Merdeka Time Machine Week
The week from 30th August up to today was like a time machine ride for me. During the 9/9 Celebration (Malaysia`s supposedly Human Rights Day) organized by SUHAKAM, the participants were indulged in an intense discussion of human rights, culture, religion and freedom of expression.
Speakers and participants `s observation and dissection of real issues such as State censorship, apostasy plus a redefinition of Merdeka exhibited the complexity of our society. The complexity becomes messy when State`s inteference in the society `s exercise of religion, culture and freedom of expression are merely to maintain and ensure that we toe the line and hence protect the interest of THE minority of rich elites. Its bad that we are aware all along our perspective on what is Malaysian culture, what it means to be a Malaysian was very much policed and dictated by the ruling powers, but even worse when we were silenced by the repressive Acts available, thus give away to another troubling culture, Culture of Fear.
What happened in the past affects our present. Our chaotic present and if I could name one, failure to accept diversity by succumbing to monolithic outlook, (Oh, ignore the Muhibbah school of thought, it is damn superficial as it only goes as far as traditional cloths, food and dances), are very much a product of what happened in the past. Our definition of Merdeka and ideals of being a Malaysian was rooted deep in untold and mysterious fragment of histories that were bias-ly recorded to represent and strengthened those in power. It could aptly be described as "Winners write history". Yesterday night, the connecting point to the thinking I have been doing post-9/9 was a forum called "Pensejarahan Semula Kemerdekaan" organized by Youth For Change (Y4C). Drawing hidden facts from the past, I finally could make sense of some (if not all) the issues surrounding our tragic melting pot dream. Let me just share some of the interesting and important perspectives raised during the forum:
1. Malayan is a concept exist only after colonialization of British. The British coined the term Malayan people for those coming from the lower social background, especially the Chinese and Indian labours during that time. It is logical since idea of statehood which was popular in the 50s-60s was a sign that local people from all colonies were demanding for Independence. We derived our ideas of what a State is from our colonizers.
2. When did we actually get our independence? Answering the question now becomes a tiring quest. A-Could it be September 16 1963, after Sabah & Sarawak joined Malaysia? B- Could it be 1988? Here is an interesting fact; In October 1957, Malaya signed an agreement called The Anglo Malaya Agreement with the British. Among the important content of the agreement was that for Malaya to allow foreign troops from British, Australia, Fiji and other mentioned countries to be based on the Malaya `s soil. The last batch of the troop left our country in 1984! 5 years after the that, The Peaceful Treaty was signed between Thailand, Malaysia and Parti Communist Malaya. Are we really independent if we allow foreign troops to be based in our country for security purpose. Is it not a similar scenario like in Afganistan now? Even if the argument was because Communist has not retreated even after Merdeka, have we ever wondered if it is the other way around, that the PKM cannot compromise the existence of foreign military power on our free land?
3.The People`s Constitution proposed by AMCJA-PUTERA suggested a very daring idea that all races shall practice their culture and beliefs and yet unite and be known as "Malay". If we remember well our history books, AMCJA-PUTERA was a combination of diverse groups and not only predominantly Malay. It comprised of even ulama' from Hizbul Muslimin. It just shows how progressive were the Ulama' during that era! This fact demonstrated how "malay" during that time was seen as a socially constructed idea which was far from religious and racial influences. The people who came up with the proposal shared one cause which was to gain their rights from the local aristocrat power of that era who was later absorbed by the British into a very lame Durbar. hence, "Malay" was intepreted to have social and political origin as opposed to the divide and rule tactic speared by the British which manipulate the racial cards to reinforce submission, prejudice and fear to resist among the three main races that of course would curb any attempts of uniting and challenging the British empire. Of course we find it bizarre as we have been accepting the context that we are identified by our race and religion for donkey years. But if the proposal of the AMCJA-PUTERA was put in place, issue of malay special rights might not even arise as everyone will be treated equally. Of course this will be a threat to the Malay monarch.
3. Why was Tan Cheng Lock and Viti Sambathan never on the ship to Britain to negotiate Merdeka with the British? No answer yet.
4.UMNO was claimed to be an idea thought of by Secretary General of Colonial Affairs in England. It was not actually a party inspired by the people. Independence hence, was merely a transition of power from the colonial powers to the local monarch. Of course it was expedite by the loss incured by the British due to PKM `s resistance which was around 100,00-300,00 dollars per day.
5.Does Merdeka means freedom as well? Are we really a free society now?
Being part of the Generation M, of course my identification with Merdeka was clouded by flags waving, procession across the city and the repeated image of Tunku punching the air to the spirited shout of "Merdeka". But it will not be fair at all to allow the young roots of the country to be misled and indoctrinated by a bias version of country`s history. I guess the redefining of history must be started with the revealing of actual events of the past to clear our messed up minds. How can the young generation inteprete the history and make it relevant to themselves if the version of history being fed to us are censored and was tampered with by the "victors of the war"? Until then, the past serve no crucial reminders to the Malaysian young breeds of what it means to be a Malaysian as we are forever entrapped in a planned disillusionment propagated by the powers that be.
