It seems like the sound of firecrackers to herald the Chinese Lunar New Year's “dragon year” may have become a bit louder this time around!
This was after Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming's recent announcement to nominate Chinese “new villages” in Selangor as a UNESCO World Heritage Site sparked a severe backlash from the opposition as well as from several top Umno leaders!
Nga, the DAP MP for Teluk Intan, had touted the Malaysian Chinese new village as unique with valuable heritage having been in existence for 76 years since they were founded in 1948.
Besides, he said that it was a good thing for local tourism, where people from all over can learn about Malaysian Chinese history and culture as well as to help stimulate economic development in the country.
However, controversial Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal immediately questioned the merit of the Madani government promoting Chinese new villages in Selangor as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, further urging Umno ministers to initiate protests against the proposed move.
The Machang MP then went on to brand Chinese new villages as “remnants of the Cold War” when the country fought the threat of communist terrorists, before going on to slam the move as another attempt to change the narrative of the country’s history by normalising the “black spot” left in the country’s history; instead he proposed the Malay enclave of "Kampung Baru" in Kuala Lumpur city centre to be nominated for UNESCO recognition!
Meanwhile, according to Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, although Nga's proposal was aimed at empowering the country's tourism industry, the party was of the view that the implications were too huge and it would indirectly affect the position of the Malays and Bumiputeras; moreover, he alleged that the matter was against the Federal Constitution, which only recognised the Bumiputeras as the original residents.
But perhaps, the strongest rebuke came from his colleague in UMNO Ahmad Maslan who said that recent provocative statements made by several DAP leaders were not only dangerous as they touched on the sensitivity of the people but it could also disrupt social harmony.
The Umno supreme council member was referring to a series of allegedly controversial statements by DAP leaders with the latest being Nga Kor Ming's proposal regarding the Chinese new villages.
According to him, last year, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang had even suggested that a non-Malay could become the prime minister of Malaysia, which was followed by the party’s Federal Territory chairman Tan Kok Wai suddenly raising the contentious issue of local council elections; then it was Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham who made a highly controversial statement that non-Muslim experts should sit in Syariah committees, which drew a barrage of criticism from Muslims.
Maslan then cautioned DAP’s top leaders to be more mindful when issuing statements as they could offend the feelings of the majority Malay and Bumiputera communities in the country.
As if to prove the point, he then provided the latest data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) 2023 involving the ethnic composition of this country which put it at Bumiputera 70.1%; Chinese (22.6%); Indians (6.6%) and others (0.7 %); he further warned DAP leaders not to hurt the feelings of the 70.1% as it could be “very dangerous!”
Meanwhile, with the issue having taken a racial twist, MCA promptly distanced itself from Nga's proposal with its president Dr Wee Ka Siong saying that cabinet ministers should discuss and decide on the matter wisely while taking into account the country's diverse racial and religious make-up.
Nevertheless, Nga has rubbished the claims that the rights of the Malays and Bumiputera communities in the country will be challenged by the proposal to nominate Chinese new villages in Selangor for a Unesco World Heritage Site status, stressing that it was still at the proposal stage and should not be turned into a racial issue.
Undoubtedly, many would say that it’s rather disappointing that the recognition of a piece of our country's rich historical heritage was being viewed negatively through racial lens making it sound as if it has no value!
Some might even be enraged by Wan Ahmad Fayhsal's disparaging remarks that Chinese new villages are considered “black spots”! Does that mean they need to be "cleansed" and not treated as part of local history? What about the fate of the country's “Chinatowns” then?
As for Dusuki's assertion that UNESCO recognition should be reserved for Bumiputras, does it mean that ordinary “non-Bumis” who have toiled and sacrificed their lives for the nation have no historical value in this country? In fact, this may also prompt some to ask, “What about the Bujang Valley?”
Subject to further research and discussions with stakeholders, if some of these Chinese new villages were to be accorded UNESCO recognition because of their unique cultural and historical significance, wouldn’t the whole country benefit from it, especially in terms of the tourist dollar and the economy?
Moreover, won’t it also be another feather in the cap for Malaysians to be proud of - just like how the Chinese New Year and the lion dance are cherished and celebrated by all?
Main Information Source: NST and Focus Malaysia
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