I wish to remain a M’sian – KTemoc replies Kadir Jasin

ARCHIVES 2010

By admin-s On Mar 15, 2010

I am always been proud to be a Malaysian, but unlike Kadir Jasin I don’t need to apologise for this.

By KTemoc

This article is a response to ‘I wish to remain a Malay’, a translation carried by CPI on March 2.

I am always been proud to be a Malaysian, but unlike Kadir Jasin I don’t need to apologise for this.

However, like Pak Kadir, I too am embarrassed when some Malaysians showed their tidakapathy (attitude of not being bothered) towards or, worse, involvement in corruption, bigotry, intolerance and a reluctance to accept responsibility for their personal deeds and achievements (or lack of both).

I’m very sure of myself as a Malaysian, which has been why I have a very keen interest in knowing where the current political polemics and posturing will take our nation to. I hope every citizen of this God-blessed country, regardless of his/her ethnic origin, personal names, religious beliefs, political affiliation, social background and education will be equally proud to be Malaysians and hold dear the future of our Motherland.

And on names, quite frankly, is your pride as a Malaysian dependent on whether your name is Parameswara, Ningkan, Kitingan, Dompok, Nadim, Kadir, Maniam, Yasmin, Kaur, Rodriguez, or Swee Lan?

Admittedly some have felt, and justifiably too, they have been marginalised on the basis of their names because these draw attention to their ethnic origin (or skin colour), and religious beliefs.

Since they have been thus identified by and consequentially sidelined because of these very characteristics, can you blame them for querying whether it would be better to drop from forms and identity cards all these discriminatory socio-religio-ethnic differences?

These unnecessary divisive discriminatory distinctions are not only disadvantageous to some but creepy too, making one wonder whether they’re a modern form of wearing the yellow Star of David.