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johnleemk
Infernally Rambling Thoughtless Mind Head Administrator Posts: 953 IP Logged | Posted at 7:20:02 am Jan 10, 2007
The topic of Malaysia's nature as a federation and the status of Sabah and Sarawak in the polity is quite an interesting and controversial one. I've written about it a number of times, most recently here. What do you think about the status of the states in Malaysia, especially Sabah and Sarawak? Do you believe we should move towards a more unified state with less powers given to the states, or should we act to devolve more powers to the states? I've had my say - what's your five sen? Malaysia - to whom does it belong? To Malaysians. But who are Malaysians? I hope I am, Mr Speaker, Sir. But sometimes, sitting in this chamber, I doubt whether I am allowed to be a Malaysian.- Lee Kuan Yew in the Malaysian Parliament, 1965 |
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marvin
Member Posts: 6 IP Logged | Posted at 10:37:33 am Jan 10, 2007
Hi, glad to get a reply from you. Your reply has somewhat cleared things a little but I'd still like to comment the things you said in your reply. First about the aggrievance of East Malaysians being "colonies" of the big shots from KL/Putrajaya. Then, it should be asked, "Who are these big-shots in KL?" Yes, I do agree on your point on the "consensus" and "simple majority" decision making. The point I was trying to make was that KL/Putrajaya is not KL/Putrajaya. Kedah and Terengganu are not colonies of KL/Putrajaya because KL/Putrajaya is not dominated by people from Klang Valley or Selangor alone. There is no one dominant state in West Malaysia. More influential states, maybe, say Johor and Selangor, yet how long has it been since a PM from Johor ? That's because all the states in the peninsula share a parallel history and a common cultural root. Composition of the population is the same - Malay/Indian/Chinese/Orang Asli, although the makeup percentage differs from state to state. So provincial sentiments are very insignificant compared to racial (except for maybe Kelantan). That said, the nature of the federalism of states in the peninsula is not really federalistic anymore. It's more of a federalism of races, which points to the much debated social contract. West Malaysia is in my view more of a centralized state with centralized government made up of leaders from the whole land which power is divided between the 3 major races instead of between a central authority and the provincial constintuent. The states are merely districts or provinces with no need of significant autonomy. So, comparing Sabah with Negri Sembilan is like comparing Scotland to Essex in England. Considering that, Sabah and Sarawak are in a sense, colonies of the "Malay/Indian/Chinese natured" Peninsula. Unless the ultimate Malaysian identity regardless of race and religion is achieved, the will be no possibility of Sabah becoming just another province in Malaysia. |
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marvin
Member Posts: 6 IP Logged | Posted at 11:10:19 am Jan 10, 2007
On grassroot level movement for independance, I admit that most Sabahans talk favourly on an independant Sabah, although I'm sure it's just rhetoric. It's just another way of saying, "We feel like outsiders", albeit subconsciously. Something like, "Since you don't treat us as fellow Malaysians, we might just as well be the foreigners from the independant nation of Sabah". That's the notion of almost every Sabahan in the peninsula. We come to KL and people ask us if we have cars back home. Every Sabahan has their own experience. It's wrong to interprete that as not wanting to be a Malaysian. Instead, that shows we reject being seen as outsiders. Because being part of Malaysia is a foregone conclusion. |
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marvin
Member Posts: 6 IP Logged | Posted at 11:54:56 am Jan 10, 2007
I didn't mean that a larger number differents of culture justifies greater influence at federal level. I made a mistake by describing "large number of cultures" as a significant factor. I made a mess on that point and let me rephrase it. Since everything in West Malaysia is racial based, that being between the three major races, the governance system is incompatible to Sabah and Sarawak because if it is implemented, the natives lose out. That's how I justify that by having more autonomy or a greater representative at federal level, so that the nature of Eastern Malaysian politics can influence or perhaps change the strictly race based system of the central government. Therefore, by having a greater say at federal level, the natives in Sabah and Sarawak do not lose out. By West Malaysian definition, East Malaysian natives are bumiputeras, yet the majority are not Muslim, meaning we do not qualify as Malays. And because of our religion, we are/can be (unofficially) discriminated. In the current social contract, we are not mentioned anywhere. We have bumi status, alright. But partially. Say 100 scholarships for students are handed out. According to the (biased) quota system, Chinese are allocated 10, 5 to the Indians and the Bumis get 85. Yet the Sabahan natives are not guaranteed any as the Malays have the right to deny us any(which is always the case) because being non Muslim we are 2nd class Bumis. I know I'm talking on the quota thing as if I an advocate of it. Well, I'm not but I also know this, we have 2 choices. We can either support the abolishment of the quota system or demand a guaranteed quota percentage, which indirectly supports and warrants mantaining the quota system. Either way, we need to do it by being a part of the federal government. |
