The Melayu Dilemna in UMNO
By David Teoh
Over the years, there were inter-marriages between the local Malays, especially women, with Indian men, many of whom were then more educated in the English language, many getting out of their low caste Indian heritage by converting to Islam or Christianity.
The Indian Muslims by their conversion to the Islamic religion have according to Malaysia's unique Constitution, claim the right to be a Malay. The Indian Muslims, also known as "mamak"s, by virtue of their education and qualifications, have inter-married with Malay women and recognised by the accomodating Melayu people as bumiputras. And there arise the Melayu Dilemna.
The mamaks do not carry the gentle character of the real Malay peoples, generally smarter and more assertive, reflecting their Indian part of their character, and trying to be more Malay than the orang-orang Melayu, particularly in the area of politics in order to be accepted and recognised. Many joined the ruling political party, UMNO and have gained prominent leadership positions not only in the party, but many in government, civil services, and all areas of society, except, the two major institutions of the Malaysian nation, namely, the Monarchy and the Armed Forces.
The original Melayu not only have to contend with the "mamaks", but even more insidious, the newer arrivals from Indonesia. Belonging to the greater Austro-Melanesian race that make up the Nusantara peoples in South Thailand, Peninsular Malaya, Indonesia and the Philippines, Many Malays particularly in the west coast states of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, Johore, are more recent arrivals from Indonesia, a clear example being the former Menteri Besar of Selangor, Khir Toyo and even current Home Minister, Zahid Hamidi.
The Malays of Indonesia heritage as shown by the Chow Kit road traders do not have the character traits of the orang-orang Melayu found throughout Peninsular Malaya. Typical of migrants starting a new life in a new environment, the Indonesian Malays tend to be more aggressive and assertive in order to strive for a living, similar to the Chinese and Indian migrants before.
UMNO as the ruling party attracts both the Mamaks and the Indo-Malays more than the Islamic party, PAS. And the rise in influence of these two groups within UMNO have changed the character of UMNO since the the formation of UMNO BARU by Dr. Mahathir, who defeated the Kelantanese royalty, Tengku Razaleigh for control of the Malay ruling party.
Under Mahathir's 22 year old reign, UMNO party leadership have seen the rise of more aggressive and assertive Malays of mamak and Indonesian heritage. This development is also seen in most organs of Government, except the Armed Forces which attracts mainly the orang-orang Melayu who are more contented with the disciplined life of service and loyalty to King and Country.
The emergence of a new generation of well-educated smart orang-orang Melayu has changed the political landscape in Peninsular Malaya as shown by the rising support for the Opposition PAS and PKR parties.
UMNO will gradually loose its relevance to the orang-orang Melayu in the kampongs as their young generation having received education and knowledge can see through the real situation within UMNO itself and reclaim their position in the future well-being of the Malaysian nation envisaged by the founding fathers like Dato Onn Jaafar, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Dr. Ismail, Khir Johari, Tun Saardon Jubir, Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Hussein Onn.
This article was sent to me by reader David Teoh. The views expressed here are the writer's and do not necessarily reflect my own views. My comments follow.
The original United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) was formed in 1948 under the leadership of Onn Jaafar, the father of Malaysia's third Prime Minister and grandfather of the present Defence Minister, Hishamuddin, as the poltical organisation representing the Malays in the fight for independence from British colonial rule.
UMNO's membership represents the Malay people from all walks of life, from Malay royalty like the first prime Minister, Tunku, a Kedah prince, Malays in public services, and ordinary people living in the kampongs.
As a people, the Malays, the orang-orang Melayu, are a gentle race, religious, culturally tied to traditions of humilty and polite bearings, and an accomodating and hospitable nature. It is this trait that allows the later arrivals of Chinese and Indian immigrants to be accepted as co-countrymen living in harmony as a Malayan nation.
Over the years, there were inter-marriages between the local Malays, especially women, with Indian men, many of whom were then more educated in the English language, many getting out of their low caste Indian heritage by converting to Islam or Christianity.
The Indian Muslims by their conversion to the Islamic religion have according to Malaysia's unique Constitution, claim the right to be a Malay. The Indian Muslims, also known as "mamak"s, by virtue of their education and qualifications, have inter-married with Malay women and recognised by the accomodating Melayu people as bumiputras. And there arise the Melayu Dilemna.
The mamaks do not carry the gentle character of the real Malay peoples, generally smarter and more assertive, reflecting their Indian part of their character, and trying to be more Malay than the orang-orang Melayu, particularly in the area of politics in order to be accepted and recognised. Many joined the ruling political party, UMNO and have gained prominent leadership positions not only in the party, but many in government, civil services, and all areas of society, except, the two major institutions of the Malaysian nation, namely, the Monarchy and the Armed Forces.
The original Melayu not only have to contend with the "mamaks", but even more insidious, the newer arrivals from Indonesia. Belonging to the greater Austro-Melanesian race that make up the Nusantara peoples in South Thailand, Peninsular Malaya, Indonesia and the Philippines, Many Malays particularly in the west coast states of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, Johore, are more recent arrivals from Indonesia, a clear example being the former Menteri Besar of Selangor, Khir Toyo and even current Home Minister, Zahid Hamidi.
The Malays of Indonesia heritage as shown by the Chow Kit road traders do not have the character traits of the orang-orang Melayu found throughout Peninsular Malaya. Typical of migrants starting a new life in a new environment, the Indonesian Malays tend to be more aggressive and assertive in order to strive for a living, similar to the Chinese and Indian migrants before.
