Saya menerima banyak SMS dari rakan-rakan apabila mereka membaca bahawa saya dipanggil oleh Jawatankuasa Terpilih Kewibawaan, Kebertanggungjawaban dan Ketelusan Dewan Negeri Selangor (SELCAT) pagi tadi.

Sebenarnya saya bersama-sama YB Ronnie Liu (Pandamaran) dan YB Shuhaimi Mat Shafie (Sri Muda) memang dipanggil SELCAT sejak tahun lepas lagi memandangkan kami membelanjakan melebihi 70 peratus peruntukan kami untuk tahun 2009 pada bulan Jun.

Anggota SELCAT yang hadir pagi tadi merupakan YB Teng Chang Khim (Speaker), YB Azmin Ali (Bukit Antarabangsa), YB Haniza Talha (Timbalan Speaker), YB Shaari Sungib (Hulu Klang) dan YB Edward Lee (Bukit Gasing).

Pagi tadi saya ADUN terakhir sekali dipanggil selepas YB Ronnie dan YB Shuhaimi. Saya menjelaskan ada dua faktor menyebabkan peruntukan saya begitu banyak dibelanjakan pada awal 2009. Pertama ialah banjir yang melanda Kelana Jaya pada hujung 2008 yang mana saya membelanjakan sebahagian besar peruntukan saya (RM26,000) bagi meringankan beban penduduk.

Seterusnya kawasan saya juga banyak mempunyai kawasan kos rendah yang padat seperti Kampung Lindungan, Desa Mentari dan Ladang Glenmarie. Justeru banyak wang saya dibelanjakan bagi program-program dan sumbangan kemasyarakatan di kawasan tersebut.

YB Teng telah mengiktiraf perbelanjaan DUN Seri Setia untuk projek-projek kecil yang memenuhi garispanduan Pejabat Daerah (30 peratus dari jumlah peruntukan). Alhamdulillah selepas kira-kira 10 minit SELCAT berpuas hati dengan penjelasan saya. Saya juga menjelaskan saya berhasrat mengawal perbelanjaan tahun 2010 dengan lebih berhemah agar dapat bertahan ke hujung tahun, insya Allah.

Berikut adalah memorandum yang diserahkan oleh wakil rakyat Pakatan Rakyat kepada Suhakam pada 29 Januari 2010:

Keputusan mahkamah berkenaan penggunaan kalimah Allah oleh suratkhabar Herald Tribune telah mencetuskan pelbagai reaksi dari masyarakat. Kesan yang paling membimbangkan rentetan daripada keputusan mahkamah tersebut adalah berlakunya beberapa kejadian yang tidak diingini yang melibatkan rumah-rumah ibadat di Malaysia. Tindakan ini disyaki dilakukan oleh ejen-ejen provokator dengan tujuan menggugat keamanan serta keharmonian rakyat Malaysia. Senarai kejadian yang berlaku adalah seperti yang berikut:

1. Gereja Metro Tabernacle (Assemblies of God) di Desa Melawati – molotov cocktail merosakkan sebahagian daripada gereja. (8 Jan)
2. Gereja Assumption (Catholic) di Jalan Templar – molotov cocktail dicampak ke perkarangan gereja dan gagal meletup. (8 Jan)
3. Life Chapel (evangelical Brethren) di Section 17, PJ – molotov cocktail merosakkan bahagian anjung gereja. (8 Jan)
4. Gereja Good Shepherd (Lutheran) di PJ – bom api nyaris terkena tingkap, dan membakar tingkap. (8 Jan)
5. Surau di Taman Menara Maju in Jalan Kampung Jawa, Klang – pintu berkecai. (laporan polis dibuat pada 9 Jan)
6. Gereja All Saints (Anglican) di Taiping –Dua molotov cocktails membakar tangga menghala ke pintu masuk dan anjung tepi. (9 Jan)
7. Sekolah Convent (Catholic) di Taiping – molotov cocktail, pecah masuk rumah pengawal keselamatan. (9 Jan)
8. Gereja Baptist Melaka (Baptist) di Durian Daun – dikotori oleh cat hitam. (9 Jan)
9. Gereja Good Shepherd (Anglican) di Lutong, Miri – batu dibaling dan menyebabkan kaca tingkap berkecai. (9 Jan)
10. Gereja Sidang Injil Borneo (Borneo Evangelical Mission) in Seremban – pintu hadapan terbakar. (10 Jan)
11. Gurdwara Sahib (Sikh) di Sentul – batu dibaling, cermin di pintu masuk retak dan dinding dipecahkan. (12 Jan)
12. Gereja St Elizabeth (Katolik) di Kota Kecil, Johor – cat merah dibaling, mengotorkan pagar utama, dinding dan patung. (14 Jan)
13. Gereja Grace Global Prayer di Rasah, Seremban – dua tingkap kasa dijumpai pecah. (15 Jan)
14. Masjid di Kota Samarahan, Sarawak – serpihan kaca dijumpai di dinding luar. (16 Jan)
15. Surau Sirratulrahim di Kampung Sabak Awor, Muar – api memusnahkan langsir, tingkap pecah. (21 Jan)
16. Surau di Parit Beting, Muar – api memusnahkan bahagian solat untuk wanita. (21 Jan)

