Affairs we have in common By Jerry Francis February 20, 2009 Categories: NewsDO we have a serious problem with racial segregation in Perak?
Certainly not! Then why do we need advisers to the Menteri Besar drawn from different races to exclusively look after the affairs of their respective communities?
I would have thought that 50 years after Merdeka, we Malaysians would have the confidence and trust that leaders, irrespective of race and religion, can be fair to everyone, not just their respective races.
Therefore, the appointment of the three advisers by Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir in Ipoh last week appears to be a step backward in our efforts to integrate the races.
The advisers are Datuk Mohd Najumuddin Elias (Umno) for Islamic Affairs, Datuk Chang Ko Youn (Gerakan) for Chinese Affairs, and Datuk S. Veerasingam (MIC) for Indian Affairs.
What about the affairs of the others?
It was all right during the pre-Merdeka British administration to have Chinese or Indian affairs officers, but we are now supposed to be more moderate in thought and have a common language, i.e Bahasa
Malaysia, to bond us.
Therefore, there is no longer a need for us to appoint advisers on a racial basis, unless it is merely aimed at portraying that the State government is represented by all races.
If this is the case, we have been asked “to judge a book by its cover”, not the other way round.
If the racial composition of the State executive council is important, the duties of the advisers should commensurate with their experience and ability — not on a loose general term of “Chinese” or “Indian”
affairs.
What can these advisers, who are equal in status to the State executive councillors, sincerely and honestly achieve? The common issues or problems faced by the various races would be similar in nature. As such, the role of Chinese or Indian affairs advisers would merely be that of public relations officers because they would, eventually, have to pass any issue or problem to the respective State executive councillor to handle.
The Menteri Besar, the six executive councillors, and advisers appear to share a common ambition that the Perak State government needs to win back the confidence of the people.
This being so, they must live up to it, not with mere words — and certainly not by keeping up appearances — but by deeds.
They have the next three years to prove they represent all of us, irrespective of race and religion.
Certainly not! Then why do we need advisers to the Menteri Besar drawn from different races to exclusively look after the affairs of their respective communities?
I would have thought that 50 years after Merdeka, we Malaysians would have the confidence and trust that leaders, irrespective of race and religion, can be fair to everyone, not just their respective races.
Therefore, the appointment of the three advisers by Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir in Ipoh last week appears to be a step backward in our efforts to integrate the races.
The advisers are Datuk Mohd Najumuddin Elias (Umno) for Islamic Affairs, Datuk Chang Ko Youn (Gerakan) for Chinese Affairs, and Datuk S. Veerasingam (MIC) for Indian Affairs.
What about the affairs of the others?
It was all right during the pre-Merdeka British administration to have Chinese or Indian affairs officers, but we are now supposed to be more moderate in thought and have a common language, i.e Bahasa
Malaysia, to bond us.
Therefore, there is no longer a need for us to appoint advisers on a racial basis, unless it is merely aimed at portraying that the State government is represented by all races.
If this is the case, we have been asked “to judge a book by its cover”, not the other way round.
If the racial composition of the State executive council is important, the duties of the advisers should commensurate with their experience and ability — not on a loose general term of “Chinese” or “Indian”
affairs.
What can these advisers, who are equal in status to the State executive councillors, sincerely and honestly achieve? The common issues or problems faced by the various races would be similar in nature. As such, the role of Chinese or Indian affairs advisers would merely be that of public relations officers because they would, eventually, have to pass any issue or problem to the respective State executive councillor to handle.
The Menteri Besar, the six executive councillors, and advisers appear to share a common ambition that the Perak State government needs to win back the confidence of the people.
This being so, they must live up to it, not with mere words — and certainly not by keeping up appearances — but by deeds.
They have the next three years to prove they represent all of us, irrespective of race and religion.
6 comments:
the silverland is doomed doomed & DOOMED !!
the indon tukang gigi is very frustrated over his waterloo-loo on the 8thof march!
50 years after merdeka, it's business as usual. Which means I am still a second class citizen. That means I cannot get five per cent discount for buying a house. MERDEKA! Cheers from Tanjong Rambutan Pub where every day is MERDEKA.
Additional advisers, if I am not wrong, equated to additional state costs. Better make sure this is a better opportunity cost, otherwise, another wastage which I am sure the State can ill-afford in the current economic scenario.
Oops, sorry, I am a third class citizen, not second class. The second class citizens are Bumis from Sabah and Sarawak. I apologise for the error.
Every nation in the world is progressing except Malaysia because Malaysia Tak Boleh !
When all other countries are talking about how to tackle economic crisis, our leaders are strategising on how to go for backdoor wrestling of lost States !
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