SEVERAL days ago, we witnessed the grandeur of the opening ceremony of the 2017 Sea Games at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. The biennial event, with the theme “Rising Together”, took place with colourful musical performances, which showcased local culture and the arts.
Newspapers reported that the thousands of spectators were in awe of the performances, which narrated the history of the birth of the nation, the unique blend of the various traditions of the country’s multiracial community, as well as that of the citizens of the Southeast Asian countries.
These, I believe, were not contrived performances, but a reflection of the harmonious life in our land, moulded by our ancestors and past leaders. We are united in our diversity.
Reflecting on the unity in the face of different religions, races and ideologies, I cannot but pay homage to two non-Malay political figures.
The first is Tun Tan Siew Sin.
Siew Sin was a leader with strong administrative skills. He was appointed minister of commerce and industry by Tunku Abdul Rahman even before independence. He was then appointed finance minister, and held the position for 15 years from 1959. As finance minister, he led the country’s delegation to the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He was also the chairman of the Electoral Review Commission for Seychelles, and the first foreigner in British history to be made chairman of a constitutional commission.
He took the post of the third MCA president in November 1961. For the record, he was the person who proposed to the leaders of Umno that non-Malays be granted citizenship. The proposal was accepted after several meetings with Umno leaders.
What had Siew Sin said about this? Let us read on and ponder.
“The Malays, through Umno, were generous enough to relax the citizenship laws of this country to such an extent that within 12 months of independence, 90 per cent of the non-Malays became citizens. This was different from the situation before Merdeka where 90 per cent of the non-Malays were still non-citizens after nearly 100 years of colonial rule in the Malay states. In return for this major concession, the MCA and the MIC agreed to continue the policy of preserving the special position of the Malays while at the same time upholding the legitimate interests of other communities.”
The other individual is Tun V. T. Sambanthan. He was one of those who fought for the independence of this country along with Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Tan Cheng Lock. He was the fifth president of MIC, from 1955 to 1973. This was then the only political party representing the Indians in Malaya.
He had said: “Now, what did the Malays do — since we are speaking on racial lines — what did the Malay leadership do? They had 88 per cent of the electorate still with them. What did they do about citizenship? If we look around Asia and East Asia, particularly, you will find that my race, the Indian race, is not welcomed in Ceylon, is not welcomed in Burma. Look at my brothers the Chinese, they are not welcomed in Thailand, in Vietnam, in Cambodia, in all the other areas. What help do they get in all these territories in matters of citizenship?
“And yet, in Malaya, what has happened? Here, we found the Malay leaders saying, ‘We shall take them unto ourselves as brothers, we shall give them full opportunity to live in this country, we shall give them every opportunity to become citizens.
“And so, in 1957, language qualifications were waived, and tens of thousands of Indians, Chinese, and Ceylonese became citizens. As I have said, it has been my great good fortune to have been born in this country. Where else can you find a more charitable, more polite, more decent race than the Malays? Where else can you get such politically decent treatment for any immigrant race? Where else in the history of the world? These are the facts. Who are you to safeguard us? I am of the 10 per cent of the minority race here. But, I am happy here.”
My point is, apart from being thankful that these two non-Malay leaders were appreciative of the Malays, as evident in their speeches, I am truly proud that they asked their people to be with the Malays, to fight together, to work and unite with the Malays as a successful, free and independent nation.
They knew that on this bountiful land, they were not the only ones who could proudly say that they were the best. They knew that to be a glorious nation, all races would have to unite in diversity. Only then could we be on par with other nations of the world.
This is the result!
Moving forward to the National Transformation 2050, what else could we ask for, other than seeing Malaysia develop as a country where her people are united, with good moral values and virtues, caring, fair and just, confident and competent?
Most great world leaders of the past and present believe that when unity is achieved, all matters related to the development of the nation will proceed smoothly. Feelings of doubt, suspicion and dissatisfaction among races will only create instability and tension that can harm us.
We are a multiracial nation with different characteristics and customs. Let us acknowledge that difference, and with that awareness, together we can help develop this nation and bring Malaysia to greater heights.
Happy 60th Independence Day.
The writer is Sungai Besar member of parliament