A no-brainer test of identity

Allow me to reflect on the real meaning of unity and purpose of Malaysia. Does it, as an organisation, have a unity of purpose?  Most good organisations do.

Does the DPM of Malaysia have a unity of purpose in his political service to the nation? Does the Malaysian Ambassador in Washington DC have the same unity of purpose? Can that unity of purpose be called 1Malaysia, as branded by PM Najib Abdul Razak?

If not, what are the implications of these two so-called first representatives of ours, who are called by their respective parties and their boss to represent all Malaysians?

Can they effectively even do their jobs, if they are not very clear about what their primary calling is under the leadership of this PM? What ‘people first’ and ‘what performance’ now? If they can’t, why are they holding positions of both authority and influence? Move over, please!

This past Sunday Star column by Wong Chun Wai (right) hit the nail on the head. Can we really and truly call ourselves Malaysians in an international gathering but still say we are Malay or Chinese first? Like Lim Kit Siang, I want to give Muhyuddin Yassin a simple, no-brainer test a la the UPSR.

1.    Are you Malaysian First or Malay, Chinese, or Indian First?

Answer Options: Yes, No, Maybe, or any two of the above

2.    If your answer is Yes or Maybe, answer the following questions:

(a) When you leave Malaysia, do you carry a Persekutuan Tanah Melayu passport or a Malaysian passport?

Answer Options: Do not know, Yes, or I do know

(b) What Passport does the Agong carry when he goes to England? Is it not Malaysian?

Answer Option: Yes or No

(c) If yes, why does he not carry a Tanah Melayu passport?

Answer Options: I know or I do not know

(d) What passport does an Iban or Kadazan or Orang Asal of Malaysia carry?

Answer Option: Only Malaysian, stupid, there is no other option!

The beauty of these questions is that the education minister cannot fail the test because, frankly, it is idiot proof! Maybe I can now qualify to be the education minister.

Now back to my first question, what is the unity of purpose of being DPM of Malaysia or the Ambassador of Malaysia to the US? Can our Ambassador say to the US government: ‘I am here to serve Malay interests first and then only Malaysian interests?’ Do you think the Americans would give accreditation to a  wakil Melayu Ambassador?

My rhetorical question to the BN and Pakatan Rakyat is: Can you accept the DPM’s answer?

Can we also ask election candidates the same question as a ‘Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia’ vetting device? Can we the people, who vote at elections, accept any wakil rakyat who fails this basic test to then become a potential wakil negara?

Can both Pakatan and BN please ensure that their candidates take this simple test and make sure they get their answer right before they misrepresent all citizens in Parliament, and not just the Malays?

Layers of identity

Do I sound angry? I am! Why should the DPM be so dumb as to fall for such a simple trap by Lim? Why is it so difficult for Malays in Malaysia to change their mindset and become Malaysians First? After all, we are and must be, and that is why we carry a Malaysian passport,

Is it so difficult for the so-called deputy chairperson of BN, who is not even elected to the post, to see his role as one of Malaysian-ness for the BN, and not just for Umno? Maybe he should step down and remain only the deputy president of Umno and then he can be always tied up within a Malay mindset.

One does not have to be brilliant to understand that Malaysia is a federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak.

Therefore Malaysian-ness is all about being Malaysian First in our thinking and in our hearts. We must always seek to do what is right, good and true for Malaysia First.

Other loyalties and priorities come second, unless these clash with yet more primary values. For example, if Malaysia passes a law that forces all Malaysians to become Muslims, then one can object and choose to become a non-Muslim first and Malaysian second. Unless such an impossibility happens, there are few circumstances when we need to choose to put our more base loyalties above the Malaysian nationality.  

Premised on the above, let me now repeat the different layers of identity that all of us carry within us and which help us to resolve our spiritual layers of loyalty towards who we are and what we stand for in life. I call this the ‘onion layers of identity’ model.

All human beings are of the human race; therefore there is only one genetic race category worldwide.

We are then all divided by history into nation-states; and thereby carry our national identity labels. We are Malaysians. The national identity can be changed or traded by emigration or immigration. 

But, usually even those with dual citizenships need, every so often choose their primary identity; for example, where one chooses to be buried.

Next we all have a religious identity which we inherit from birth. For example, Malaysian Lina Joy is now a foreign national because she could not change her religious heritage by volition in her home country; therefore she was forced to change her national identity as well to achieve the former.

Third, we all have an ethnic heritage which we cannot change and are of genetic origin. These are genes inherited from our parents.  

Next we are all one of four basic types of psychological personalities, whether we like it or not. These personality-types, since the days of Hippocrates, are Choleric, Phlegmatic, Melancholic and Sanguine. There are various and many personality theories which can be useful for self-understanding. The more one understands oneself, the more one can improve relationships with others.  

Finally, we all have a conscience which makes us really human. Animals do not have a conscience. This human element of choice of one’s will is what makes us really, really human, and is often defined as a fundamental right of human dignity.

Whenever one denies the dignity of the other, we reduce the other to become a means towards an end. May God bless Malaysia as we seek the new but reaffirm the older.