with more Malay friends but still never aside my friendship with the non-Malays. Throughout my professional career, I believed I have worked well and fairly easy with all races. Living in this blessed country, mutual respect is mighty crucial for business as well as for the peace and harmony to prevail within a multiracial and religious society. My exposure to “Ketuanan Melayu” was practically absent then.

Akurjanji Culture

Maybe I am not as educated or qualified as Dr Azly Rahman .I confess I am no political scientist to be able to analyze and envisage the kind of extensive ‘carpet bombing, systematic mental genocide of Malays, the nDoc virus etc” to conclude vis a vis the Malays in general are “mentally subdued, docile etc contributing them extensively a few people. But this I know, the bulk of the Malays are engaged in the public sector and not the private sector. I would believe that being relatively immobile, they have a natural phobia “not to bite the hand that feeds them” (i.e. the Government) in the open. But when came 12 GE where the ballots were deemed secret, this set of people whom Dr Azly referred to could have been among those who gave a good swing of votes to the opposition. In Islam, if you see some wrong act, first use your hand to remedy the wrong, if you can’t then use mouth, even if that you cannot do that, then say it in your heart, Almighty understands. Indeed during the GE 12, these people being fully assured their ‘periok nasi’ is safe, finally used their hand on the ballot papers in demonstrating their perception of what’s right or wrong.

Bonda senyum riang (Mother smiled with joy)

Now there’s this national call for Ketuanan Melayu getting stronger and louder by the day. Many Malay NGO’s and prominent individuals are in togetherness in looking forward for some favorable outcome. The Malay electorates are genuinely concern as they feel insecure about their future, about their children’s welfare, about their race and religion and so the call for Ketuanan Melayu reverberates…

A newly designed ship, the Bahtera Merdeka with its Ketuanan Rakyat’s flag hosted up high, is in the docks of mainland West Malaysia, appears not quite ready to be launched to set sail for a long tough journey in search of the land of many promises. This new ship has 3 different able captains but each is clumsily learning to steer the wheels of the newly designed ship. Learning to pilot on still waters is never that simple especially when there some really big holes to plug. These 3 captains could sense from their most sophisticated radar system that an unexpected storm is approaching. The radar also indicates that a 50 year old junk of battle ship once perceived as sinking seemed opportune to capitalize on the stormy weather. This old junk flies several flags but the “despicable” Ketuanan Melayu flag seemed prominently hosted at the center. The 3 captains being skillful politicians, fearing their many of newly recruited passengers (of protest voters) may jump ship even before its official launch, takes on a common ploy – putting the blame elsewhere and this time to hit BTN and UMNO, the prime mover of Ketuanan Melayu.

Respect for Ketuanans

During my primary school days some 45 years ago, the sekolah rendah kebangsaan I attended was packed with non Malay students. At the sekolah rendah kebangsaan (just walking distance from my house) where all my children go for their primary education, one can hardly find Chinese students there. I was informed that the Chinese preferred to send their kids to Chinese primary schools. I would take it that the Chinese have their individual “indoctrination” programs to sustain their wishes and I have no qualms about it.

Certain nights as I just drive around the Chinese part of the new villages, I see frequent Chinese cultural happenings; Malaysia is truly a magnificent country endowed with wonderfully rich and diverse cultures. I respect the many cultures of the Chinese as they respect mine and so similarly with the Indians and others.

The BTN programs have purpose.

Now back to BTM programs, sometime during the last couple of months of TDM’ retirement, upon invitation, I attended a 3-4 day “national service” program organized by BTN. We, the “chosen ones“, comprise mostly very senior executives and top heads from the private as well as government corporations and institutions. “Chosen” because we were given the absolute discretion to choose whether we wish to attend or not; on my part there was absolutely no compulsion. I was glad I made the correct choice to attend. Those who participated included several of my clients and friends, so I wasn’t without company nor felt lonely being away from my family at a secluded location about 11/2 hours drive from home.

Unlike Dr. Azly Rahman, I found the BTN course

- an shocking eye opener; the facts and statistics laid bare before us demonstrated the status and achievements and the economic well being of the Malays in relation to the others;

- pressures and forces, both national and international, that continues ‘threatening’ the Malay community especially teenagers were highlighted and focused (generally applicable to other races too). These included the supposedly bad influences of the entertainment world, the channels of communication (media), drugs, etc

- analysis and factors that influence the performance of Malay students and the inability of some to response appropriately upon exposure to the world i.e. once they are detached from the family

- historical development of our country, etc, etc.

Perhaps appreciating the make up and seniority of the participants, the BTN program was conducted in a most open environment with none of the junk Dr Azly referred earlier. If my memory serves me correct, the indoctrination program reminded us a lot about the poor state of our “roots” i.e. Malay race and as I reflected, I felt most sad, who shouldn’t be but that’s life as preordained by our creator, the Almighty, the most Beneficent and Compassionate. If we have the will to change our lives (fate), He will change it. So if we failed, we should not put the blame others except ourselves FULL STOP.

The Government continues to spent substantial amounts for the development of Malay students (amid instances of favoritism). Somehow Malay youths seemed very susceptible to the luring of worldly temptations and that is a genuine concern. Thus for its teen programs, BTN’s message of Ketuanan Melayu has to be hammered hard and in right into their brains to remind them who they are and what their responsibilities are. I would not disagree with that approach because even during my time, there were many students (financed by the Government or their institutions) who strayed from their studies and flopped. By the way, my daughter did her national service last year after her form 5 and she really enjoyed it.

I also do not share Dr Azly’s many desperate wants (“I want this lah and that lah, no not that lah, should be like this lah etc”), it reflects something horrible must have happened him; he sounds really confused, frustrated and very much sickly. He should have more Faith; if the pleadings are too many or too unrealistic, He may not grant want any at all. Be reasonable, accept that we are merely human and have limitations on what can we achieve.

Finally I categorically refute Dr Azly’s many baseless accusations on BTN and the effects of their programs. The programs themselves are beneficial for the Malays within the context of Ketuanan Melayu. As to the organization itself, it’s just natural for the organizers to want the programs to achieve as many aims as possible. Of course some educators are better than others in their approach and communication skills. For me and I believe too for most participants, we are matured enough to make up our own mind on what’s good or bad, what’s reasonable, illogical, unreasonable or fictitious; we take from the program what we like and discard those we think are rubbish and as we reflect, we move on in life searching for the manifold bounties out there.

I am just a simple minded Melayu (like a lazy big fat berok) who stay up on the tree top and from that vantage point, I dreamily watch the many opportunities slip way. I see no reason to compare with the Spartans or Athenians for examples, the Malays too has a long history with many examples and if anyone that the Malays should wish to emulate or compare, it’s the Prophet of Islam (PBUH)

END