Wednesday, August 3, 2011

MALAYSIAN FIRST OR MALAY FIRST

I am getting a bit confused with the argument of whether I am a Malaysian first or a Malay first. DPM Muhyiddin had declared that he is a Malay (I believe of Javanese descent) first, and probably a Malaysian second. In the case of PM Naijb, he is not able to decide whether he is a Malay (I believe of Bugis descent) first and a Malaysian second or vice versa.


Now, since there is so much of confusion created by our leaders themselves who are not certain as to who and what they are at this late stage of the lives, let me therefore make a declaration as to who am I. I am not a Malay but a Malaysian first, and a second generation grandson of a Sumatran immigrant of the Minangkabau clan, second. I do not know whether my grandparents had gone through the process of the biometric finger print by the immigration authorities then. I don’t think so because OP Pasir by the authorities wasn’t there at the time to monitor and to arrest illegal immigrants. I have to declare that I am a Malayan and subsequently a Malaysian first by virtue that I am born in this country and not a Sumatran or Indonesian or elsewhere. This is a logical conclusion.


My grandfather must have been quite a sailor then. He was said to have brought along his entire family members from a place called Semaong, Bukit Tinggi, Sumatra (minus my father who was born here) by sampan, and settled at a village called Petaling, Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan. My grandfather is believed to have three wives that he had brought along, and a third believed to be from Selewasi, Indonesia. If indeed, the third wife is from Selewasi, she therefore must be a Bugis, and I therefore have Bugis cousins that I have never met.


Going by that brief history of my roots, I am therefore not a Melayu or a Malay. I am, as I have declared a thoroughbred Minangkabau, and I am not ashamed to called one. I just do not understand why the Malays need to call themselves as such in the first instant. Most of the so called Malays are the children of immigrants from all over the world, such as from India, Pakistan, Arab, China, Thailand and Turkey and probably from Bangladesh as well. If we claim ourselves to be descended from people of the aforesaid countries, then just say so. Even Najib or Muhyiddin cannot claim they are Malays, because they are of Bugis and of Javanese descent respectively. And why not ask the Perak Menteri Besar whether he is a Malaysian first or a Malay first. I am quite sure you will get a confused answer too.


And this takes me to question why was it that Najib was so reluctant to answer a simple question from a student as to whether he (Najib) was a Malaysian first or a Malay first. The answer Naijb gave is even more confusing when he said that he does not, “want to respond in a way that will divide him from his deputy”. Now, the answer sounds that he is too afraid of his deputy, and gives an impression that there is difference in opinion between the two over the Malaysian first issue. If both cannot even come to a common agreement and understanding over such a basic issue, than I doubt they can both agree over other more complicated issues.


Certainly, I do not want to be confused as our leaders over this issue. Let us just accept that Muhyiddin is a Malay first, while Naijb is not quite certain whether he is a Malay or Malaysian first. But as for me, I am very certain that I am a Malaysian first and a Minangkabau second. Does that satisfy everybody?


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION.

17 comments:

EAGLE said...

Both are showing that they are uncertain and suspect insincerity rooted in deep inside both of them- my guess! or just gullible!
Easily understood is both of them 'cakap tak serupa bikin'. And now suspect their fitness in leading this nation.

Malaysian said...

I am a Malaysian. I will fight for rights of all races before mine. The British give us the idea of race. Are we letting the British to define who we are? Once again, Saya seorang anak Malaysia berasa bangga lahir di bumi ini.

Mej. A R Ramachandran (Retired) said...

All this is recently concocted. To my humble understanding, the origin of description is as follows: In the old days, in simple Bahasa Melayu reference was made to Orang Melayu, Orang China, (spelling intended)Orang India and the famous misnomer Orang Bengali (for turbaned Sikhs). This reference of "orang", meant person and not race, as in "Malay Person"and so on. Politicians being politicians took it to another level and meaning. Now to end all "confusion", I would suggest Malaysian Malay (as there are Malays all over the world), Malaysian Chinese (ditto), Malaysian Indian (ditto again). Nationality before origin descriptions seems to be correct Staff Duties.

mitchell said...

My great grandfather came to Tanah Melayu from Dutch occupied Indonesia and though we continue to feel proud of our surname "Van Huizen", my father, uncle and cousins proudly represented Malaya and Malaysia and till today beam with pride whenever they mention the "overwhealming" feeling of hearing the NegaraKu at Olimpics and Hockey World Cups....This feeling has been pass on to me and also now to my 3 sons...We are Malaysians first then only Eurasions...
God Bless

josephng said...

I am a Malaysian first and foremost and do not hold any citizenship in China or anywhere else. Even though I am of chinese origin (according to my ancestors/parents) but I don't look very chinese. I must have some thai or mongolian blood ..... so sometimes i do doubt whether i am a chinese. if i insist to claim that I am a chinese first b4 my nationality, it will be an embarassment if i found out that i am really a mongolian. So then I will be a mongolian first and malaysian second :)

Correct me if i am wrong, many Malays in Malaysia don't even acknowledge their origin and where their forefathers came from. They will always tell me they existed in Malaysia and they are Malays....... Maybe they just can't accept the fact that they are also immigrants from Indonesia...

josephng said...

