2. Per my previous comment, I believed we should mentioned the fact that Malays are the indigenous people with all its meanings, implications, “moral” strength and political “legitimacy”. This is “enshrined” in Article 152. As you said “they do not come as slaves or as migrants”. On the contrary they are the indigenous people. To me this is important in order to demolish any (subversive) attempt in striking similarities with the other races and those who wants to associate and link Malays with the immigrant Chinese and Indians. That the Malays are therefore no different than the Chinese and Indians with regards to Singapore population and political history.
3. Rightly or wrongly, I believed Article 152 is a liability to the Malays. It seems that Article 152 gives the false impression and belief that Malays are given (all) the special privileges which are not given to the Chinese and others. Thus it is not fair. But in reality, it is far from it. Article 152 is often used to legitimise the special privileges (SAP schools, speak Mandarin campaigns, Chingay et al) given to the Chinese ostensibly to “balance” if not “counter” the special privileges given to the Malays. So should we advocate for the scrapping and “demolition” of Article 152? What do you guys think? Sincerely I don’t really see the advantage, materially and politically, of Article 152, to the Malays. It has become and it is the albatross on the necks of the Malays. It is a collective liability. And perhaps because of this as well, the Malays are collectively “punished”. Seriously what would the Malsys lose if Article 152 is scrapped?
To: Ismail Kassim
Fm: Amin Sidek
1. As usual, well written. Well done.
2. Per my previous comment, I believed we should mentioned the fact that Malays are the indigenous people with all its meanings, implications, “moral” strength and political “legitimacy”. This is “enshrined” in Article 152. As you said “they do not come as slaves or as migrants”. On the contrary they are the indigenous people. To me this is important in order to demolish any (subversive) attempt in striking similarities with the other races and those who wants to associate and link Malays with the immigrant Chinese and Indians. That the Malays are therefore no different than the Chinese and Indians with regards to Singapore population and political history.
3. Rightly or wrongly, I believed Article 152 is a liability to the Malays. It seems that Article 152 gives the false impression and belief that Malays are given (all) the special privileges which are not given to the Chinese and others. Thus it is not fair. But in reality, it is far from it. Article 152 is often used to legitimise the special privileges (SAP schools, speak Mandarin campaigns, Chingay et al) given to the Chinese ostensibly to “balance” if not “counter” the special privileges given to the Malays. So should we advocate for the scrapping and “demolition” of Article 152? What do you guys think? Sincerely I don’t really see the advantage, materially and politically, of Article 152, to the Malays. It has become and it is the albatross on the necks of the Malays. It is a collective liability. And perhaps because of this as well, the Malays are collectively “punished”. Seriously what would the Malsys lose if Article 152 is scrapped?
Amin Sidek
October 22, 2009 at 9:00 pm