LIM Teck Ghee’s comment, “Fostering national unity”, in theSun on April 5 makes a salient point that “today more than 30 years after the end of the NEP, a national discourse on the bumiputra construct is overdue to strengthen the nation’s unity, social cohesion and a shared sense of belonging”.
Arguably, we need to seriously consider the concept of Bangsa Malaysia. It can serve to emphasise our similarities rather than our differences and can actually bring us together rather than drive us apart. This positive concept will be warmly shared by most moderate-thinking Malaysians.
Without a doubt, a shared vision, identity and values will help to bind and advance the nation together. However disappointingly,
since independence, the concept of Bangsa Malaysia remains as elusive as ever.
Social experts have long emphasised that strength lies in differences, not similarities. Put simply, to build a progressive and developing nation, race politics must be stopped.
The key question is this: Is Bangsa Malaysia about assimilation into one main group or culture. Or is it broad enough to develop a society that embraces, even encourages, differences?
Progressive open-minded Malaysians would arguably favour the latter proposition. At all levels of society, Malaysians must be encouraged to embrace this identity of Bangsa Malaysia that promotes differences and diversity. If, and when, we put an end to race policies, we have one of the keys to move forward as a nation.
Critically, Bangsa Malaysia does not seek to impose uniformity. Rather, it seeks to bind groups of people who strongly identify themselves as Malaysians.
In a nutshell, Bangsa Malaysia is about the nation and not the different races. At the end of the day, it strives to have more Malaysians think and act as one entity, and move away from communal lines.
Economic and social issues should be resolved on a needs basis. It will reduce the relevance or validity of race-based arguments and eliminate unnecessary jingoism.
Unity and harmony are central to developing a progressive prosperous Malaysia. There is a line in our national anthem Negaraku that goes “Rakyat hidup bersatu dan maju” (the people live in unison and prosper), that is the vision of Bangsa Malaysia.
Pray, remember “we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided”.
Sze Loong Steve Ngeow
Kajang
