Ketuanan Melayu - It's not about UMNO, it's about malay forefathers
Since the journey to independence of Tanah Melayu, the three political parties (UMNO,MCA,MIC) representing each races; Malay, Chinese and Indian had agreed that in order to achieve and maintain independence of the land and start live together, all races in Tanah Melayu have confirmed that, Malays are the native people of Tanah Melayu, Islam will be the official religion of Tanah Melayu and Bahasa Melayu becomes the official language.
Back to the long time history before independence, during the zaman kepahlawanan Melayu in fighting the foreign powers like British and Belanda who wanted to conquer the land of Tanah Melayu from south to the east. The names like Dato’ Bahaman, Dato’Maharajalela are synonym in the history of Tanah Melayu. At this time, Malay forefathers were the native people in Tanah melayu have suffered under colonialism and then struggled for freedom in their own land.
The appearance of pahlawan-pahlawan Melayu on that times showed the struggle to claim for the political power of Malay people as the native people. Then, during the British colonialism, Chinese people were brought from China to work in the mines and Indian people were brought to work in British estates. As a way to establish separation, Malays were deprived in the kampongs, Indians were put in the estates and Chinese were located in the towns. So, until now we could see the effects of the history.
Yes, the struggle of Malay power is pioneered by UMNO since the independence, but the most important thing all Malaysians must know that, when we talk about Ketuanan Melayu, we talk about the the Malays as a whole. Only these days, the term Ketuanan Melayu has been referred only to UMNO Malays but actually it is not. Some people with certain advantages have made use of the term Ketuanan Melayu and make it a big issue by relating it to the racial approach of UMNO. This is not true at all. Ketuanan Melayu covers the whole Malays regardless they are PAS Malays, PKR Malays or UMNO Malays. Ketuanan Melayu is the concept which identifies the privilege of all Malays in Malaysia as the native race who are the earliest community in the old Tanah Melayu.
Ketuanan Melayu is not UMNO’s creation or a play-play thing. The real symbols of Ketuanan Melayu which are still exist until these present days are the continuity of hierarchy of Raja-Raja Melayu in every state excluding Pulau Pinang, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka. The existence of the position of Raja-Raja Melayu until now resulted from the efforts of Malay people to sustain their cultural heritage. Every Raja Melayu is the head of Malays in the state, represents the community of Malays and their privileges. This unique Ketuanan Melayu concept is what has maintained Islam as the official religion and give Islam a specialty in terms of governmental policy and mainstream media which other kinds of religions in Tanah Melayu don’t have.
That is why only Islamic sermons are given special permission in the governmental and mainstream media. However, not to be mistaken, this specialty give to Islam ( as a result of Ketuanan Melayu) doesn’t prohibit the spreading and practice of other religions in Tanah Melayu. Therefore, Raja-Raja have the honor right to elect someone right for Menteri Besar (eg: Perak, Terengganu, Perlis) and to ask for changes in the state governments in order to preserve the privilege of Islam and Ketuanan Melayu.
Thus, questioning Ketuanan Melayu doesn’t mean to seek fight with UMNO Malays but actually to dispute the leadership and relevance of Raja-Raja Melayu. Once Ketuanan Melayu has been questioned and disputed by certain people, the whole Malays in Malaysia are involved regardless who they are whether PAS,PKR or UMNO. Raja-Raja Melayu represent Malays and All Malays are standing behind the Raja-Raja Melayu as the symbol of Malay nativity, unless there are Malays now who disbelieve their kings and deny the relevance of Raja-Raja Melayu. (Who would be these Malays?)
Like stated in the second item of Rukunegara “Kesetiaan kepada Raja Dan Negara”, the basis element of Ketuanan Melayu is clearly there. Hence, all who live in Malaysia no matter Chinese or Indians who admit they are Malaysians must obey that Rukunegara item that is to be loyal and acknowledge the presence and the authority of Raja-Raja Melayu and Yang Dipertuan Agong. If there is somebody who dare enough to question the credibility and the relevance of Ketuanan Melayu (Raja-Raja), they are disqualified to be Malaysians from the conceptual perspective because they are violating the ikrar in the Rukunegara.
Accepting Ketuanan Melayu, meaning to accept Malay leaders or to prioritize Malay leaders in states or national government actually are not supposed to bring any harm to other races and religions. To agree with Ketuanan Melayu just means to respect Malays and their late forefathers who are the native races in Tanah Melayu. Therefore, Malay culture and their official religion (Islam) are given special rights and protection in Malaysia. Ketuananan Melayu does block the freedom of cultural and religious practices in Malaysia.
The history has proven that Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism are freely practiced until now in Malaysia. (Exclusion: No Muslims can religious convert) Religious tolerance is very well practiced. Moreover, academic and economic opportunities are given to all races in Malaysia. Everyone can be educated and rich as long as they make efforts. Ketuanan Melayu does not harm non-Malays. Only now there are negative images propagated by certain people with political advantages to put down UMNO by labeling Ketuanan Melayu as racist.
