cakap cakap : "and so in all seriousness and intent, I declare myself no longer a Bumiputera"

I have been a Malay for all of my life and will continue to be a Malay for what is left of my life. Unlike religion, which one can discard or embrace at one's discretion, nothing will change the fact that I am born a Malay and will die as one. 

For the Malays, now is the winter of our discontent. ...this year will be our annus horribilis... for before the end of this year if not earlier, we Malays will know our fate. Either we will fly with eagles or, for some of us, will die in trying. And all this we will do as many others watch on with concern, for their own fate will be decided by what we Malays do. 

If the Malays are to progress, if the Malays are to gain relevance in the eyes of other Malaysians and if the Malays are true to themselves....they must first cast aside the mantle that has burdened them more that it has embolden them to do great things for themselves : that of being a Bumiputera. It has no relevance in the times that we now live in. In itself being a Bumiputera only labels one as being inferior, lazy, rent seeking, people where birth, not meritocracy, gives one an advantage over others. You cannot legislate any human being into being what they are not.  A Bumiputera is not the son of the soil or of the land - the Orang Asli are.

1. Peninsular Malaysia
   • "If one of the parents is Muslim Malay/Orang Asli^[5] as stated in Article 160 (2) Federal Constitution of Malaysia; thus the child is considered as a Bumiputra"
2. Sabah
   • "If the child was born is Sabah or the father was domiciled in Sabah at the time of birth, and one of the parents is indigenous natives of Sabah as stated in Article 161A (6)(b) Federal Constitution of Malaysia; thus his child is considered as a Bumiputra"
3. Sarawak
   • "If both of the parent are indigenous natives of Sarawak as stated in Article 161A (6)(a) Federal Constitution of Malaysia; thus their child is considered as a Bumiputra"

Since legislation is the privy of those with political clout and in government, such definition of a Bumiputera can, will and has been changed to suit political ends. Demographic re engineering has already been attempted by umno leaders  - with devastating social and economic repercussions - all for political gain.

Today convention and common sense dictates that no one is born into a "special position"   Observe the contempt we now have for Royalty as being parasites living off the land at the expenses of the people and doing nothing much to deserve that "special position". Examples abound in Malaysia as to the abuse for personal and financial gain, of this "special position" accorded to the Malays and none tells us that this is so then the antics of our prime minister and his spouse. We have a prime minister who has become a billionaire from the proceeds of his political office!  

I will be remiss to call upon others to give up their Bumiputera status if I do not do so myself....and so in all seriousness and intent, I declare myself no longer a Bumiputera  - but has always been and will always be, a Malay and a Malaysian to my very core of my being. Amen.      

comment : 

Imran Yusof I declared this myself to anyone who'd listen. Glad to know I'm not alone.

· Just now