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“Penceroboh” or Plural Society?
I am not particularly interested in the
recent developments of the political scene. Although the controversial and
offensive remarks claiming Chinese as “pendatang” or “penceroboh” made by
numbers of “racist” organization are being constantly highlighted in the media,
no efforts are being undertaken to find amicable solutions to this racial
dissent. Worse still, there are Malaysian Chinese reacted by claiming the
Malays were “pendatang” as well.
Rationally, should we agree that the 37
percent of the Malaysian population is made up of pendatang? In a historical
perspective, I will definitely agree with them as historical facts prove
clearly that the Chinese migrated to Tanah Melayu.
‘Jus Soli v Jus Sanguinis’
Even, before Merdeka, Malay leaders had
compromised a lot to accept them as citizens of Malaya, by adopting the jus
soli principle. They were willing to share the nation by neglecting the
doctrine of jus sanguinis even though it was the common practice of all newly
independent states in the world at the time and acknowledged by international
law.
Jus soli is the principle that the
country of citizenship of a child is determined by its country of birth,
irrespective of the nationality of its parents. In a nutshell, the doctrine is
accepting of all who were born in the country as citizens without taking into
account their ancestors.
Ironically, jus sanguinis is defined as
the principle that the country of nationality of a child is that of the country
of nationality of the parents, irrespective of their place of birth. In other
words, it regards all descendants of immigrant as non-citizens despite the fact
that they were born in the country.
‘Plural society’
Controversial History Education in Asian
Contextspointed out that in 1970s; there were objections by academics to use
the term plural society to describe Malaysia which to them implied equality
among all Malaysians. Their contention was the Malay should be regarded as the
“base society” of Malaysia while the non-Malays as “immigrant” were just
“splinters” broken off from their own societies. Perhaps, the old generations
must have their interpretation respectively without looking forward to young
generation of Malaysia 50 years ahead that need the recognition of the term
plural society by hook or by crook.
Now, after 56 years of independence, the
question arose among the young generation as to what constitutes national
society and certainly the answer bear in their minds is plural society where
the principle of equal citizenship prevails. As human being, none of us wish to
be born in this country as second class society and having said so there is no
doubt whatsoever that all Malaysians should be treated as citizens.
When our forefathers decided adopting jus
soli principle, did they decide to accept the non-Malays as citizen with the
title of immigrant? Citizenship is everything. Once you are citizen your equal
rights are protected by Article 8 of Federal Constitution.
‘Definitive people’
Nevertheless, history should not be
forgotten by all quarters, particularly those who reacted negatively claiming
the Malays as “pendatang”. It is a true fact that the Malays migrated to Tanah
Melayu but it is also a concrete fact to say that the Malays were “definitive”
people of this land. The basic principle is being this – one particular land is
belonging to one particular nation who first play significant role in
determining the nature of the land.
In fact, the existence of aborigines in
this country before the Malays came, is not a significant basis to claim them
to be definitive people. None of any government established by them, what
more to set up international trade with other governments outside the land that
reflects the recognition of others towards them as rightful owner of the land,
but merely to live exclusively without bothering who give the definition to
this land.
Unlike the Malays who the first nation
defined the land by setting up the kingdom and by having played such
significant role, the land was given the name of Tanah Melayu which literally
means "Malay homeland" assumes proprietorship of the Malay states.
One common example that can be
illustrated from The Malay Dilemma is by looking at the case of Aussie-“white
man” who claimed as the first nation be the definitive people in Australia
though there was the existence of aborigines long before they migrated to the
land.
‘Chart the way forward’
The major concern today is not about
“pendatang” or “penceroboh”, but the conflict of interest between the Malays
and Chinese. Both have claimed that their authentic rights in many fields have
been seized and marginalised.
This racial impasse has to be solved at
first. We need to look forward for the betterment of the Malays and Chinese
altogether. It is must for us to make concrete decisions which incorporate good
governance and policies of equality that should be upheld in helping those who
are suffering and living in poverty and miserable conditions.
Hence, we must have a new language of
discourse by looking at the problems as a collective responsibility. It is
irrelevant to confine the problem to one particular ethnic group by labelling
it as a Malay or Chinese problem. The perspective must be shifted to make it a
‘people problem’. We must speak up and act on behalf of all Malay, Chinese and
Indian citizens.
Now it is time for us to shut the term
“pendatang” or “penceroboh” off since the term is no longer relevant in this
plural society and it was not even what our forefathers expected. When they
accepting non-Malays as citizens their expectation certainly not just for 10
years of Malaysia but forever Malaysia with indispensable element of
multiculturalism.
* Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz is the
Secretary General of ABIM.
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References:
- http://english.astroawani.com/news/show/penceroboh-or-plural-society-36291?cp;
- https://www.facebook.com/ABIM.Malaysia?fref=ts;
- https://www.facebook.com/ABIMPUSAT?fref=ts;
- https://www.facebook.com/wadahpencerdasan.umat?fref=ts;
- https://www.facebook.com/pkpimalaysia?fref=ts.
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