M. Krishnamoorthy
Media relations trainer, associate professor, and author
(Part 1)
“Our nation is going through some turbulence in the areas of race and religious relations and in the Peninsula’s partnership with the regions of Sabah and Sarawak.
"It was not always like this. Till the nineties, Malaysia was an exemplar for Asia and Africa in successful intercommunal living. But we have regressed,” said Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Shad Salem Faruqi. He is currently. holder of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation Chair at the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya.
In an interview with Newswav.com Professor Shad Faruqi said on the need to return to the constitution’s path of moderation.
“However, it is not too late – it is never too late - to repair the bridges of intercommunal friendship,
tear down the walls of separation and suspicion, and revive the spirit of accommodation of 1957 (when Malaya was born) and of 1963 (when Malaysia was reconstituted).”
Professor Shad Faruqi explained our Constitution’s spirit of “shared destiny” and his understanding of the original scheme of things in our “document of destiny” and how we can return to our winning ways.
“I believe that the forefathers of our nation, especially Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Tun Ismail, Tun Tan Siew Sin and Tun Sambanthan, and later, the leaders of Sabah and Sarawak, sought admirably to create unity and harmony in our nation of dazzling diversity.
‘‘Their vision of a shared destiny was beautifully captured in the glittering generalities of our Document of Destiny (our Constitution) which is illuminated by a remarkable spirit of accommodation and moderation, compassion and compromise. Our forefathers understood that unity does not mean uniformity and that a cultural mosaic is better than a melting pot. They therefore, sought a unity in diversity.
“In recognition of the fact that Malaya was historically the land of the Malays, the Merdeka Constitution incorporated a number of features indigenous to the Malay Nusantara, among them: the Malay Sultanate, Islam as the religion of the Federation, Shariah courts and Shariah laws in some enumerated areas,
- Malay special position
- Malay reserve lands
- Bahasa Melayu (Malay language)
- Malay customs, and,
- weightage for rural areas in drawing up electoral constituencies.
However, all these “Malay ethnic features” were balanced with other provisions suitable for a multi-racial and multi-religious society. Citizenship provisions, electoral rights, the right to life, liberty, and property, and primary and secondary education were awarded to all irrespective of race or religion. Freedom of trade and commerce was awarded to all but subject to some ethnic quotas.
In 1963, Sabah and Sarawak’s large territories, huge resources, and unique cultural and linguistic mix justified a special position and this was written into the Constitution.
Professor Shad Faruqi added that the economy was used to unite the people. “Economic opportunities have given everyone a stake in the country. The non-Malay contribution to the building of the economic infrastructure of the country has given the country prosperity as well as stability.”
Freelance Writer M. Krishnamoorthy (www.imkrishna.net) is a media coach, associate professor, and undercover journalist. He has freelanced with Bernama, NST, The Star, and Malaysiakini. He also freelances as a fixer/coordinator for CNN, BBC, German and Australian Television networks and the New York Times. As an undercover journalist, he has highlighted society's concerns going undercover as a beggar, security guard, blind man, disabled salesman and Member of Parliament.
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