On that note, I could say (with confidence) that it is not too late for me to say Selamat Hari Merdeka to everyone especially the fine young calibans of yesterday and tomorrow.
What happened in the past affects our present. Our chaotic present and if I could name one, failure to accept diversity by succumbing to monolithic outlook, (Oh, ignore the Muhibbah school of thought, it is damn superficial as it only goes as far as traditional cloths, food and dances), are very much a product of what happened in the past. Our definition of Merdeka and ideals of being a Malaysian was rooted deep in untold and mysterious fragment of histories that were bias-ly recorded to represent and strengthened those in power. It could aptly be described as "Winners write history". Yesterday night, the connecting point to the thinking I have been doing post-9/9 was a forum called "Pensejarahan Semula Kemerdekaan" organized by Youth For Change (Y4C). Drawing hidden facts from the past, I finally could make sense of some (if not all) the issues surrounding our tragic melting pot dream. Let me just share some of the interesting and important perspectives raised during the forum:
1. Malayan is a concept exist only after colonialization of British. The British coined the term Malayan people for those coming from the lower social background, especially the Chinese and Indian labours during that time. It is logical since idea of statehood which was popular in the 50s-60s was a sign that local people from all colonies were demanding for Independence. We derived our ideas of what a State is from our colonizers.
2. When did we actually get our independence? Answering the question now becomes a tiring quest. A-Could it be September 16 1963, after Sabah & Sarawak joined Malaysia? B- Could it be 1988? Here is an interesting fact; In October 1957, Malaya signed an agreement called The Anglo Malaya Agreement with the British. Among the important content of the agreement was that for Malaya to allow foreign troops from British, Australia, Fiji and other mentioned countries to be based on the Malaya `s soil. The last batch of the troop left our country in 1984! 5 years after the that, The Peaceful Treaty was signed between Thailand, Malaysia and Parti Communist Malaya. Are we really independent if we allow foreign troops to be based in our country for security purpose. Is it not a similar scenario like in Afganistan now? Even if the argument was because Communist has not retreated even after Merdeka, have we ever wondered if it is the other way around, that the PKM cannot compromise the existence of foreign military power on our free land?
3.The People`s Constitution proposed by AMCJA-PUTERA suggested a very daring idea that all races shall practice their culture and beliefs and yet unite and be known as "Malay". If we remember well our history books, AMCJA-PUTERA was a combination of diverse groups and not only predominantly Malay. It comprised of even ulama' from Hizbul Muslimin. It just shows how progressive were the Ulama' during that era! This fact demonstrated how "malay" during that time was seen as a socially constructed idea which was far from religious and racial influences. The people who came up with the proposal shared one cause which was to gain their rights from the local aristocrat power of that era who was later absorbed by the British into a very lame Durbar. hence, "Malay" was intepreted to have social and political origin as opposed to the divide and rule tactic speared by the British which manipulate the racial cards to reinforce submission, prejudice and fear to resist among the three main races that of course would curb any attempts of uniting and challenging the British empire. Of course we find it bizarre as we have been accepting the context that we are identified by our race and religion for donkey years. But if the proposal of the AMCJA-PUTERA was put in place, issue of malay special rights might not even arise as everyone will be treated equally. Of course this will be a threat to the Malay monarch.
3. Why was Tan Cheng Lock and Viti Sambathan never on the ship to Britain to negotiate Merdeka with the British? No answer yet.
4.UMNO was claimed to be an idea thought of by Secretary General of Colonial Affairs in England. It was not actually a party inspired by the people. Independence hence, was merely a transition of power from the colonial powers to the local monarch. Of course it was expedite by the loss incured by the British due to PKM `s resistance which was around 100,00-300,00 dollars per day.
5.Does Merdeka means freedom as well? Are we really a free society now?
Being part of the Generation M, of course my identification with Merdeka was clouded by flags waving, procession across the city and the repeated image of Tunku punching the air to the spirited shout of "Merdeka". But it will not be fair at all to allow the young roots of the country to be misled and indoctrinated by a bias version of country`s history. I guess the redefining of history must be started with the revealing of actual events of the past to clear our messed up minds. How can the young generation inteprete the history and make it relevant to themselves if the version of history being fed to us are censored and was tampered with by the "victors of the war"? Until then, the past serve no crucial reminders to the Malaysian young breeds of what it means to be a Malaysian as we are forever entrapped in a planned disillusionment propagated by the powers that be.
On that note, I could say (with confidence) that it is not too late for me to say Selamat Hari Merdeka to everyone especially the fine young calibans of yesterday and tomorrow.
posted by GEE at 10:40 AM
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