Malaysia- Truly Asia or Purely Asia?

NEXT year Malaysia will celebrate its 50th birthday. Half a decade has not made its citizens any wiser as racism still pops in the minds of its 23,953,136 (as of July 2005) men, women and children living in this country.
Opposition parties, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in particular offer sling shots at the ruling government’s racial discrimination, no thanks to the ‘Dasar Ekonomi Baru’ (New Economic Policy) which was initiated right after the infamous 13 May (1969) horror whereby the Malays felt out of place compared to their Chinese ‘friends’ who, despite being newer immigrants, were influential in charting the country’s economy. (it has been proven most Malays are from Indonesian descendants but they have been in the country far longer than the other races which migrated from China and India during the British empire.)
Fast forward to the future, let’s take a look at the just concluded MyTeam v Malaysia Selection last Sunday. The MyTeam, a commercially driven but yet said to be a nation motivator, lost 2-1 to the national side mostly comprising of K.Rajagopal’s Under-20 side at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.
Some said the Malays supported the Malaysian team, while the ‘nons’ supported the MyTeam.
The national selection had only one non Malay player (K.Nanthakumar) who is part of main national team. MyTeam meanwhile fielded two Chinese players and several Indian players besides the bulk of Malay players.
But to the rest of us, it was merely a game to prove who had the extra edge. While it was unfair for the young national team to be jeered by its own nationals, it was nevertheless a game that kept the people in the stands entertained. However Harian Metro playing spokesman to KJ's invention (I guess a back page lead criticising the Malaysian team and idolising the losing team was overboard..but heck isn't NSTP UMNO's baby??) was clearly uncalled for.
And can the Malays be blamed for being good in the world’s greatest game as it is known the others are all education driven, often despising a career in sports.
In politics, racism often shows it ugly head. DAP leader Lim Kit Siang often fights for a fair and just system, especially in the education system. Nevertheless, with all due respect to Kit Siang, he is a hypocrite as his support in the establishment of Chinese and Tamil schools only defeats the purpose of creating a ‘Rakyat Malaysia’.
Why cant every man, woman and child in this country come from a Sekolah Kebangsaan? Why shouldn’t every man, woman and child in this country speak four different languages- English, Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin and Tamil- fluently?
The United Kingdom, under Tony Blair’s Labour party has spent millions to initiate a programme where every British child will be able to speak at least one foreign language besides their mother tongue in the future. Here, millions need not be spent as the remaining expertise can be utilised, and mind you four languages can be learnt.
If the government continues to suppress the issue without taking means of changing the mindset of its people, another May 13 could very well happen. But the government alone can’t do much; it’s the people who need to be more pro-active.
If the Chinese or Indians or even the Malays are so afraid of losing their culture, well they have lost it a long time ago. Someone once said, the problem with this country is simple- the Malays are too contended, the Chinese are too money minded and the Indians are too power driven. If a balance can be produced, then there would surely be a ‘perfect’ Malaysia. But then again, no one is perfect.
So is Malaysia truly Asia..or purely Asia? You decide.

-The Man Who Sold The World-