Posted on 03/25/2007 3:43:13 PM PDT by PRePublic
Malaysia's melting pot on the boil
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/IC24Ae01.html
By Baradan Kuppusamy
KUALA LUMPUR - Asian melting pot Malaysia is gearing up to celebrate 50 years of independence from British rule, [1] but the racially diverse country still boils from the colonial power's ethnic-based divide-and-rule legacy. there is a growing clash between resurgent Islam led by Malays and the secular constitution favored by the minority ethnic Chinese and Indians.
"The situation is worrisome," Abdullah told Malaysians during a televised address last December, appealing for racial understanding, tolerance and national unity.
Foreign visitors who view on the surface a seeming peaceful and stable society are often unaware of the rampant racism and discrimination that pervade nearly every aspect of Malaysian society. The country's first ever independent survey of race relations, conducted last year, confirmed that below the facade of unity and peace, racism, discrimination and religious bigotry run deep.
In part, that's because they are institutionalized through the political system....
(Excerpt) Read more at atimes.com ...
Wassamatter? You don't like diversity?
Ah yes....another example of multicultural bliss....
Once Muslims are in the mix -- the bliss goes BOOM!
Semper Fi
Are the Koranimals out numbered there? It sounds like Abdullah is worried about them. I've never known Muslims to be worried when they are in the majority!
There are all kinds of laws favoring Bumiputras (Sons of the soil). A Bumiputra is an ethnic Malay and a Muslim.
They get discounts on home purchases, lower rate mortgages, more benefits and pay lower taxes. They are also given preferential treatment in hiring.
The Chinese and Indian population resent this... but it has made them stronger. The Bumis make up only about 50% of the population... the Chinese some 30% or so, and the Indians most of the rest with a smattering of Indonesians and other Asians.
There are also some restrictive rules about building or even remodeling churches or non-muslim places of worship.
All of these laws have served to make the Bumiputras lazy. The Chinese and Indian population of Malaysia regard them as such, and you can clearly see the divide in professions, with the top earners being the overseas Chinese as in many other countries in Asia.
The miracle of Socialism. Whenever someone builds a societal safety net - whatever criteria it is based upon - there are large segments of society who are content to simply lie down upon it.
Are the Koranimals out numbered there? It sounds like Abdullah is worried about them. I've never known Muslims to be worried when they are in the majority!
Badawi is part of the problem, not the solution.
He heads a party (Barisan/UMNO) that is competing with the likes of PAS for islamic credentials, and continues to institutionalize more and more elements of sharia, and islamic apartheid in the country.
It sure does! I'm sure it won't be long before they start killing all the non Muslims! IF they haven't already started!
No, technically the muslims are not outnumbered. Officially they make up about 60% or so of the population, but many are muslims in name only. See, many just sign up as muslims, just so they can get past the islamic discrimination of non-muslims, so they can get jobs, housing, and business opportunities that the islamic apartheid state of Malaysia does not extend to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Christian minorities. Once they are back in the privicy of their own homes, they worship as they please, and not on all fours howling like a mad dog with their buttocks pointing towards the heavens. ;oP
Abdullah is simply concerned that they racial tensions there have never subsided, the sizable Chinese population especially, will not simply be absorbed by islam, no matter what the humiliating and oppressive effects of dhimmitude to the Malay "bumiputras" has in store for them.
This speech of his is not directed at the Malay (bumiputras, the muslims) - Its directed at the non-muslims who he's reminding to submit and "get with the program!"
Still Britain's fault, after 50 years.
The article doesn't support the conclusion in the lede. It indicates that the policies put in place by the newly independent country have created the present situation.
Thomas Sowell has some wonderful analysis of Malaysia, and its "affirmative action" programs. In the years before independence, Chinese workers on the plantations were paid about twice what Malay workers were. Was this because the Brits loved Chinese? No, it was because the Chinese on average produced more than twice as much work.
The have slaughtered the non-Bumiputras before, and have they use code speak such as "racial understanding, tolerance and national unity" to keep UMNO (the muslims) in power.
Its a veiled threat that any Malaysian can read thru... it means vote for UMNO as only they can provide "stability." In other words, they have control of the Malays and can can send them off on another slaughter spree as they have done in the past. It's been UMNO's MO since the 1960's... veiled threats, so they can impose islamic supremicy, and keep a whole nation hostage.
Do you mean to say you can get preferential treatment just by becoming a Muslim, or do you have to be an ethnic Malay as well?
"They get discounts on home purchases, lower rate mortgages, more benefits and pay lower taxes. They are also given preferential treatment in hiring."
The fact is, Malaysians are nice people, but they are not overly ambitious. The Chinese and Indian Malaysians are better educated and ambitious. It is also true that if you are not a native, and you want to start a major business enterprise, you must put a Buma on the board to pass muster with the govt.
Again, this is Badawi's own party's fault. After "merdeka" (their independence from the Brits), even up to a couple of decades ago, the non-Muslims made up a far larger proportion of the local state school population. Not all of them were mixed race, but the chances of being in a mixed school was far greater.
Ex-PM Mahathir, who hates the west in general, and especially Jews, and blames white Europeans and Zionists for much of the world ills. Under his rule, state schools not only imposed Bahasa as the language of instruction over English or Chinese, they also became more and more islamized, driving any clear thinking non-muslim parent (especially of the more prosperous and educationally focused Chinese) to pull their kids out of government run schools of indoctrination, and send them to private schools.
A damn shame. In the case of Indonesia, Suharto was able to protect the Chinese and other minorities from the "urban youths."
An ethnic Malay is automatically considered a "bumiputra" and thus a muslim. They have no choice in the matter and can not change their religion no matter if they pray to a Hindu shrine, Christ, or Buddha.
There is a high profile case right now, of a Malay trying to officially trying to renounce islam, but no luck yet. Malaysian have to in ID cards to do get a job, housing, or just to get a cellphone or utilities. The ID clearly states what religion they are, in case you missed the obvious islamic names.
However, a non-ethnic Malay can often be adopted by Malays at birth, or embrace islam and be considered "bumiputra" and get the preferential treatments.
The system is there to exclude, humiliate, and eventually wear them down so they buckle and accept islam.
But you didn't really answer my question. Obviously, a Chinese or Indian guy is free to become a Muslim if he wishes.
In that case, does he get preferential treatment?
In short.... yes, he/she can.
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