ID :
20641
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 10:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/20641
The shortlink copeid
RACE RELATIONS NEVER AN ISSUE IN SABAH, SARAWAK By Azman Ujang
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- When a Sarawak state cabinet minister said his state does not need any law on race relations, Malaysians originating from states in the peninsula might have thought the minister was joking.
But those who know Sarawak and, by the same token, Sabah well, either
through having worked and stayed there for a prolonged period could vouch that
Awang Tengah Ali Hassan was giving an honest assessment of race relations
in the two states. Sarawak and Sabah are Malaysia's two states on Borneo island.
"This is because there has been racial tolerance among the people for a
very
long time.
"Other than the Malays, Chinese and Indians, Sarawak has 33 ethnic groups,
and we have been living peacefully together even before independence. I think
there is no point in having such a law and we don't need it," said Awang Tengah
on Friday, matter-of-factly.
He was responding to an announcement earlier in the week that the
government
would come up with a Race Relations Act aimed at strengthening ties among the
different races.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Malaysia had to cope with racial
problems despite having achieved independence 51 years ago.
Whether the proposed Act is really necessary or not is still debatable but
the fact is that it is being drafted soon after an alleged racist remark by an
United Malays National Organisation (Umno) divisional leader in northern state
Penang. This led to strained relations between Umno and some non-Malay component
parties in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).
Ahmad Ismail had triggered a rise in temperature in race relations for days
on end this month when he said the Chinese are squatters and undeserving of
equal rights.
Now, why is race relations still an issue in Peninsular Malaysia and as
Awang Tengah said, not in Sarawak?
To begin with, no politician in Sarawak and Sabah as well, would even
consider raising what Ahmad did.
It is just not in the vocabulary or even in the upbringing of people in the
two states to kick up a quarrel or an issue with another person on the basis of
his or her race.
Historian Dr Khoo Kay Kim, at a recent forum, bluntly blamed politicians
for the country's deteriorating race relations.
"So many of our political parties survive by championing the cause of one
ethnic group.
"In the process, they clash because what one group wants often goes against
the desires of the others. That is why tension is created," said Khoo in an
interview with a local daily, The New Straits Times, published Monday.
Malaysians from the peninsula who have stayed in Sabah and Sarawak are
always impressed with race relations there, and often admit that the situation
is a far cry from the conditions in their own respective states.
And they often point to the fact that there is no racial tension in the two
states either.
That is why racial clashes are something unheard of. Politicians like
Ahmad,
the Umno Bukit Bendera Division head, who was suspended for three years for
making the controversial remark, won't be able to get any support in Sarawak,
according to a Member of Parliament from the state.
Alexander Nanta Linggi, the BN MP for Kapit, said that unlike in Peninsular
Malaysia, there is never a defining line between one race and another in
Sarawak.
"This is why our race relations have always been very good and well-
entrenched and this goes for the politicians who don't play the race card as
well," he told Bernama.
Alexander said: "Unlike some politicians in Peninsular Malaysia, our
politicians are never too trigger-happy to hurt the feelings of others,
especially along racial lines".
And he added: "We just don't highlight our own importance racially
vis-a-vis other races".
The MP, in supporting Awang Tengah's view that Sarawak does not need a law
on race relations, however said the Act, if it comes into force, naturally would
have to cover the whole country.
"It's a question of attitude. We must have the right attitude to foster
race relations".
Alexander suggested that Malaysians from outside Sarawak and Sabah learn
from the two states about how to live harmoniously among the various races.
But those who know Sarawak and, by the same token, Sabah well, either
through having worked and stayed there for a prolonged period could vouch that
Awang Tengah Ali Hassan was giving an honest assessment of race relations
in the two states. Sarawak and Sabah are Malaysia's two states on Borneo island.
"This is because there has been racial tolerance among the people for a
very
long time.
"Other than the Malays, Chinese and Indians, Sarawak has 33 ethnic groups,
and we have been living peacefully together even before independence. I think
there is no point in having such a law and we don't need it," said Awang Tengah
on Friday, matter-of-factly.
He was responding to an announcement earlier in the week that the
government
would come up with a Race Relations Act aimed at strengthening ties among the
different races.
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Malaysia had to cope with racial
problems despite having achieved independence 51 years ago.
Whether the proposed Act is really necessary or not is still debatable but
the fact is that it is being drafted soon after an alleged racist remark by an
United Malays National Organisation (Umno) divisional leader in northern state
Penang. This led to strained relations between Umno and some non-Malay component
parties in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).
Ahmad Ismail had triggered a rise in temperature in race relations for days
on end this month when he said the Chinese are squatters and undeserving of
equal rights.
Now, why is race relations still an issue in Peninsular Malaysia and as
Awang Tengah said, not in Sarawak?
To begin with, no politician in Sarawak and Sabah as well, would even
consider raising what Ahmad did.
It is just not in the vocabulary or even in the upbringing of people in the
two states to kick up a quarrel or an issue with another person on the basis of
his or her race.
Historian Dr Khoo Kay Kim, at a recent forum, bluntly blamed politicians
for the country's deteriorating race relations.
"So many of our political parties survive by championing the cause of one
ethnic group.
"In the process, they clash because what one group wants often goes against
the desires of the others. That is why tension is created," said Khoo in an
interview with a local daily, The New Straits Times, published Monday.
Malaysians from the peninsula who have stayed in Sabah and Sarawak are
always impressed with race relations there, and often admit that the situation
is a far cry from the conditions in their own respective states.
And they often point to the fact that there is no racial tension in the two
states either.
That is why racial clashes are something unheard of. Politicians like
Ahmad,
the Umno Bukit Bendera Division head, who was suspended for three years for
making the controversial remark, won't be able to get any support in Sarawak,
according to a Member of Parliament from the state.
Alexander Nanta Linggi, the BN MP for Kapit, said that unlike in Peninsular
Malaysia, there is never a defining line between one race and another in
Sarawak.
"This is why our race relations have always been very good and well-
entrenched and this goes for the politicians who don't play the race card as
well," he told Bernama.
Alexander said: "Unlike some politicians in Peninsular Malaysia, our
politicians are never too trigger-happy to hurt the feelings of others,
especially along racial lines".
And he added: "We just don't highlight our own importance racially
vis-a-vis other races".
The MP, in supporting Awang Tengah's view that Sarawak does not need a law
on race relations, however said the Act, if it comes into force, naturally would
have to cover the whole country.
"It's a question of attitude. We must have the right attitude to foster
race relations".
Alexander suggested that Malaysians from outside Sarawak and Sabah learn
from the two states about how to live harmoniously among the various races.