Kejadian terbaru yang berlaku di Masjid Jumhuriyah di Taman Dato’ Haron dan Masjid Al Imam At Tirmizi di Taman Seri Sentosa di mana dua kepala babi hutan telah ditemui berdekatan dengan pagar premis tersebut menunjukkan pihak yang bertanggungjawab masih bebas dan boleh meneruskan serangan provokasi terhadap masyarakat pada masa hadapan. Jikalau serangan mencetus provokasi sebegini tidak ditangani, adalah dibimbangi ianya akan menyebabkan kejadian yang jauh lebih serius termasuklah kehilangan jiwa mana-mana rakyat jelata.

Menyedari bahawa ancaman sebegini akan mendatangkan masalah kepada masyarakat demokratik kita yang rapuh, serta menyedari kesannya yang menganggu gugat dan mencabul hak asasi rakyat Malaysia, memorandum ini dihantar atas dasar-dasar yang berikut:

1. Serangan terhadap rumah ibadat merupakan satu bentuk pencabulan hak asasi manusia ke atas rakyat Malaysia kerana ianya menghalang rakyat dari mengamalkan kepercayaan masing-masing secara bebas, tanpa sebarang ancaman dari ejen provokator yang berkepentingan peribadi. Kebebasan beragama tidak hanya tertumpu pada kebebasan untuk menganuti dan mengamalkan kepercayaan masing-masing malahan ia merangkumi jaminan bahawa tempat ibadat turut dihormati dan dilindungi.

2. Walaupun kita menghormati dan mengiktiraf kebebasan bersuara rakyat Malaysia, serangan provokasi yang berlaku adalah satu bentuk penyalahgunaan kebebasan bersuara yang boleh mengorbankan hak orang lain. Ini dilarang sama sekali oleh Perkara 29 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948 iaitu:

“…In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.”

3. Penggunaan keganasan dengan tidak menghormati agama atau kepercayaan rakyat adalah antitesis kepada prinsip hak asasi manusia yang menentang unsur-unsur yang tidak toleran seperti perkauman dan komunalisme. Serangan provokasi yang berlaku akan mengancam dan melemahkan institusi demokratik negara dan meracuni budaya hormat kepada hak asasi manusia.

Justeru, kami menyeru SUHAKAM agar memandang serius perkara ini memandangkan SUHAKAM diberi mandat untuk menangani isu hak asasi manusia di Malaysia menerusi Seksyen 4(i) Akta SUHAKAM 1999. Adalah mengecewakan kerana SUHAKAM tidak lantang dan ke hadapan dalam menangani isu serangan terhadap toleransi keagamaan, komunalisme dan perkauman dan menganggap ianya sebagai satu bentuk isu hak asasi manusia yang penting kepada rakyat Malaysia.

Keputusan International Coordinating Committee untuk mengekalkan gred “A” SUHAKAM harus meningkatkan komitmen SUHAKAM untuk menangani pencabulan hak asasi yang serius di Malaysia dan ini termasuklah isu berkaitan perkauman dan keagamaan. Atas dasar inilah kami mengusulkan agar SUHAKAM mengambil tindakan yang berikut :

1. SUHAKAM wajar mengadakan satu Siasatan Awam ke atas serangan provokasi terhadap tempat ibadat bagi menyiasat punca masalah dan mencari penyelesaian serta mekanisme untuk mengatasi masalah ini dari sudut hak asasi manusia.

