IT is a double insult for the Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi to blame the ‘lack of patriotism’ for the dismally small number of non-Malays in the armed forces. Having being systemically excluded from the armed forces over the last five decades, non-Malays are now being labeled as less patriotic than Melayu for not joining the armed forces. This ministerial statement must not be left unchallenged.
Zahid Hamidi should not forget the country’s history when Malaysians of all races had fought side by side. Sabahans and Sarawakians from the Rangers and Iban Trackers had successfully defeated the communists during the Malayan Emergency (1948- 1960). In Sabah (then North Borneo), local people of all races had banded together to fight the Japanese occupation. The next time the Defence Minister comes to Sabah, he should visit the Petagas War Memorial and see for himself the final resting place of our martyrs.
In the early years after independence, the armed forces, the police and the civil service were multi-racial. By way of policy and practice, the federal civil service has changed from Malaysian to Melayu. It is not ‘lack of patriotism’ but a ‘marginalization of non-Melayu’ that has turned our armed forces from Malaysian into Melayu.
If you go to Prime Minister’s office in Putrajaya, almost everybody from the security at the main gate to the lift operators, the drivers, tea lady, clerks, officers and top officials are all Melayu. At federal ministries, only non-UMNO politicians and their political aides are non-Melayu. The same pattern is seen in most government offices and agencies. For the country to be strong and united, the BN government should rectify this single-race civil service into a truly Malaysian one.
It is also dangerously racist for the Defence Minister to blame ‘concern over strict discipline and low pay’ as other factors. It is as though non-Malays lack discipline and are interested only in good pay. The Defence Minister does not realize the strict discipline that is required in the private sector and the selfless charity and social work rendered by so many citizens outside the civil service.
By: DATUK YONG TECK LEE
Thursday, November 11, 2010
YONG BLAME ZAHID ON PATRIOTISM
About sabahdaily
Huh? Yong? This is unexpected to hear from him regarding Zahid's statement.
ReplyDeleteWell said Yong! Hopefully Zahid will read and respond to this.
ReplyDeletesaya yakin setiap rakyat Malaysia ada semangat patriotik dalam diri masing-masing. apa pun, harap isu ini tidak dipolitikkan pula.
ReplyDeletesemua rkyat ada nilai patriotik dalam diri mereka sendiri.
ReplyDeleteWell, I must say, some of the Peninsula based leaders are not thinking twice before they jump into conclusion.
ReplyDeleteBukan itu yang dimaksudkan oleh Zahid. Banyak yang telah tersalah tafsir dengan apa yang dikatakan oleh beliau. Tapi walau apapun alasan itu, kita kena mencari alternatif untuk menarik lagi ramai penglibatan mereka dalam bidang ketenteraan. Itu yang paling penting.
ReplyDeletesetuju dengan antanum, yang penting alternatif perlu dicari agar lebih ramai masyrakat pelbagai kaum dalam bidang ketenteraan.
ReplyDeleteDang!!even Yong wanted to join the fray...but whos hearing??
ReplyDeleteYTL turning to an angel..
ReplyDeletezahid sebenarnya ingin lebih ramai kaum cina dan india menyertai bidang ketenteraan. jgnlah kita perbesarkan isu ini.
ReplyDeleteApa pun yang terpacul dari mulut Zahid, terpulanglah kepada individu untuk menilainya.
ReplyDeleteYong switched his attention to another thing now.
ReplyDeleteMaybe right what the YTL said. But maybe we misunderstand with the Zahid statement. What he mean here the quantity of army in Malaysia, India and Chinese not many be a army difference with Malay is more be army.
ReplyDeleteYong, jangan biarkan politik mengaburi matamu.
ReplyDeleteLets not argue who is right or wrong. Look into the matter and try to solve it. This is 1 Malaysia.It is imporant to know the Histroy of Malaysia to appreciate the struggle done by the people concerned . Malay, Chinese, Indian, others etc. We are all Malaysian esp those who are born and brought up in this country. where can they go ?? unless the parents are foreigners. Who does not want a good life ? Civil servants having the " gold bowl" rather than a wooden or iron bowl these days!! how to get in ?
ReplyDelete