What is Malaysia s greatest achievement in the last 50 years of Merdeka (independence)? It is our ability to maintain a remarkable degree of inter-ethnic peace. By inter-ethnic peace we mean a minimum of communal violence over five decades of independence and a maximum of tolerance, compromise and adjustment among the different communities that constitute the Malaysian nation.
Why should one consider this an accomplishment? Most other multi-ethnic societies, even those that are far less complex than Malaysia, in demographic, cultural, religious, political and economic terms, cannot boast of such a record. For the sake of comparison, look at two other multi-ethnic countries, Indonesia and India, both of which also attained nationhood in August, the first in 1945 and the second in 1947. In both cases, there has been much more communal and political violence.
There are a variety of reasons which explain our relative success in managing ethnic relations. The willingness of the indigenous Malay elite in the fifties to accommodate a sizeable non-indigenous population in what was historically a Malay polity through the conferment of common citizenship was undoubtedly a key factor. Citizenship guaranteed the economic, political and social rights of the Chinese and Indians and afforded protection to their languages, cultures and religions. The Chinese and Indian leaders in turn reciprocated by recognizing the special position of the Malays, apart from accepting the three symbols of the Malay polity: Malay as the national and official language; Islam as the religion of the Malaysian Federation; and the Malay Rulers as the constitutional heads of various states in the Federation and the Federation itself.
It is this quid pro quo that is often referred to as the social contract among the Malaysian communities. It is reflected in various provisions of the Malaysian Constitution. It has resulted in a certain equilibrium, a balance of sorts, which has been fundamental to the preservation of inter-ethnic peace in the country in the last 50 years. The Alliance in the initial years of Merdeka, and now the Barisan Nasional, have been the main conduits through which this equilibrium has been sustained.
There are other achievements that we can be proud of. Partly because of the inter-ethnic peace that prevails, we have enjoyed continuous political stability. Peaceful, orderly political succession is one of the manifestations of this. Neither political stability nor orderly political succession has emerged as an established norm in many parts of the Global South.
Similarly, Malaysia has been a functioning, constitutional state which upholds to a certain extent the basic principles of democratic, civilian rule. This again is the exception rather than the rule in post-colonial Asia and Africa which have witnessed numerous military coups. An elected Parliament and state Assemblies — elections have been held regularly within the constitutionally stipulated time frame— remain the source of legislation. The Executive at Federal and state level continues to formulate public policy. The Judiciary has always been conscious of the importance of preserving its independence. Since Merdeka, we have had a public sector that delivers while the private sector has also contributed to growth and development.
This brings us to a fourth achievement. In 1957 more than 50 percent of the population lived below the poverty line; today, about 5.7 percent are classified as absolutely poor. About 97 percent of the entire citizenry has access to primary health care facilities while 93 percent are literate. Basic amenities such as piped water and electricity are available to well over 90 percent of the population. Few other independent states in the Global South can match Malaysia s stupendous performance in the economic and social spheres.
If economic and social progress has given meaning to Merdeka, so has Malaysia s foreign policy. Since 1970 it has pursued an independent foreign policy which has attempted to ensure that Malaysia s well-being is not mortgaged to some big power or other. It is significant that even after the ascendancy of a single global superpower in the early nineties, the nation has sought to preserve a measure of independence and sovereignty in an environment in which most states have chosen to submit totally to the dictates of that superpower.
The achievements of the Malaysian nation over the last 50 years taken as a whole are due primarily to the core within the national leadership. In spite of all its shortcomings, the core has demonstrated a sense of responsibility, and has been balanced and pragmatic in its approach to nation-building. Pragmatism and good sense, coupled with a commitment to the middle path , are also some of the attributes of the Malaysian people which have served us well all these decades.
And what of the future? If inter-ethnic peace is one of our achievements, the most formidable challenge that awaits us is forging a durable inter-ethnic unity. Only when the love for unity is deeply rooted in our hearts will the future of this country be secure. For this to happen, all Malaysians of whatever ethnic background should feel that the nation is capable of delivering justice to all its citizens. To achieve justice, we should not only adhere to the principles of the Malaysian Constitution but also shape our future guided by our national charter, the Rukunegara, and our national vision, Wawasan 2020.
If unity through justice is our goal, we cannot allow ourselves to be sidetracked by narrow, exclusive notions of state that will only reinforce the religious divide in our society. Indeed, given the increasing significance of religion in Malaysian society, it is important that the practitioners of the different religions adopt a universal, inclusive approach to their respective faiths that recognizes and respects the humanity in each and every one of us. Only such an approach will ensure our survival and stability as a nation.
Our stability in the future will also depend upon our readiness to strengthen accountability and transparency in both the public and private sectors. At the same time, the scope for popular participation in the decision-making process should be expanded.
The ruling elite should have no qualms about recognizing the worth and value of political dissent. When accountability, participation and dissent become the hallmark of Malaysian society, one can be certain that the practice of democracy will be firmly anchored in the nation s soil.
What this also means is that in the coming years the Malaysian public will become increasingly vocal in demanding that the state proves its commitment to accountability by intensifying efforts to eradicate corruption. Even as it is, a significant segment of Malaysian society perceives corruption as a major social scourge. There is growing realization that unless corruption is eliminated, or at least reduced drastically, good governance will not be possible.
There is another challenge that the nation will have to address as a matter of urgency. Socio-economic disparities among all communities have widened since the mid-nineties. This is one of the consequences of our eager embrace of corporate, casino, consumerist (3C) capitalism. To reverse this trend in the economy, policies that bring direct benefits to the majority should be emphasized. The public good rather than private gain should be the guiding principle. This shift in policy formulation and planning should be accompanied by attitudinal changes that seek to narrow the psychological gap between different strata in what has become a highly status conscious, title- oriented society.
Our fifth and final challenge pertains to foreign policy. In the coming decades, with all the momentous changes taking place in the global economy and in global politics, the influence and authority of the world s sole superpower is expected to decline considerably. As the world moves into another phase that may witness the rise of new centers of power, nations like ours should try to influ
ence the shape of things to come by playing a more proactive role in regional and international affairs. By leveraging upon our independent foreign policy, we could become one of the voices of conscience on the world stage urging militarily strong states to abandon their power centered politics which has brought humanity to the brink of annihilation and to pursue instead politics based upon principles – principles which are vital for the very survival of the human species and of our planet.
Will we be able to meet these challenges of the future? We will have to go beyond the pragmatic inter-ethnic compromises of the past and the present and develop a more profound commitment as a people to values such as justice and integrity. For instance, to achieve genuine unity among the various communities Malaysians can no longer adopt a communal approach to justice that is bereft of any empathy for the fears and aspirations of the other. Justice has to viewed from a more universal, holistic and all-embracing perspective. Its cornerstone should be compassion for all, regardless of ethnic origin or religious affiliation. Similarly, it is only when leaders possess integrity of the highest order that they will be prepared to combat the corrupt even if the latter are crucial for the political success of the former.
This is why it is vital that justice, integrity and other such noble values become habits of the heart of both our leaders and our people. It is only when these values become as natural to us as the air we breathe that the future of this glorious nation that celebrates 50 years of Merdeka on Aug. 31 2007 will be assured – forever.
Dr. Chandra Muzaffaris President of the International Movement for a Just World (JUST).