2. SUHAKAM wajar menyeru kerajaan agar memperkenalkan suatu undang-undang yang dapat mengekang sebarang cubaan untuk membuat provokasi berbentuk perkauman dan keagamaan. Walau bagaimanapun, berdasarkan pemerhatian kami mengenai penggunaan undang-undang seperti ISA dan Ordinan Darurat oleh kerajaan, yang menghalalkan tangkapan sewenang-wenangnya serta penahanan tanpa bicara, adalah disyorkan agar undang-undang tersebut diselaraskan dengan prinsip keadilan asasi dan kedaulatan undang-undang.

3. SUHAKAM, bersama-sama dengan agensi penguatkuasaan lain di Negara ini haru memantau cubaan di peringkat akar umbi untuk menyebarkan semangat perkauman dan ketiadaan toleransi agama oleh pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab, bagi memelihara keharmonian antara kaum dan agama dalam masyarakat. Selain itu, penilaian impak harus dijalankan oleh SUHAKAM bagi menilai sejauhmana isu ini menggugat hak asasi, kesejahteraan masyarakat serta integriti dan perpaduan nasional.

4. SUHAKAM seharusnya menggesa kerajaan untuk meratifikasi International Covenant on Civil Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Convention on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) dan memenuhi obligasi serta komitmennya kepada standard hak asasi manusia antarabangsa. Kejadian yang berlaku harus menjadi ingatan kepada SUHAKAM dan kerajaan tentang betapa perlunya kerajaan menghormati hak asasi manusia sebagai satu langkah untuk memulihkan keyakinan awam bahawa mereka tidak akan diancam dan dimangsai oleh pencetus kekecohan pada masa hadapan.

Kami berpendapat tindakan SUHAKAM berdiam diri dalam isu hak asasi yang berkaitan dengan masalah berbentuk keagamaan dan perkauman adalah tidak wajar. Adalah amat memalukan bilamana Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia di negara lain lebih kehadapan dalam menangani isu keganasan dan diskriminasi yang berlaku kerana tiadanya toleransi agama dan kaum. Kami benar-benar percaya masanya telah tiba untuk SUHAKAM mengotakan apa yang dikata dan memainkan peranannya dengan berkesan. Kejadian yang berlaku haruslah menjadi pemangkin untuk SUHAKAM turun ke akar umbi bagi mengatasi masalah ini dari sudut pandangan hak asasi manusia.

MEMORANDUM DIKEMUKAKAN OLEH:

YB NURUL IZZAH ANWAR
YB USTAZ MUJAHID YUSUF RAWA
YB TIAN CHUA
YB JANICE LEE
YB NIK NAZMI NIK AHMAD
YB HANNAH YEOH
YB AMIRUDDIN SHAARI
YB LIM LIP ENG

Below is the memorandum submitted by Pakatan Rakyat legislators to Suhakam on 29 January 2010.

The court’s decision on the use of the term “Allah” by Herald Tribune has sparked diverse responses from various sectors of the society. The most worrying impact of the court decision is that it has led to a series of unwarranted incidents affecting worship and religious sites in Malaysia. It is suspected that the incidents were spearheaded by agent provocateurs with the aim of disrupting the peaceful co-existence and harmony of Malaysians. The incidents mentioned are as follows:

1. Metro Tabernacle Church (Assemblies of God) in Desa Melawati – molotov cocktail damages administrative wing (8 Jan)
2. Assumption Church (Catholic) in Jalan Templar – molotov cocktail hurled on pavement in front of church fails to explode (8 Jan)
3. Life Chapel (evangelical Brethren) in Section 17, PJ – molotov cocktail slightly damages porch (8 Jan)
4. Good Shepherd Church (Lutheran) in PJ old town – firebomb misses window, scorches outer wall, minimal damage (8 Jan)
5. Surau in Taman Menara Maju in Jalan Kampung Jawa, Klang – sliding door shattered (police report lodged on 9 January)
6. All Saints’ Church (Anglican) in Taiping – two molotov cocktails scorch stair case leading to main entrance and side porch (9 Jan)
7. Convent school (Catholic) in Taiping – molotov cocktail, probably meant for St Louis’ Church (Catholic) next door, breaks guard-house window (9 Jan)
8. Malacca Baptist Church (Baptist) in Durian Daun – smeared with black paint (9 Jan)
9. Good Shepherd Church (Anglican) in Lutong, Miri – stones shatter window panes (9 Jan)
10. Sidang Injil Borneo Church (Borneo Evangelical Mission) in Seremban – front doors scorched (10 Jan)
11. Gurdwara Sahib (Sikh) in Sentul – stones flung, mirror at entrance cracked and wall chipped (12 Jan)
12. St Elizabeth’s Church (Catholic) in Kota Kecil, Johor – packets of red paint hurled, splattering the main gate, the grounds inside, a wall and a statue (14 Jan)
13. Grace Global Prayer Church in Rasah, Seremban – two window panes found broken (15 Jan)
14. Mosque in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak – broken glass found near outside wall (16 Jan)
15. Sirratulrahim Surau in Kampung Sabak Awor, Muar – fire damages curtain, window shattered (21 Jan)
16. Surau in Parit Beting, Muar – fire damages the women’s prayer section, carpeting and a door (21 Jan)