UMNO as the ruling party attracts both the Mamaks and the Indo-Malays more than the Islamic party, PAS. And the rise in influence of these two groups within UMNO have changed the character of UMNO since the the formation of UMNO BARU by Dr. Mahathir, who defeated the Kelantanese royalty, Tengku Razaleigh for control of the Malay ruling party.
Under Mahathir's 22 year old reign, UMNO party leadership have seen the rise of more aggressive and assertive Malays of mamak and Indonesian heritage. This development is also seen in most organs of Government, except the Armed Forces which attracts mainly the orang-orang Melayu who are more contented with the disciplined life of service and loyalty to King and Country.
The emergence of a new generation of well-educated smart orang-orang Melayu has changed the political landscape in Peninsular Malaya as shown by the rising support for the Opposition PAS and PKR parties.
UMNO will gradually loose its relevance to the orang-orang Melayu in the kampongs as their young generation having received education and knowledge can see through the real situation within UMNO itself and reclaim their position in the future well-being of the Malaysian nation envisaged by the founding fathers like Dato Onn Jaafar, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Dr. Ismail, Khir Johari, Tun Saardon Jubir, Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Hussein Onn.
My comments : Warrior 231, are you reading this? Would like your comments. But please hold the 'f's and the 'c's.
Anyway dear David, this article is not accurate at all. You have missed out huge chunks from the history of our people including the mamaks and Indons. Still I am running your article to prove a point. That if you do not understand the history right or get the facts right, you can be manipulated. Then you will suffer disappointment. More on this later.
You also contradict yourself in a few places. You include Tun Abdul Razak as one of the founding fathers of Malaysia. Surely you must know that Tun Abdul Razak and his son (the present PM) are of Indonesian Sulawesi descent. They are Bugis. But about the Indonesians you say "even more insidious, the newer arrivals from Indonesia". Tun Razak and his son Najib insidious?
Dato Onn Jaafar was of Turkish ancestry. Is it ok to be Turkish? Rather than mamak or Indonesian?
You also make the same mistake made by Lee Kuan Yew and many other non-Malays that Peninsula Malaysia is different and distinct from Indonesia. These places are not foreign to each other.
It was the colonial British, the Dutch etc who gave this region political names like Malaya, Indonesia, Philippines or South Thailand. Before the arrival of the colonials the people in these regions never knew of an Indonesia, Malaya, Philippines or South Thailand. These political identities came later. This is why the Sulus do not recognise borders or boundaries or ICs when they walk into Sabah. They do not need 'Project IC'. They were here first. Before the political boundaries came into being. Even before Lee Kuan Yew's parents arrived here from China.
You say that : "As a people, the Malays, the orang-orang Melayu, are a gentle race, religious, culturally tied to traditions of humilty and polite bearings, and an accomodating and hospitable nature. It is this trait that allows the later arrivals of Chinese and Indian immigrants to be accepted as co-countrymen living in harmony.."
Indeed the Malays are a very accomodating and hospitable people. But the question is David, what have you done to reciprocate the Malays' hospitality and accomodating nature? For example can you speak his language well? Can you walk over to your Malay neighbour and have a comfortable conversation with him in his language? Not using the pasar language or sign language but perhaps speaking Malay as well as you speak English - a colonial language which we have all learnt to speak well by choice.
This is where the mamaks have excelled. Mamaks can speak excellent Malay. Many have forgotten they are mamaks. They cannot speak Tamil, Urdu, Bengali or whatever dialects their grandfathers spoke. A huge number of mamaks have assimilated almost 100% into the Malay culture.
You also miss another point that is relevant. It is Malay society itself that accomodates mamaks as Malays. Now not only mamaks but Banglas, Afghans, Pakistanis, Iranians, Africans, Ridhuan Tee and anyone at all who wants to assimilate or even integrate into the Malay society is accepted with open arms. This has always been the nature of Malay society.
You say that the "mamaks do not carry the gentle character of the real Malay peoples". If that is the case it may explain the behaviour of Anwar Ibrahim. You must know that Anwar Ibrahim is a Tamil. DNA evidence presented in Court said that his DNA is largely 'Indian'. DNA cannot lie. However many people do not wish to see this. I agree with these people because it is not really relevant.
I like to bring up the fact that Anwar Ibrahim is a Tamil mamak when critics of Dr Mahathir make fun of his own mamak ancestry, as though it is a crime to be a mamak. It is a very racist attitude. I am sure many commenters will be saying the same thing about your article here as well.
You have also forgotten Chinese like Ridhuan Tee Abdullah who are now considered more Malay than Malays.
Do not forget that much earlier, a great Malay civilisation was established in Malacca by the Malay Sultans. The founding sultans of Malacca were of course Indian, beginning with Parameswara. The fourth bendahara (prime minister) of Malacca Tun Ali was also a mamak (hence the title 'mamak bendahara').
An accomplished Malay writer 'Abdullah Munshi' who authored the famous Hikayat Abdullah was actually a Tamil mamak as well. They have all made their contributions to the land and the people.
To conclude it is wrong to negatively label people according to their race or origins. Words like 'insidious Indonesians', 'mamaks do not carry the gentle character of the real Malay peoples' are undeniably prejudiced.
Secondly these labels are not based on facts or truths. You yourself have included Tun Razak and Dato Onn as the founding fathers of the nation. Both are children of "non Malay" immigrants as well - by your definition of course. Tun Razak an "insidious Indonesian" and Tun Hussein Onn of Turkish blood. Anwar Ibrahim is a Tamil.
Finally you are being unfair to your own self if you hold on to beliefs, opinions or a political stand based on information that is incorrect or flawed. You will make incorrect decisions. Worse you can even be manipulated.
A clever beggar of any race, may come along and con you that he is "gentle and not so smart". You will immediately label him a likeable Malay. Do not be so gullible
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