Source : www.kedapas.blogspot.com
Back to the long time history before independence, during the zaman kepahlawanan Melayu in fighting the foreign powers like British and Belanda who wanted to conquer the land of Tanah Melayu from south to the east. The names like Dato’ Bahaman, Dato’Maharajalela are synonym in the history of Tanah Melayu. At this time, Malay forefathers were the native people in Tanah melayu have suffered under colonialism and then struggled for freedom in their own land.
The appearance of pahlawan-pahlawan Melayu on that times showed the struggle to claim for the political power of Malay people as the native people. Then, during the British colonialism, Chinese people were brought from China to work in the mines and Indian people were brought to work in British estates. As a way to establish separation, Malays were deprived in the kampongs, Indians were put in the estates and Chinese were located in the towns. So, until now we could see the effects of the history.
Yes, the struggle of Malay power is pioneered by UMNO since the independence, but the most important thing all Malaysians must know that, when we talk about Ketuanan Melayu, we talk about the the Malays as a whole. Only these days, the term Ketuanan Melayu has been referred only to UMNO Malays but actually it is not. Some people with certain advantages have made use of the term Ketuanan Melayu and make it a big issue by relating it to the racial approach of UMNO. This is not true at all. Ketuanan Melayu covers the whole Malays regardless they are PAS Malays, PKR Malays or UMNO Malays. Ketuanan Melayu is the concept which identifies the privilege of all Malays in Malaysia as the native race who are the earliest community in the old Tanah Melayu.
Ketuanan Melayu is not UMNO’s creation or a play-play thing. The real symbols of Ketuanan Melayu which are still exist until these present days are the continuity of hierarchy of Raja-Raja Melayu in every state excluding Pulau Pinang, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka. The existence of the position of Raja-Raja Melayu until now resulted from the efforts of Malay people to sustain their cultural heritage. Every Raja Melayu is the head of Malays in the state, represents the community of Malays and their privileges. This unique Ketuanan Melayu concept is what has maintained Islam as the official religion and give Islam a specialty in terms of governmental policy and mainstream media which other kinds of religions in Tanah Melayu don’t have.
That is why only Islamic sermons are given special permission in the governmental and mainstream media. However, not to be mistaken, this specialty give to Islam ( as a result of Ketuanan Melayu) doesn’t prohibit the spreading and practice of other religions in Tanah Melayu. Therefore, Raja-Raja have the honor right to elect someone right for Menteri Besar (eg: Perak, Terengganu, Perlis) and to ask for changes in the state governments in order to preserve the privilege of Islam and Ketuanan Melayu.
Thus, questioning Ketuanan Melayu doesn’t mean to seek fight with UMNO Malays but actually to dispute the leadership and relevance of Raja-Raja Melayu. Once Ketuanan Melayu has been questioned and disputed by certain people, the whole Malays in Malaysia are involved regardless who they are whether PAS,PKR or UMNO. Raja-Raja Melayu represent Malays and All Malays are standing behind the Raja-Raja Melayu as the symbol of Malay nativity, unless there are Malays now who disbelieve their kings and deny the relevance of Raja-Raja Melayu. (Who would be these Malays?)
Like stated in the second item of Rukunegara “Kesetiaan kepada Raja Dan Negara”, the basis element of Ketuanan Melayu is clearly there. Hence, all who live in Malaysia no matter Chinese or Indians who admit they are Malaysians must obey that Rukunegara item that is to be loyal and acknowledge the presence and the authority of Raja-Raja Melayu and Yang Dipertuan Agong. If there is somebody who dare enough to question the credibility and the relevance of Ketuanan Melayu (Raja-Raja), they are disqualified to be Malaysians from the conceptual perspective because they are violating the ikrar in the Rukunegara.
Accepting Ketuanan Melayu, meaning to accept Malay leaders or to prioritize Malay leaders in states or national government actually are not supposed to bring any harm to other races and religions. To agree with Ketuanan Melayu just means to respect Malays and their late forefathers who are the native races in Tanah Melayu. Therefore, Malay culture and their official religion (Islam) are given special rights and protection in Malaysia. Ketuananan Melayu does block the freedom of cultural and religious practices in Malaysia.
The history has proven that Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism are freely practiced until now in Malaysia. (Exclusion: No Muslims can religious convert) Religious tolerance is very well practiced. Moreover, academic and economic opportunities are given to all races in Malaysia. Everyone can be educated and rich as long as they make efforts. Ketuanan Melayu does not harm non-Malays. Only now there are negative images propagated by certain people with political advantages to put down UMNO by labeling Ketuanan Melayu as racist.
Source : www.kedapas.blogspot.com
MOHD ADHA MOHD ZAIN (ADHA ZAIN)
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