The latest incidents that took place at the Jumhuriyah Mosque in Taman Dato’ Haron and Al Imam At Tirmizi Mosque in Taman Seri Sentosa, Lembah Pantai, where two wild-boar heads were found near a gate to the premises demonstrated the possibility that the culprit behind previous attacks are still free to continue to attack and provoke society with similar stunts in future. It is feared that these series of attacks and provocation, if left unchecked, will serve as fertile ground for further violence within the community of Malaysians.

Realizing the threat that this problem poses to our fragile democratic society, and understanding that Malaysian human rights are at stake and will be open to abuse, we submit this memorandum based on the following grounds:

1. The series of attack on the religious and worship sites is a violation to the community’s human right to exercise their religion in peace without unwanted interference and threat from agent provocateurs that are motivated by personal interest and gains. Freedom of religion does not only refer to freedom to adopt or profess a religion of one’s choice but also the assurance that their places of worship are respected.

2. Although we respect and uphold a person’s freedom of expression and opinion, the series of attack and provocation reflects malicious and excessive exercise of one’s freedom of expression at the expense of the rights of others. This is expressly condemned by Article 29 (2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948 where it states the following:

“…In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.”

3. The use of violence and show of disrespect towards another person’s religion or faith is the antithesis to human rights principles that condemns communalism, racism and intolerance. A further continuance of the series of provocation and attacks will threaten and negatively affect Malaysia’s democracy and culture of respecting human rights.

Therefore, we urge SUHAKAM to seriously look into the matter as the Commission is mandated to take charge and address human rights issues in the country

vide Section 4(i) of the Human Rights Commission Act 1999. It is saddening that SUHAKAM has not been vocal and upfront in addressing the issues of communalism, racism and religious intolerance as human rights issues that is of urgent concern to Malaysians. The decision of the International Coordinating Committee to retain the “A” status of the Commission should be reflected by the Commission’s actual commitment to address serious human rights violations in the country and this includes religious and racial issues. It is based on these grounds that we propose SUHAKAM take up the following actions in addressing the series of provocation against places of worship in the country:

1. SUHAKAM should conduct a National Inquiry into the series of provocation and attacks on places of worship and religious sites with the aim of investigating the root cause to the problem and to determine the appropriate rights-based solution or mechanism to address this issue.

2. SUHAKAM should engage the government and call for the enactment and passing of an anti-racial and religious intolerance law that will curb any attempts at instigating racial and religious hatred in the country. However, learning from experience, with the use of draconian laws such as ISA and Emergency Ordinance for arbitrary arrests and indefinite detention by the government, it is recommended that such law must be in accordance with principles of natural justice and rule of law.

3. SUHAKAM, together with other enforcement agencies in the country should observe and monitor growing attempts at the grassroots level that propagate racism and religious intolerance in order to curb any further potential provocations by irresponsible members of the society and also to preserve racial and religious harmony within the community. In addition to that, a proper impact assessment must be done by SUHAKAM to assess how the issue has threatened the community’s rights and wellbeing and negatively affected national unity and integrity.

4. SUHAKAM should continue to urge the government to ratify the International Covenant on Civil Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Convention on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and to fulfill its obligations and commitment to other international human rights standards. The incidents that took place should be a reminder to the Commission and the governments on the need for the State to abide by human rights principles as a way to restore the public’s confidence that they will not be victimized and threatened by the perpetrators of chaos in the future.

