IT was simply refreshing. At a time when some politicians seem to take pride in posturing their racial and religious identities, it was heartening to read about Raja Zarith Sofea Sultan Idris Shah declaring that her ancestral roots were from Sumatra and the Peranakan Chinese.
The consort of the Sultan of Johor (pic) went on to say that the use of the term pendatang to describe non-bumiputras was “hurtful and ignorant”.
It was shameful, she added, for apparently educated and mature individuals to use such terms or suggest that fellow Malaysians go back to where they came from.
Raja Zarith, who was speaking at the Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason (PCORE) forum in Kuala Lumpur last week, stressed on the importance of recognising the diversity of Malaysian society, brought about by centuries of inter-racial and inter-faith marriages and communication.
Read more here.
5 comments:
Wahhh, is that an order or what??? "BE PROUD OF OUR PLURAL SOCIETY"!!!! or else!!
We really ought to have the truth to be legitimately proud of anything. Its great that we have the diversity. It is appalling that there is no truthful recognition of that plurality in economic application.
No offence meant though to the generosity of the comments made by Raja Zarith Sofea Sultan Idris Shah. I am sure hers was from the heart. I have my own reservations about your title of the piece though.....
Not many Malaysians especially the Malays dare to declare openly of their 'roots' as we all actually have 'roots' from overseas like India, Arab States, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Thailand and most of ASEAN countries.....we are all humans and actually equal and just a matter of who arrived here first!
Most Malaysians have their roots from Middle East, India, China and most of the Asean countries except for some of the local natives, so it is difficult to understand why do we Malaysians classify some as 'pendatangs' when we look in the mirror we (maybe our generations) also migrated from 'some distance places'. The argument and debate over this issue is never ending as long as 'political power' is the main objective!
Good start. Now can we see some REAL TANGIBLE actions from the ruling government to show that they value a plural society? Like equality in employment, education, etc??? Talking is a good start. But we need real actions too. Otherwise we will just view it as "election talk".
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