Truth and reconciliation about things Malaysian must start at the beginning, i.e. at creation, and then move towards the present.

Otherwise, such words and phrases are pointless verbiage and meaningless chatter. It does not make it right just because a 56-year-old government says so.

Let us start with the facts:

6. In 1963, the Federation of Malaysia was formed to make a new nation-state, premised upon the Malayan peninsula but also framing an even newer political entity made up of four new partners. Singapore left after two years, and thus leaving just three partners of the Federation of Malaysia.

Now, my question of import to establish my Bangsa Malaysia question: Is Malaysia made up of three independent states or 14 post-colonial entities?

1. Persekutuan Tanah Malaya was legitimised as a modern legal entity in 1948.  But, we were a British colony then.

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2. In 1957, the same colony became the Federation of Malaya under a brand new constitution, which defined all legal premises and understandings of the newer reality. These legalities were part and parcel of the social arrangements.

3. The new nation had nine Malay states and two Straits Settlements; and for the first time an Agong or Head of State or King of the new Federation was established.

4. The constitution defined all truths and reality about this new federation and even went as far as to declare the nine sultans as the head of Islam in each state, and made them all guardians of Malay culture and traditions.

5. The constitution also declared itself as the supreme law of the federation; which is an absolute and unconditional statement, but which is difficult to deny or change without unravelling all other in-built truths.

6. In 1963, the Federation of Malaysia was formed to make a new nation-state, premised upon the Malayan peninsula but also framing an even newer political entity made up of four new partners. Singapore left after two years, and thus leaving just three partners of the Federation of Malaysia.

Now, my question of import to establish my Bangsa Malaysia question: Is Malaysia made up of three independent states or 14 post-colonial entities?

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Our so-called ‘Jalur Gemilang’ the Federation of Malaysia flag, has 14 well symbolised emblems incorporated in it.

My real question is whether such a framing of the symbol representing 14 really a mistake? Was it the truth, or really a badly-constructed restatement of non-accurate historical facts which now may even appear very one-sided?

Please follow my arguments:

– The nine states of the Federation of Malaya were original kingdoms of feudal lords who are artificially concocted into a federation by political might and influence of colonial masters rather than by some notions of real or true history premised only upon ethnicity, or geography, or past history.

– The two Straits Settlements of Malacca and Penang were colonial territories by equally historical factors. Singapore was almost identical but had a different treatment.

– The two States of Sabah and Sarawak were post-Independent colonial entities who had agreed to form a new Malaysian state with two other states of Singapore and Malaya.

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Therefore, we have the original federation of 11 sub-regions, which we call the ‘states of Malaya’ (or nine tanah-tanah Melayu plus the two Straits Settlements).

Then, we have two independent Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak which joined Malaya to make the new Federation of Malaysia. Singapore left the federation in 1965 to become an independent entity.

My problem with the current interpretation of the meanings in the federal constitution are as follows; but which also makes the logic of ‘ketuanan Melayu’ unacceptable as a flawed concept, unless we believe in non-facts and untruths.

My 1BangsaMalaysia argument

‘Bangsa Malaysia’ was a conceptual vision of one people-group (of multiple ethnicities) of one nation-state as originally verbalised by Dr Mahathir Mohamad when prime minister in 1981.

His speech was delivered in English at an event organised by ISIS and had been crafted by Dr Nordin Sopiee. I do not believe my facts are wrong.

Therefore, the rest of my argument is:

  • The concept of ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ is not a Melayu concept, even if drafted by and delivered by two technical Melayus. It was an international concept of a new and modern nation-state of one aspiration and people group who share a common vision and choose to call them by that national identity.
  • While the Melayu word \’bangsa\’ also means race, that was not the intended meaning and application of the word in the speech delivered in English to an international audience.
  • I would further argue that the word in Anglicised form is really the new meaning which transcends race or ethnicity while framing a new national identity. Therefore Bangsa Malaysians are a new people-group of a new nation-state called Malaysia even if made up only of Malayans, Sabahans, and Sarawakians.
  • Therefore, if we borrow the concept of ‘1Malaysia’ and now apply it to the ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ concept, it can only become the one Bangsa of Malaysians who make up this nation-state we call Malaysia. There cannot be 1Malaysia and multiple other entities at the same time.
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To my mind and heart, this must become our agenda as a nation-state we call 1Malaysia to move forward, as a united people who learn to respect the federal constitution and all other preservations and protections given and assured by the same document.  

We cannot now refuse the rule of law, as we are already a nation-state ruled by laws and provisions within the same document that constitutes all of us.

All Malaysians and consequential corporate institutions allowed by the constitution must come under the same set and rule of law. No one, including the royalty, is above that same law.

May God grant us the wisdom to understand, appreciate and execute this system of the rule of law for all our common good!