Bangsa Malaysia

FNF Project Director Rainer Heufers asked the audience of over 300 participants, why there are no discussions about the trauma of 1969, why there are no authors who reflect on the riots in fiction literature and poetry, why there is no academic debate about the historical, sociological and psychological causes of the violence, why there are no films and documentaries. Germany has generally been commended for tackling its national trauma of the 1930s and 1940s by intense reflections and open debates. Its artists have started to address the ruthless activities of the Ministry of State Security in former East Germany. Meanwhile, Malaysia has avoided open debates for over three decades and conserved racial tensions under the heavy lid of silencing legislations.

The government’s campaign for a unified Malaysian nation seems somewhat artificial and does not really create a following among the Malaysian population. Gerakan nevertheless chooses to push the agenda and to support the campaign for a Malaysian nation, or Bangsa Malaysia. FNF Malaysia agreed to cooperate for its believe that civil society in general and political parties in particular need to participate in overcoming conflicts in society. It therefore supported the conference proposed and organised by Dato’ Tan Lian Hoe, Wanita National Chairperson of Gerakan.

Reluctance to subscribe to the government’s campaign is mostly shown by the Malays for their fear of losing constitutional privileges or their dominant position in society. Dato’ Mohamed Dahan Abdul Latiff, Executive Director of the Federation of Malay Economic Bodies (Gagasan Badan Ekonomi Melayu - Gabem) made an effort to explain to the audience that Malays understand the term “bangsa” in its original meaning, as “race”. They do associate the motto of the campaign with the far more familiar term of “bangsa melayu”, i.e. the Malay race. In his view, this basically renders the campaign ineffective.

Prof. emerit. Dato’ Dr. Khoo Kay Khim responded that “bangsa” took on the meaning of “nation” when the United Nations were created and officially translated as “Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu”. He regretted that Malaysia did not introduce the term “nasion” to avoid all racial connotations.

However, Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Ramon Navaratnam, Chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Studies of ASLI, rejected the mere focus on semantics. In his speech “Quo Vadis Malaysia” he stated that “the proposed new Malaysian agenda and the Merdeka Declaration are not difficult to achieve, if there is a real political will”. He listed 10 possible solutions to achieve the vision of a unified Malaysia, including reforms of the education system, the public service and the economic system.

The conference was held in the afternoon of 17th March 2007. It was officially opened by Dato’ Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik, who - in the morning of the same day - chaired the Central Committee meeting of the party for the last time. He will retire from his position as National President of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia on 08 April 2007.

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