Monday 10 November 2008

Bangsa Malaysia

In the book Introduction to Political Psychology (published by Lawrence Erlbaum in 2004), the authors assert that the best long-term solution to ethnic conflicts is "the development of an overarching common identity among the groups". In the case of Malaysia, this suggestion would call for the creation of a Malaysian Race (Bangsa Malaysia), a call embedded in the Vision 2020 (Wawasan 2020) blueprint announced in 1991 by the then Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

Malaysia is indeed a country blessed with economic prosperity and decades of peace and harmony. Many other countries who gained independence around the same period (in the aftermath of World War II) have been beset with periods of instability due to ethnic-religious conflicts. In contrast, Malaysia has had only one major racial clash, the tragic event on 13th May 1969. Yet, the situation in Malaysia remains fragile, and to some superficial. Though violent conflicts are very rare, tension is very high, thus the need to ensure that the multiracial society of Malaysia remains solidly united.

How can we use psychology to promote Bangsa Malaysia? My personal view would mirror the ideas expressed by B.F. Skinner in his controversial book Beyond Freedom and Dignity. According to Skinner (1971), to elicit change in a society, the culture of the society should be changed. To him, "designing a culture is like designing an experiment; contingencies are arranged and effects noted. In an experiment we are interested in what happens, in designing a culture with whether it will work." (p.69)

So, the question now is, how can we design a culture here in Malaysia that is geared towards the creation of Bangsa Malaysia? Changes can be made at different spheres and levels in the society through the education system and the mass media. These new initiatives are geared towards one simple objective: to promote greater ‘meaningful’ interaction among people from the various racial groups in Malaysia. This is in accordance with the contact hypothesis, which states that relations among groups can be enhanced by greater interaction, which brings forth greater awareness and understanding, and eventually a greater sense of solidarity.

At schools, students should be encouraged to learn about the cultures, religions and languages of other ethnic groups. Malay students for example, should be strongly encouraged (if not required) to learn Mandarin, Cantonese and Tamil, and learn to appreciate and respect beliefs and customs of the Chinese and Indians. I once argued in a workshop on inter-religious dialogue here in Kuala Lumpur that we should re-introduce the subject Tatanegara (Civic Education) in our national schools. Tatanegara was a short-lived subject taught from the late 1970’s to the early 1980’s as a core course at primary schools. Although the course was no longer taught when I started school in 1984, I have come across some of the textbooks used for the course. In reviving the course, the new syllabus should incorporate information on common values shared by different religions and customs. Values such as justice, honesty and filial piety exist in all religious teachings, and this ought to be emphasized to students of all religions and beliefs.

In the past several years, the government has been running the National Service Programme (Program Latihan Khidmat Negara) to promote greater interaction among teenagers (age seventeen) of different races. Similar programmes (with similar goals but far less logistic requirements) ought to be introduced earlier at the national level involving for example Year Six students (upon completion of their UPSR examination), and Form Three students (after their PMR examination). The programmes should be non-academic but involve meaningful activities such as humanitarian work and environmental projects. By working towards a common goal, students from different racial groups will learn to cooperate together and realize the importance and benefit of national unity and solidarity. Inadvertently, this may also help diminish whatever sense of prejudice they may have against people of different races and religions.

I have sought the opinions of my students this semester on how we can use psychology to create Bangsa Malaysia. Many of their suggestions are similar to what I’ve stated above while they are others who have argued for a more creative use of the media. Among those are proposals for ‘multicultural’ reality TV shows such as Academy Malaysia and Intercultural Explorace. And, in addition, the airing of more bilingual informative and entertainment programmes with multicultural characters and subtle use of cross-cultural messages.

In conclusion, after more than fifty years of independence, multiculturalism in Malaysia should strive towards the true spirit of muhibbah (love and understanding). To be a member of the Malaysian race is not to lose our respective ethnic and religious identities but to attain a genuine feeling of respect of and tolerance for others.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

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and link back to your blog.

All the best.

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Zaki Samsudin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Zaki Samsudin said...

Dear al,

Thank you for visiting this blog. Greatly appreciate your comments.

Zaki

Anonymous said...

adakah bangsa malaysia bermakna tiada lagi bangsa melayu, cina & india?

mohon penjelasan.

Zaki Samsudin said...

Saudara Megat,

Izinkan saya membalas dalam Bahasa Inggeris. (Ya, memang agak memalukan tetapi hakikatnya saya sukar meluahkan pendapat dalam Bahasa Melayu. Akan diperbaiki inshaAllah.

Coming back to the question, as my former teacher (and now respected senior colleague) Dr. Kamar Oniah always says; in relation to the ultimate goal of interreligious dialogue, it is not about making you become a bit like me, and I become a bit like you, but to make you respect me as I am, and I in return respect you as you are.

Race (bangsa) is a historical-cultural (and arguably biological as well) construct. It can not be dismantled or dilluted by the sense of solidarity gained from being citizens of a particular nation. Religious identity is another example that does not and does not need to be changed or sacrificed for the sake of Bangsa Malaysia.

However, if questions are raised from a classical anthropological perspective, 'race' is not the right word to be used here. In that sense, maybe it's best to stick with the neutral term 'rakyat Malaysia, yang berbilang bangsa'. But then, we'll come back to very core of the problem: division, or categorisation of people hence continued proliferation of 'ingroup vs. outgroup' mentality.

Allahu 'alam. Mungkin saya lebih banyak mengutarakan persoalan tambahan daripada memberikan jawapan.

Zaki

Mr Bubu said...

Salam.
How about seeing that "bangsa Malaysia" is a common identity formed based on geographical characteristics?

I humbly think that all identities are not to dominate each other (as in if u're a Chinese, it will not make you less a Malaysian or other characteristics). It is simply a method that make us identify ourselves in different contexts, if we're talking about religion, we say we are Muslim, say for example, and if we were asked about our state of origin, we reply to the context of the question, which is Johorian (e.g.).

I think it should be viewed as a method that people use to make things easier when they communicate, instead of seeing it as a label that u put onto people or groups. What do you think?

Zaki Samsudin said...

Salam Brother Bubu,

Yes, Bangsa Malaysia is essentially a territorial-geographical identification. Amidts the differences of ethnic origins and religions, exist certain common features and values. A common language is paramount. Bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa kebangsaan harus diperkasakan dan diperluaskan penggunaannya. Dan banyak lagi...

The article linked below is the mother of all articles on bangsa Malaysia. Very long but very worthwhile.

http://deminegara.blogspot.com/2008/11/racial-polarisation-and-forging-of.html

Zaki

Mr Bubu said...

Recently read the post from KijangMas (had to ready a dictionary.com page handy to understand his piece, surely he must learn the concept of parsimony, yah?).

Despite that, it was a masterpiece. Cracked me up a few times too. The comments too were very interesting as well. I would agree mostly to what he/she purported in that post, having only some points that I disagree.

It was very interesting how KijangMas viewed how Malaysia pouted itself as "multi-everything", to disintegrating the people (which kept me reading until the end of the post). Other points were well deliberated as well(relating to your comment, about a common language uniting the people).

Readers out there, it is highly recommended that you try reading that post (deminegara.blogspot.com...).

satD said...

Salam Bro Zaki

Guess we need to go back to basics this time around and take out politics from the equation..

'Lakum Di Nukum Waliya Deen"

http://satdthinks.blogspot.com/2008/12/ugama-lu-ugama-guaback-to-basic.html

Wass
satD

PS: Dont mind if i put u on my list ya..

Zaki Samsudin said...

Salam satD,

Thank you for dropping by. You are most welcome to put this blog on your list, though i have to say i am not exactly a very productive writer.