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johnleemk
Infernally Rambling Thoughtless Mind Head Administrator Posts: 953 IP Logged | Posted at 3:36:26 am Jan 11, 2007
glad to get a reply from you. Your reply has somewhat cleared things a little but I'd still like to comment the things you said in your reply. First about the aggrievance of East Malaysians being "colonies" of the big shots from KL/Putrajaya. Then, it should be asked, "Who are these big-shots in KL?"Hm, I assumed it would be obvious that it's the corrupt incompetents known as the kerajaan Barisan Nasional.  I don't think it can be contested that the Peninsular states generally do have less of a provincial identity than the East Malaysian ones. Still, at the political level, cultural identities have little relevance (IMO) because Perlis politicians will still (ineffectively) complain about any policies discriminating against Perlis. It is true, though, that as I said, the Peninsular states can still abuse their majority and gang up on East Malaysia. That said, the nature of the federalism of states in the peninsula is not really federalistic anymore. It's more of a federalism of races, which points to the much debated social contract. West Malaysia is in my view more of a centralized state with centralized government made up of leaders from the whole land which power is divided between the 3 major races instead of between a central authority and the provincial constintuent. The states are merely districts or provinces with no need of significant autonomy. So, comparing Sabah with Negri Sembilan is like comparing Scotland to Essex in England. Considering that, Sabah and Sarawak are in a sense, colonies of the "Malay/Indian/Chinese natured" Peninsula. Unless the ultimate Malaysian identity regardless of race and religion is achieved, the will be no possibility of Sabah becoming just another province in Malaysia. I absolutely agree there. As I said, we're a de jure federation but a de facto unitary state. Power does not flow up, from the people to the local authorities to the state to the federal government, but down from the government to the states to the local authorities (the rakyat, of course, are excluded from power, except when it comes to elections). I made a mess on that point and let me rephrase it. Since everything in West Malaysia is racial based, that being between the three major races, the governance system is incompatible to Sabah and Sarawak because if it is implemented, the natives lose out. That's how I justify that by having more autonomy or a greater representative at federal level, so that the nature of Eastern Malaysian politics can influence or perhaps change the strictly race based system of the central government. Therefore, by having a greater say at federal level, the natives in Sabah and Sarawak do not lose out.While I understand the good intentions behind that, personally I do not think any amount of influence from East Malaysia will alter West Malaysian society, unless you can somehow import vast amounts of East Malaysians to the Peninsula. Any change in West Malaysia has to come from within. The stratification according to race is not only inappropriate for Sabah and Sarawak - it is also inappropriate for the whole country. The nature of our political structure i.e. federalism vs unitary state won't have much effect on changing this stratification - at best, it can limit the damage caused. I know I'm talking on the quota thing as if I an advocate of it. Well, I'm not but I also know this, we have 2 choices. We can either support the abolishment of the quota system or demand a guaranteed quota percentage, which indirectly supports and warrants mantaining the quota system. Either way, we need to do it by being a part of the federal government.Absolutely. I don't think anyone would argue for excluding the non-Malay Bumis or East Malaysians in general from the government or from public life. It particularly irks me to see government figures often count all Bumis as Malays, because there seems to me to be a clear distinction between being, say, Kadazan and Malay. Ideally, these distinctions shouldn't even matter, but unfortunately, in the warped structure of Malaysian government, they do.  Malaysia - to whom does it belong? To Malaysians. But who are Malaysians? I hope I am, Mr Speaker, Sir. But sometimes, sitting in this chamber, I doubt whether I am allowed to be a Malaysian.- Lee Kuan Yew in the Malaysian Parliament, 1965 |
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marvin
Member Posts: 6 IP Logged | Posted at 10:34:29 am Jan 11, 2007
