Share to help stimulate good governance, ensure future of people & M’sia
No News Is Bad News
Multi-racial-multi-religious Malaysians. For image info, go to https://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/564442
Selangor Sultan: Non-Malays are citizens, they are not pendatang (immigrants)
KUALA LUMPUR, March 24, 2024: Amid the heightening of racial and religious sensitivies whipped up by political bigots in Malaysia, the law-abiding and peace-loving rakyat (people) can breathe an air of relief.
Two royalties have come out to defend multi-racial Malaysia.
Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said Malaysia must continue to defend its multicultural values and background, as it remains one of the strengths that unite the country.
“The nation’s non-Malay citizens also ceased being pendatang (immigrants) after the social contract was agreed upon during (Merdeka) Independence in 1957.
“However, many still use this term because they are ignorant of this fact. I believe they don’t understand the social contract. If we understand the social contract, we will respect each other,” he added.
Turning 60 just a few days ago, Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah said:
“One thing I do know for sure, however, is that my Chinese grandmother was as Malaysian as I am myself. I know too that my children — even with their mixed blood heritage — are also as Malaysian as I am.”
No News Is Bad News reproduces below the two news reports quoting the royalties:
Sultan Selangor : There Are No Pendatang – Malay Rulers Have Accepted All, Including The Non-Malays As Citizens
24 March, 2024
Malaysia must continue to defend its multicultural values and background, as it remains one of the strengths that unite the country, says Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
In an exclusive interview with Sunday Star, the Sultan of Selangor stressed that Malaysia is a melting pot of various cultures that has been preserved since Independence.
“I believe that it is good that we preserve all of the traditions and cultures of the various races, and it has become a melting pot that adds more richness to the civilisation of our country.
“But the main thing is, we all go in as one.
“This is for our mutual benefit and together we protect our beloved country as one,” he said.
Tuanku said the nation’s non-Malay citizens also ceased being “pendatang” (immigrants) after the social contract was agreed upon during independence in 1957.
However, many still use this term because they are ignorant of this fact, said Sultan Sharafuddin.
“I believe they don’t understand the social contract. If we understand the social contract, we will respect each other.
“If the rakyat knew and understood the social contract, they cannot be easily brainwashed, no matter how much the politicians bring up race and religion.
“There are no ‘pendatang’ as the Malay Rulers have accepted all, including the non-Malays, as citizens,” said Tuanku.
Sultan Sharafuddin also reminded the people that when the nation’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj, went to the United Kingdom to negotiate for independence, he did not go alone but was accompanied by representatives of the Chinese and Indian communities as well as the mentris besar of Selangor, Perak, Johor and Kelantan.
The Sultan explained that the Malays wanted Bahasa Melayu to be the official language and Islam as the official religion of the federation, while the other races wanted citizenship as well to preserve their ethnic identities and languages, and practise their own religions.
“It was based on ‘give and take’,” said the Ruler, adding that it was this “give and take” element in the social contract that formed the basis of the Federal Constitution.
The Selangor Ruler said many are unaware that the Rukun Negara and Federal Constitution depict the spirit of nation-building and consensus based on the social contract reached by the country’s founding fathers.
In the Malaysian context, the term social contract refers to the painstaking compromises among the various races on their mutual rights and privileges and their bargains with the Malay Rulers and the British for the creation of a democratic, monarchical, federal and non-theocratic system of government.
Sultan Sharafuddin also did not mince his words on matters touching on race, religion, and royalty (3Rs), stating that if it is not contained properly, it would risk tearing the peaceful country apart.
“On the issue of 3Rs, especially religion and race, if these two matters are intertwined, it will be very dangerous.
“It will create suspicion, and people will not get along.
“We are one, and it will not be good for the country,” said the Selangor Ruler.
Tuanku also slammed irresponsible quarters, especially politicians, who tried to fan the flames over 3R issues for their own political mileage.
“If the people don’t vote for them, they will stop exploiting race and religion,” added Tuanku.
“I think politicians should also fully understand our history and social contract before becoming candidates.
“They need to go to class to understand our laws and the Rukun Negara as well as the social contract, and only then can you function as an effective wakil rakyat (elected rep),” said Sultan Sharafuddin.
