DEPARTMENT OF AMERICAN DEGREE TRANSFER PROGRAM

(LIBERAL ARTS) 2011

PENGAJIAN MALAYSIA (MPW2133)

Quiz 1

Student name: Student Id:

KEK HUI WEN B1000328

NG WAI CHENG B1001915

YAP SZE LING B1002027

FONG WEN SERN B0803530

WONG KENT SOON B1001475

TAN HOO SEONG B0701082

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1 Malaysia is a programme designed by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib

Tun Razak on September 16, 2008. An official logo and slogan has been introduced along

with the launch of 1 Malaysia concept. The logo is the symbol of '1' which incorporates the

national Jalur Gemilang flag and the word Malaysia. Since the introduction of the 1 Malaysia

concept by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak since taking over the

government, many quarters have praised him for his enterprising vision to unify and

strengthen our Malaysian society which comprises of a multi-racial, multi-religious and

multi-cultural society into one single and progress society. Notwithstanding, we do not deem

that 1 Malaysia would be realized. This is just another political rhetoric to win over non-

Malay support. According to Philip Bowring, on the New York Times website, in the article

titled "One Malaysia", the article precisely describes the socio-political situation we are

having in Malaysia, he even indicated that "Malaysia badly needs a break from 52 years of

sometimes authoritarian and corrupt rule by a coalition of race-based parties headed by the

United Malays National Organization (UMNO), which controls most levers of power and

money"? Deep in my heart, I strongly agree this is the ugly truth that occurs in my country.

First and foremost, the definition of 1 Malaysia is vague. Without the Government spelling

out the precise meaning of 1 Malaysia, different people are giving their own interpretations.

For instance, the Malays broadly interpret 1 Malaysia to mean adoption of the national

language as the home language by every citizen as happens in other multiracial countries.

They also expect the abolition of Chinese and Tamil schools and ensuring the private sector

has a fair participation of Malays and other Bumiputeras. On the contrary, The Chinese and

Indians interpret 1 Malaysia to mean elimination provisions for the special treatment of the

Malays and their protection by the Rulers, removal of the quota for Malays in the Civil

Service, termination of the NEP, termination of the 30 per cent quota for Malays and

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indigenous people in business, termination of the quota for awards of licences and so forth.

They do expect the perpetuation of Chinese and Indian schools by the Government.

Obviously, 1 Malaysia clearly means different things to the different races.

Secondly, the Ministers in Najib’s Cabinet do not endorse the definition and objective of 1

Malaysia. In other words, how can they implant 1 Malaysia belief in citizens as they do not

set an example? In evidence, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in response

to a challenge from Lim Kit Siang (DAP MP) stated that "I am Malay first but being Malay

doesn't mean I am not Malaysian". Besides, Tan Sri Muhyiddin told a press conference in the

Parliament lobby that "Lim Kit Siang doesn't understand the meaning of the Federation of

Malaysia is all about". "How can I say I'm Malaysian first and Malay second? All the Malays

will shun me... and it's not proper". Once again, it is clearly illustrated that 1 Malaysia will

never succeed.

Thirdly, the “race” category is not yet dropped from all official forms and documents.

Outside Malaysia, we are all known as Malaysians. They do not call us Malays, Chinese,

Indians, Ibans, Kadasans and so forth. Therefore, I strongly believe that this category should

be abolished as a move to unify Malaysians and to ensure the realization of the 1 Malaysia

concept. Although this step will not guarantee that racial discriminations will no longer be, it

will somehow create a hope for the plural society to be more united and come under one

umbrella.

Additionally, the racial quota for the JPA overseas scholarship does have a significant

influence. Bumiputera peers are given unfair advantage as they are not capable as non-

bumiputeras. For example, a non-bumiputera student with 16 A’s (10 A+ and 6 A) does not

receive JPA scholarship while her bumiputera classmates with 4 A’s get a seat just because

they carry a bin or binti in the middle of their names. On the other hand, we, the non-

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bumiputeras, with better qualifications do not enjoy the same benefits with the bumiputeras.

It is clearly shown that selection is based on races rather than skills and qualifications. Is this

the true spirit of 1 Malaysia? If it is true, all Malaysians should have been enjoying equal

rights and benefits, regardless of race. The government must have overlooked a typo on the

slogan and the logo they designed.

In a nutshell, for democracy to work, people have to communicate well because the ability

of the general public to make the right decisions depends to a large degree of the public

because the public has the ability to argue together about issues of common concern and

approaches the goal. After taking into consideration of all the facts that stated above, no, is

the word pop out in mind if the question was: Can 1 Malaysia be realized?

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References

Rendy aka J.0.E. What is the definition of 1Malaysia ? In Rendy Write about Everyting.

Retrieved 8 Feb 2011, from http://rendy-ooi.blogspot.com/2010/08/what-is-definition-of-

1malaysia.html

admin-s. Mahathir’s Dilemma. In Malaysia Today. Retrieved 8 Feb 2011, from

http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/from-around-the-blogs/35362-mahathirs-dilemma

New Straits Times. Dr Mahathir: Explain 1Malaysia. In The Interactive Business Network.

Retrieved 8 Feb 2011, from

http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/new-straits-times/mi_8016/is_20100803/dr-

mahathir-explain-1malaysia/ai_n54653332/

Lim Kit Siang. Media statement. In Democratic Action Party. Retrieved 8 Feb 2011, from

http://www.dapmalaysia.org/english/2010/aug10/lks/lks5745.htm

Shazwan Mustafa Kamal. In 1 Malaysia’s rescue, Nazri skewers ‘Bangsa Malaysia’. In The

Malaysian Insider. Retrieved 8 Feb 2011, from

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/in-1-malaysias-rescue-nazri-

skewers-bangsa-malaysia/

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Alhaj. Tun Dr Mahathir: To be Given handicaps is to ensure fairness, not discrimination! In

alhaj. Retrieved 8 Feb 2011, from http://alhaj.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/tun-dr-mahathir-

are-we-ready-for-1malaysia-2

Pamela. Definition of 1Malaysia. In Perfect Insanity. Retrieved 8 Feb 2011, from

http://pamyau.blogspot.com/2009/10/definition-of-1malaysia.html

Jonathanfun. The True Meaning of 1 Malaysia. In The world according to Me. Retrieved 8

Feb 2011, from http://www.jonathanfun.com/2009/12/the-true-meaning-of-1-malaysia

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