I am a Malaysian first and foremost and do not hold any citizenship in China or anywhere else. Even though I am of chinese origin (according to my ancestors/parents) but I don't look very chinese. I must have some thai or mongolian blood ..... so sometimes i do doubt whether i am a chinese. if i insist to claim that I am a chinese first b4 my nationality, it will be an embarassment if i found out that i am really a mongolian. So then I will be a mongolian first and malaysian second :)

Correct me if i am wrong, many Malays in Malaysia don't even acknowledge their origin and where their forefathers came from. They will always tell me they existed in Malaysia and they are Malays....... Maybe they just can't accept the fact that they are also immigrants from Indonesia...

samsaimon said...

Salam Dato,
So you are not a Melayu when you was born in MALAYA which was PERSEKUTUAN TANAH MELAYU then, dan bukan kah semua Kepulauan dan negeri negeri persekitaran ini dinamakan 'the MALAY ARCHIPELAGO'

Your IC states Minangkabau ?
Why not you correct it with JPN if otherwise ?

So you joined the Armed Forces with a Minangkabau IC ? Terror you !

I'm not racist but I'm a Malaysian Malay.

Frankie said...

Dear Dato' Mohd. Arshad,

You are a real true Malaysian and so am I. We may be from different ethnicity and cultural background but we are always Malaysians First and Last. Thank you for making it crystal clear to the PM and DPM.

KL girl now in Ipoh said...

I am not sure of the origins of our country from ancient times. Are the natives (who are still here today) who lived in our Malaysian jungles not the true original people of Malaysia? And did not all the modern Malays, Chinese and Indians actually migrate here from other lands and other civilisations? Just asking, so don't anyone get angry now.....

KL girl now in Ipoh said...

I am not a historian, so from just what we all studied from school history, reading etc. are the natives who live in our jungles not the true original people of Malaysia? The modern Malays, Indians and Chinese came to this country as migrants from other lands and other civilizations. Our great Melaka Sultanate is of Indonesian origin, and Negeri Sembilan had its people originate from the Minangkabaus, anyone dispute that? This is a discussion, so there is no need for anyone to get emotional or angry, I hope....

sang kancil said...

I am a Mlaysian 1st 2nd and third.

sang kancil said...

Malaysian Malaysian Malaysian.

CONCERNED said...

Dear Dato,
I read your blog and always feel a sense of relief at the honesty and lack of hypocrisy no matter what the subject
This one was particularly refreshing. Like some of your readers, I too have no other country I call HOME. I visit India like a tourist and am always glad to get home. So in short, I am Malaysian and proud to be one.
Thank you yet again for this clear statement that speaks for all of us.

A S said...

This article is written by a true blue blooded Malaysian. My salutation to you,General.
Anyone who is not Malaysian first, should leave this country and go back to his ancestral country bcos his priority is not for the love of this country hence in the moment of TRUTH, he will sell this country lock, stock and barrels!

aofuad said...

Dear Dato Pak Chad,
We are obviously Malaysian first and there is no doubt about it. We are citizens or warga negara Malaysia.
There are some 'confused linguist' that came up with the term Bangsa Malaysia, when in fact they meant Warganegara Malaysia or Citizen of Malaysia and now they called 1Malaysia. If there is a new Bangsa Malaysia ,then this must be the latest bangsa in the world or a newly discovered race.Tan Sri PG Lim wrote about this many years ago.
The incompetency of choosing proper words has created some political upheaval and apprehensions on those who propagated the Bangsa Malaysia issue.
It is simpler to be known as Warga Malaysia or Citizen of Malaysia than to complicate the issue and wants recognition as Bangsa Malaysia, which is a misnomer, because no such Bangsa existed in the first place.
It is only a few decades ago that we are Warganegara Malaysia....i wonder what we were called before that...Malaya? Persekutuan Tanah Melayu?
Why are we harping on an issue that is not an issue unless there is some ulterior motives or grand design somewhere to protect certain powers that harps on this to hold power?

The Malays are Muslims by virtue of their birth and the only 2 races in the world that is related to their faith are Malays and Jews.
If the Malays truly belief the syahadah and the One ness of Allah Almighty...then they should not have any problem in needing the protections of mortals or whatever to protect their interest...
The tenets of Islam is so noble and pure and if it is truly practised by the Malays...then there should not be any problem of potraying the Malayness or being confused as to to their labelling of Malaysian first or Malay First....
I am a Malaysian and proud to be such. i am a Muslim first and i would like to die as a Muslim.Whether i am a Malay or Malaysian at that time, does not bothers me an iota.
I can mix with sinners and drinkers, and non believers and others of many faiths and beliefs....one thing i cannot mix are smokers...sinners and drinkers have beautiful women and drinks till they get drunk...if they get drunk they becomes happy and tell all kinds of stories and makes me happy,...if they get pissed drunk, i can sapu their girlfriends....but smokers....i die and suffocate and smells like a smokeHouse, when they are happy...he...he..

polris said...

I DO AGREE WITH SAMSAIMON.DATO' YOU HAVE JOINED THE WRONG CORP.HAVING THE WRONG IDEA ABOUT MALAY OR MELAYU.IF YOU ARE PROUD TO BE AN INDONESIAN ORIGIN MALAYSIAN WHY NOT TRY TO RESETTLE IN SULAWESI?

KL girl now in Ipoh said...

@Polris - I believe what Dato' said is merely being very honest. He indeed is a descendant from a family who originated from Indonesia and settled in Malaya, now Malaysia. If you are honest there is no shame.

Too bad there are too many people in Malaysia, including our leaders who forget or do not want to admit that their families too, once long ago, datang ke Malaysia, from somewhere else. As Aofuad said, there is no such thing as Bangsa Malaysia, but we are all legitimate Warga Malaysia.

So,tak payah emotion sangat.