We have observed that SUHAKAM has been silent on human rights issues that are intertwined with religious and racial concerns. This is a shame as the Human Rights Commission in other parts of the world have been very progressive in addressing issues of violence and discrimination that are motivated by racism and religious intolerance. We truly believe that the time has come for SUHAKAM to walk the talk and play its role effectively. The incidents that have happened should be a catalyst for SUHAKAM to go down to the grassroots and address the problem from a human rights viewpoint.

MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED BY:

YB NURUL IZZAH ANWAR
YB USTAZ MUJAHID YUSUF RAWA
YB TIAN CHUA
YB JANICE LEE
YB NIK NAZMI NIK AHMAD
YB HANNAH YEOH
YB AMIRUDDIN SHAARI
YB LIM LIP ENG

Saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan Selamat Menyambut Hari Thaipusam kepada semua rakyat Malaysia yang beragama Hindu.

Perayaan Thaipusam mewakili sambutan membebaskan diri dari belenggu kezaliman dan kebejatan. Semoga ini mendorong masyarakat Hindu untuk terus cekal dalam perjuangan menuntut keadilan bersama-sama rakyat Malaysia yang lain.

YB Senator Dr. Syed Husin Ali’s essay on the Allah issue provides an interesting perspective to the controversy.

The attitudes and actions of the Minister to appeal against the court decision and to allow demonstrations are against the Government Gazette P.U. (A) dated 16 February 2009. Amongst others this gazette states very clearly that publication, circulation and possession of any document or publication connected with Christianity that contains the words “Allah”, “Kaabah”, “Baitullah” and “Solat” are forbidden except when the words “FOR CHRISTIANS ONLY” are printed on the front cover..

Government leaders often pontificate the necessity of people to respect the law. Why is it they do not respect the gazette that their own government issued? Why is it that conversely they adopted a stand that could be abused by a handful of extremists – including those linked with Umno and Umno-controlled media – to stoke racial and religious flame amongst the people?

The irresponsible attitudes and actions of the Minister and Prime Minister have succeeded, for the time being, to drown the various issues haunting them and to draw some support from the Muslim community. But they failed to weaken, what else destroy the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Pada malam Jumaat lalu saya mengadakan Klinik Khidmat Rakyat di Balai Raya Ladang Glenmarie bagi bertemu penduduk di kawasan Ladang Glenmarie, Flat Melewar dan Taman Mesra.

Seperti biasa, majoriti orang ramai yang bertemu saya memohon bantuan kebajikan. Majoriti besarnya dari Ladang Glenmarie dan berbangsa India (malah masyarakat Melayu dan Cina di Ladang Glenmarie juga boleh berbahasa Tamil!) Kebanyakannya warga emas dan ibu tunggal. Ada wanita yang masih berkahwin namun suami menghilangkan diri.

Ramai di antara mereka yang memerlukan rawatan perubatan. Namun mereka berhadapan masalah pengangkutan. Mereka terpaksa ke PPUM di Kuala Lumpur, Hospital Besar Klang atau Hospital Sg. Buloh. Hospital Shah Alam yang dirancang pula terlewat akibat beberapa masalah serius. Tambahan pula, pengangkutan awam terlalu sukar di Ladang Glenmarie, mereka terpaksa menukar bas sebanyak dua kali ataupun menggunakan teksi yang mahal dan sukar.

Pagi Jumaat pejabat saya menelefon RapidKL agar dialog dapat diadakan dengan penduduk bagi mencari jalan penyelesaian masalah ini bersama-sama MBSA. Pada masa sama saya akan membawa ke DUN agar Projek Terminal Bas Shah Alam yang terletak di Seksyen U1 Shah Alam (di dalam DUN Seri Setia) akan menjadi realiti secepat mungkin.

Gambar-gambar boleh dilihat di sini.

Semalam saya dijemput berceramah bersama Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim di Kalumpang dan Bukit Sentosa. Saya dan Halimey Abu Bakar, Ketua AMK Kelana Jaya tiba awal di Kalumpang dan diperkenalkan Cikgu Nasaruddin, Ketua Cabang Keadilan Hulu Selangor kepada Haji Abu Samah, pengasas Keadilan di sana pada zaman Reformasi (lebih mesra dengan nama Pak Abu). Sebelum ini saya bertemu dengannya di Pejabat MB.

Bersemangat sekali Pak Abu menceritakan pengalamannya membina Keadilan pada zaman awal dahulu. Sebelum Reformasi Pak Abu bersama PAS dan sempat bertanding 4 kali – bermula 1969 dan akhir sekali 1986.

