File 30 : ‘Akta Hubungan Kaum’ – Race Relations Act

A few days ago, Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar had proposed an Act, which is at the moment known as the Race Relations Act (hereafter may be referred to as ‘the Act’) or ‘Akta Hubungan Kaum’ to be enacted. It has received well support from a number of Ministers.

However, do we really need such Act? Different people may have different views but for me, it is not necessary to have such Act.

With the Act, what was supposed to be a neutral racial relation will become a hypocrisy racial relation. For 51 years, Malaysians had been living together harmoniously and happily without the implementation of any Act to govern how relationship between ethnics should be conducted.

During my kindergarten days and primary school days, my friends and I went to school together, went to extra classes together and we even went to our English teacher’s house [Puan Santilakshmi – if I am not mistaken] for a Deepavali treat. Our relationships were great back then and there was not even one Act existed to govern our relationship.

But look at the scenario today. Ethnic relations are on the brink of collapse. Thus, instead of just coming out with a medicine to heal the sickness [an Act telling citizens what to do and what not to do on ethnic relations], it is better if the government could do a check up and prevent the sickness [by providing and nurturing young minds on ethnic relations]. After all, young minds are easier to nurture [melentur buluh biarlah dari rebungnya].

Furthermore, isn’t prevention is better than healing?
[Mencegah itu lebih baik dari mengubati…?]

File 23 : Malaysian movies...

This issue had been brought up many times in the entertainment section by some major Malay dailies. They [the editors] often questioned whether Bahasa Malaysia movies are Malay movies or Malaysian movies. They have such view because normally, Bahasa Malaysia movies' actors and actresses are Malays.

If Bahasa Malaysia movies are the only Malaysian movies, how about Chinese language movies that are made in Malaysia. There are quite a number of made-in-Malaysia Chinese movies which are produced, acted, directed and filmed in Malaysia. For me, it is quite discriminatory to classified only Bahasa Malaysia movies as Malaysian movies.

It is true that according to Article 152 of the Federal Constitution, Malay language is the sole official language in Malaysia. But we have to bear in mind that the use of other languages are permitted and recognized under the Article. After all, Malaysia is and will always be a multi-ethnic country. So, why does non-Bahasa Malaysia movies are not classified as Malaysian movies?

Maybe it is caused by the mind set of Malaysians themselves, I mean, ourselves ;p .. We often describe ourselves along race based communal lines [especailly in the Peninsula]. Malays, Chinese, Indians.... I think Malaysians will have true Malaysian movies when we stop being racist / race-biased.. Unless and until we truly become one Bangsa Malaysia [as stated in the first paragraph of Vision 2020], Malaysians will never have true Malaysian movies...