“They must also go for medical check-ups before being nominated, as there are cases where they die soon after the general election and a lot of money is wasted on by-elections,” added Tuanku.
His Royal Highness also cautioned those who resorted to attacking the royal institutions.
“If you make up stories and ‘fitnah’ to attack me, that is a no-no,” said Tuanku.
His Royal Highness also noted that it was important for all parties not to fall for such a narrative.
On a separate matter, the Sultan of Selangor reminded members of the state assembly on both sides to perform their duties professionally and not to waste a lot of time fighting.
“Having a strong Opposition is not an issue for me, but the state government must ensure that it does its job quickly and without delay; it is good for democracy.
“But for the government, they have to do their job quickly and effectively.
“They cannot just talk; they must execute what the rakyat need.
“Don’t delay in executing their service to the people.
“For the Opposition, don’t simply attack the government; you must use real facts and become a constructive opposition.
“If the government does not want to be attacked by the Opposition, please do your job well,” said the Selangor Ruler.
Source : The Star - The Coverage
Permaisuri Johor : My Chinese Grandmother Was As Malaysian As I Am – It Does Not Make Them Any Less Malay
24 March, 2024
Turning 60 just a few days ago, Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah took to Facebook to celebrate her multiracial background and her parenting life lessons.
“When I turned 60 a few days ago, the gifts I received from my eldest son, Tunku Mahkota Johor, were photographs of his three children, complete with their little palm prints and footprints.
“These were wonderful reminders that I am now a grandmother of three! Alhamdulillah, I am blessed!”
Today, those photographs are displayed on her shelves, together with many others of the royal family.
One of the photographs is of Tunku Ismail as a baby.
“In this picture, the Tunku Mahkota is being held in the arms of my own maternal grandmother.
“She was a Peranakan Chinese. Her late brother was Tan Sri Chang Min Tat, a Malaysian Federal Court judge.
“Although she hardly visited us in Johor Baru, we would see her at my mother’s house every time we were in Ipoh to celebrate Hari Raya with my Perak family.”
Raja Zarith is convinced that children are actually — if left to their own pure and innocent thoughts, and their own understanding of the world — oblivious to racial differences.
She said it was parents, who consciously or unconsciously, made children aware of these differences.
“As a parent, I was determined to let my children know that my grandmother was Chinese, and to accept it in the same way that they know that their own paternal grandmother was English.
“I hoped that they would learn to be proud of the blood that flows through their veins, and to understand that it does not make them any less Malay.”
Raja Zarith reminisces about seeing her grandmother in her embroidered Nyonya kebayas and batik sarongs, with a handkerchief tucked into the silver belt that held up her sarong.
“When she became older, and her hands started being unsteady at pinning the brooches onto the kebayas, she stopped wearing them and wore buttoned-up kebaya-like tunics and sarongs instead.
“Sadly, she passed on when my children were still very young.
“But, I would always show them the photographs of her so that they will never ever forget about her.”
Seeing that photograph of her cradling Her Majesty’s eldest son, she wishes that she could tell her grandmother that he now has children of his own.
“I wish I can tell her that he still remembers her, and still thinks of her as his nenek.
“I wish I can tell her about some of his achievements, that despite the comfortable life he led at home here in Malaysia, he survived the gruelling training as an army cadet at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, India.
“I wish I can tell her that he was commissioned and continued to serve in the Indian Army as an officer of the 61st Cavalry regiment in Jaipur, India, for four years.
“I wish I can tell her that he is now back home in Malaysia, and that he has succeeded in creating a successful football club for the state.
“She had seen him kick those footballs around with his cousins.
“I wish I can tell her that I too cannot believe how far he has come in managing the football team.”
Raja Zarith said at the age of 60, she realises that there is still so much to learn.
“One thing I do know for sure, however, is that my Chinese grandmother was as Malaysian as I am myself. I know too that my children — even with their mixed blood heritage — are also as Malaysian as I am.
She concluded her journey down memory lane by hoping that Allah accepts her son’s wishes to perform the Haj next year.
“If Allah accepts him as His guest in the Holy Land, I will ask him to pray, not just for us, his parents, but for our family too.
“And, I will remind him not to forget his nenek.”
Source : NST - The Coverage
No comments:
Post a Comment