Be serious about 1Malaysia concept

Source: The Star

AFTER reading the report “All-round support for race-less forms proposal” (The Star, Aug 19), I was prompted to write about national unity and race-less forms. The question is how serious are we really about achieving this 1Malaysia concept?

The Government now acknowledges that there is ethnic polarisation and that is why the Prime Minister has to promote the vision of 1Malaysia.

It is the latest initiative to promote unity as, in the past, we have had the Rukunegara, New Economic Policy and the Wawasan 2020.

However, we do not see this 1Malaysia concept being promoted in the education sector. In the early 60s, the first Education Minister Tan Sri Khir Johari introduced the 001 cards to the school system which still exist today. The system requires one to state his or her race and religion in the card.

The school register and various other forms still require the filling in of one’s race and religion.

Even after the introduction of the 1Malaysia concept, the latest co-curiculum forms require the breakdown of the students’ race, just to determine how many students of a particular race are interested to take part in certain uniformed units, games and clubs.

The list can go on, but my point is if the Education Ministry continues to pursue and implement programmes based on ethnicity and conveniently forgets about 1Malaysia and the Ministry’s blueprint on integration of races, how are we going to achieve the 1Malaysia concept?

If the Government does not consider this overgrown concern, its credibility on the 1Malaysia concept will be questioned.

It will only create the impression that 1Malaysia is a dream concept of the Prime Minister.

If the Government is incapable of acting earnestly and decisively in the interest of racial unity, the 1Malaysia concept will not serve any purpose.

As such, I feel strongly that all of us must commit sincerely to transform the 1Malaysia concept into reality by taking the first step of doing away with the requirement of having to state one’s race or religion in all official forms and documents.

Consider this proposal to be a gift for all Malaysians in celebrating the 52nd National Day.

S. SUNDRALINGAM,
Ipoh.