Historian: Malaysia founded on diversity, not homogeny
Dr Shamsul warned that attempts to promote a solitary version of Malaysia would alienate portions of the community that did not fall within the accepted boundaries. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
(MM) – Malaysians must resist attempts to impose a uniform identity under the pretext of unity, Prof Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said today when pointing out that the country was built upon the diversity of its people.
In his keynote speech at the 60th Malaysia History Summit, the academician warned that attempts to promote a solitary version of Malaysia would alienate portions of the community that did not fall within the accepted boundaries.
“Malaya was made of Malay states and Straits settlements. We were already separated but we wanted to build a platform, a federation where it is a concept which accepts differences but provides a space of agreement,” the Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA) founding director told The Malay Mail Online here.
“We were built on variety and differences. We agree to disagree … But we have people who want unity as uniformity. We cannot have that.”
To illustrate his point in his keynote speech earlier, Shamsul pointed out that the federation was made of Malaya which was ruled by the British, Sarawak which was ruled by a British family, and Sabah which was ruled by a British company.
According to him, these differences were obvious, as seen in the 18 and 20-point agreements penned by the two East Malaysia states before they joined the federation.
“That was not little, it was a lot. Even when husbands and wives argue, they only had three or four points (of disagreement),” he told The Malay Mail Online.
Malaysia is ethnically diverse but has a dominant Malay-Muslim community that also holds the reins to the federal government in Putrajaya. The group is also the primary beneficiaries of pro-Bumiputera policies that are aimed at boosting the country’s indigenous people.
Sabah and Sarawak have in recent years baulked over the apparent precedence enjoyed by the communities in peninsular Malaysia that the former state, in particular, believes it helps fund through its natural resources.
In recent months, Sabah and Sarawak Christians have also become increasingly outspoken over what they construe to be the disregard of the 18- and 20-point agreements following a recent Court of Appeal decision effectively barring the word “Allah” to non-Muslims.