Hi again, True, there's nothing East Malaysia can do about the racial politics of the peninsula. That's up to the people of the peninsula itself. That's why, until this happens, there is no way Sabah would fully adopt these extreme racial politics and be "the same" with the peninsula states. Even if we were forced to, it would be with huge modifications, more races, the pie gets cut into more pieces. And that in turn, wouldn't suit West Malaysia. There's no way the federal government could govern Sabah with the same policies used to govern say Johor. Adding to this is the fact that more and more sub ethnic group would want to want to distinguish themselves as another single difference race and demand a separate share. For example, sub groups such as the Iranuns are considered to be part of the Bajau community but if there was to be a strict racial policy, they would want a certain percentage for themselves instead of being part of the Bajau entity for fear of being discriminated. If we consider all sub ethnic group, there would be up to 50 races in Sabah alone (I don't even recognise all myself). And each has will create their own arguments to distinguish themselves from the others, whether its language(not dialect) or something else, if needed they'll find it, Everybody becomes a racist and start rambling about who are the first settlers and who are the pendatangs. Now, that's how a racist Sabah would look like. Hence the only way to create a workable and functional (despite difference in political nature) union with the whole nation is a federation between Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula or federation of the peninsula and the Borneo states (as one entity). The only difference between the state of Selangor and Sabah being only the certain amount of autonomy granted to the latter and not that we demand to be superior to the peninsula states. It's just so that we wouldn't want to have to give up our extra autonomy to just be on par with peninsula states. It doesn't even matter if the peninsula states status are elevated to form the Malaysian federation of 13 states and the territories, as long as Sabah gets to keep its autonomy and do without the racial thing as much as possible until the time comes when race is no longer an issue. |
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johnleemk
Infernally Rambling Thoughtless Mind Head Administrator Posts: 953 IP Logged | Posted at 9:29:24 am Jan 12, 2007
That's why, until this happens, there is no way Sabah would fully adopt these extreme racial politics and be "the same" with the peninsula states.I don't think I suggested homogenising the states - did I? It is possible to consider oneself a Malaysian and still maintain a separate individual identity. (I specifically use the word individual because maintaining a separate collective identity would result in the race-based and state-based cliques we have today. I actually wrote a bit about this a couple of years ago.) Hence the only way to create a workable and functional (despite difference in political nature) union with the whole nation is a federation between Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula or federation of the peninsula and the Borneo states (as one entity).If the only factor we are considering is racial politics, then yes. But looking at the question in terms of administrative efficiency, I think the federation should not treat the West Malaysian states as homogenous (at least politically). Although culturally and historically speaking, the Peninsula is quite homogenous, when we speak in terms of administrative efficiency, it is very difficult to maintain an efficient administrative regime for such a large area as the Peninsula, encompassing about 20 million people. The separate states provide a convenient means of devolving power to state and local governments, in order to permit local administrative issues to be decided by individual localities. Malaysia - to whom does it belong? To Malaysians. But who are Malaysians? I hope I am, Mr Speaker, Sir. But sometimes, sitting in this chamber, I doubt whether I am allowed to be a Malaysian.- Lee Kuan Yew in the Malaysian Parliament, 1965 |
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azrael
Member Posts: 9 IP Logged | Posted at 2:58:34 pm Dec 21, 2007
West Malaysia has 11 states which house 9 Sultans, that's why the Peninsular needs more money.  As for the East Malaysians, they obviously need less money because their concerns are that of their forests; sago, timber, pineapples, pepper and orang utans. The place where 14.4kbps dial-up is all the rage, starry eyed when approaching Kuala Lumpur City Centre. |
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theXopnions
Member Posts: 1 IP Logged | Posted at 4:37:06 pm Jun 25, 2008
Just wanna inform you this blog has been officially nominated as a candidate for … The Greatest Malaysian Blog – BLOGGER (English) B (http://thexopinions.blogspot.com/2008/06/greatest-malaysian-blog-blogger-english_19.html) YOUR OPINION COUNTS! Message from: the X opinions (http://thexopinions.blogspot.com/) |
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Mjbrittan
Member Posts: 1 IP Logged | Posted at 3:43:33 am Jun 26, 2008
Locals and foreigners tell me that Sarawak and Sabah should get out of Malaysia. I tend to think in that same vein when I heard or read about the discrimination against people of those said states. We may no longer ruled by the British except that we are now under the thumb of the Federal government - West Malaysia to be specific. No difference! I always advocate freedom of religion and religion should have no place in politics. At least, IMHO, there should never be laws that prevent one from converting out of or into another religion. Or not belong to any organized religion at all. After all, religions are made up by men. But again, that's just my thought and mine alone. |
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