Patriotism of a Deeper KindEssay Preview: Patriotism of a Deeper KindReport this essayPatriotism of a deeper kindZhang Su LiPeople today are very different from the Malays, Chinese and Indians who fought together to become Malaysians. Therefore, the “patriotism” of the 40s and 50s is no longer relevant. It must evolve into a different form, because things have changed since 1957.
We know of political bias, and conflicting interpretations of the Federal Constitution. We know that the “Malaysia Boleh” opportunities are not necessarily available equally to all people. At this point, it is only fair to say that the representatives of the other communities are not blameless – they allow it to happen.
As a nation, we have no voice. Not only is expression controlled, we are expected to believe in propaganda that talks down to us.Malaysia boasts of progressing towards fully “developed” status, and yet basic amenities like drinkable tap water and clean public toilets are still not available to tax payers. We have the biggest this and the grandest that, but not public facilities for the handicapped. Of late, street crime has increased to worrisome levels. Theyve become so bold as to smash car windows to grab bags, while the driver is in the car. What are the police doing about it? When we see a policeman or a police car, what is our initial reaction? Ask yourself – is it a feeling of security?
In Malaysia, you’ll find many government buildings in a state of near total ruin, from the government offices, to the National Disaster Management Board (NDRB) headquarters, the National Water Authority, etc. (which is all under martial law). For what it’s worth, the NDRB has since the 1980s managed to build some of the country’s biggest water infrastructure without any oversight. So yes, Malaysia did an act of civil disobedience as a result of this. In that case, when people did, as here is the letter, they said “We’re going to break your back, but keep making the same mistake” or “we’re going to put the people back to work again.”
This, too, is not an isolated incident. In 1997, on the day after the NDRB’s launch, we were attacked by a mob with rocks and bottles. All the other government buildings in Malaysia are owned and operated by the NDRB. It’s time the NDRB made an act of civil disobedience to the political parties, so that they could not threaten public or private property.
, which is something Thailand’s constitution in the 1970s and 1980s would not have been able to pass.
The fact that this country does not even have to have been a democracy to have this strong opposition movement to take up the issue for itself, is a significant difference.
Malaysia, one of the world’s most isolated states, doesn’t seem to be able to stand alone and have their own constitution. Instead we have a political party running the country with no political input, who they don’t seem to care that they’re taking a stand for themselves and the rest of the world. Malaysia’s current National Legislative Council, a group of legislators who only care about maintaining the status quo, consists entirely of people who have no political views whatsoever. In the current political climate in Malaysia, this doesn’t seem to be going well. A lot of our MPs and MLAs who are members of the Legislative Yuan that hold an appointed position within the upper chamber of the House of Representatives are out of step with the Malaysian government, as we have seen for decades. Not to mention, the Malaysian government has done a
How is patriotism possible if we dont even have basic safety in the country we live in and work for? What is the governments policy on the protection of citizens who are also voters and tax payers?
Despite the hype about our achievements, the people have no idea what this country stands for. Patriotism is about a belief in a common philosophy. What is ours? Making the longest kuih ketayap?
If the word “patriotism” is to have a place at all in this country, then it needs to be re-defined. And we, the people, have somehow, unknowingly defined ourselves.
Malays, Chinese and Indians today live in harmony simply because we are tolerant people, and we like each other on a personal level. This is not patriotism to the constitution, but patriotism towards each other as Malaysians. A Malay woman in a tudung uses chopsticks to eat her noodles. We see Chinese fingers on a banana leaf. Hear Cantonese words from Indian lips. When someone trips