Been meaning to visit Jeff Ooi’s blog for a while now and today I did and stumbled upon a story about the recent rounds of politics being played out in Malaysia. Specifically racial politics. In a nutshell here’s what has happened over the past 2 days:

  • Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, Energy, Water and Communications Minister was commenting on the notion of Bangsa Malaysia (Malaysian National) and said that, “Malaysia will never see the creation of a Bangsa Malaysia as long as there are people using the 1957 social contract to silence the non-Malays.”

    He added: “How do you expect non-Malays to pour their hearts and souls into the country, and to one day die for it if you keep harping on this?”, and that ethnic Chinese and Indians in Malaysia should refer to themselves as “Malaysians” and not “Malaysian Chinese” or “Malaysian Indian”.

  • Umno Youth Chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Education Minister responded thus: “Don’t bring up the issue [social contract] again as it has been agreed upon, appreciated, understood and endorsed by the Constitution.”

References: The Star, New Straits Time, Bernama.

This issue has been debated extensively over at Jeff Ooi’s blog so go there for the full coverage. Also see here for an analysis of said Constitution and the “Malay Privilege”. This would serve as the background to my recounting of being born and raised a middle-class Chinese in Malaysia. (to be continued in Part 2)

UPDATE August 18th 8:12AM
PM Badawi made this statement. Hmm, racial unity is all fine and good but no mention of racial equity was made. One fire at a time I guess.