Pada pilihan raya umum 2008, Cabang Hulu Selangor menghadapi ketandusan pemimpin untuk berceramah sewaktu kempen. Maka Pak Abu dibawa ke sana sini, waktu itu usianya sudah 71 tahun hingga demam dibuatnya! Keringat orang-orang lama seperti Pak Abu telah membina asas untuk Keadilan hari ini mentadbir Selangor bersama-sama Pakatan Rakyat dan menjadi Parti Pembangkang terbesar di Parlimen.

Banyak cerita-cerita lama diceritakan oleh Pak Abu.

Sebelum ke Bukit Sentosa, saya berbisik pada Pak Abu: “Kalau Pak Abu bertanding saya janji akan berceramah untuk Pak Abu.”

“Isyy, usia dah lanjut dah…”

“Kalau bersanding lagi pun saya datang…”

“Oh, bersanding boleh!”

A few days ago, I received a message from a local Malay university student on Facebook. I have asked for his permission to publish his message and changed his name to protect his privacy.

Dear YB,

I’m 23, a student and undecided about the political scenario of our country. I’m hoping that my note to you will be on a personal level as I’m going to graduate from UiTM soon and cannot afford to have it otherwise.

Growing up I was exposed on the relevance of the status quo as my parents till today supports strongly for the BN. On the other hand other external factors (schoolmates, friends, reading) revealed to me the values of equality and unity.

On one point of view we see the racial divide in form of economic performance. Malays are on the down side. So I guess affirmative action is required in order to pose an idea/image of social justice (either the Malays optimize it is a diff issue)? But at the same time i see the stark injustice in denying others opportunities that they are qualified for. Being “one” will always be an illusion if we do not treat others as our own.

But the way i see it, so long that there are race based political parties, there will always be specific agendas that’s in the interest of specific groups. I mean for example the Chinese ask for allocations for Chinese schools, education etc. While at the same time they chant for equality and unity. It seems to me like a contradiction. I realize that racial identity is important and it can go hand in hand with unity but somehow the idea from my parents that the non-bumis will take everything also probe me on my conscience. The idea of another Singapore.

Reading back the words I type above, I can’t help but to feel disgusted. As it turned out I am the thing I fear most of becoming- a racist. Most of the time I feel like leaving the country and then I don’t have to deal with the social tension in this country. Everyone has to decide on their stance, but I can’t seem to have my pick. On I side there’s fear of losing, the other is becoming a monster.

So YB, being the better exposed, highly qualified and having thought more clearly than I am; I want to know what you think about the whole situation, in the hope of me making an informed choice on the matter- whatever the choice maybe.

Thank you.

Respect & Regards,
Ahmad

Below is my reply:

Dear Ahmad,

Thank you for your e-mail.

I believe the concerns you express reflect the sentiments of many Malaysians including my own. I actually address it in my book called ‘Moving Forward: Malays for the 21st Century’. You can get it at Popular, Kinokuniya, MPH or my own website www.niknazmi.com

Essentially, I believe that Malays were lagging behind in the economy and that the New Economic Policy was justified in uplifting the economic condition of the Malays. At the same time the NEP aimed at eradicating poverty regardless of race.

But I think we need a policy that addresses the challenges of the 21st century. The success of the NEP means that there is a Malay middle class that is capable at competing not just in Malaysia but in the world. At the same time, many non-Malays want to feel included in their country. There are also many Malays and non-Malays who are left behind.

Hence, a policy that is relevant for today would provide for both meritocracy – allowing the best Malaysians to compete, and affirmative action – lending all Malaysians that deserve help a helping hand.

The issue of vernacular education is also addressed in my book. Essentially, I believe that vernacular schools provide a challenge to national integration but Malaysians do not have the confidence that national schools can be inclusive and provide high-quality education.

Rather than abolishing vernacular schools, I believe a workable way forward is to create a voluntary unitary stream to combine all the different streams and providing time for the schools to teach civic and multiracial education, to teach students about our constitution and history, as well as the different stories of the different races.

As you appropriately observed, the crux of our separation is due to race-based parties that needs race-based agendas to perpetuate their survival. Having multiracial political parties is the first step forward to move beyond the baggages of our past and embrace the future.

Regards,
Nik Nazmi