Lack of Patriotism

Recently the Minister of Defence, Dato' Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi commented that it was perhaps the lack of patriotism that saw the Chinese and Indian youths not interested in joining the armed forces or the police force.

How would Zahid as a small kampung boy from Bagan Datoh know how hard the Chinese and the Indians had fought the British after the 2nd World War, the commies during the emergency and for wresting independence from the colonial master in 1957?

Without Merdeka, Zahid might not now be sitting high up on the ivory tower to utter such insulting and disparaging remarks against the prevailing indifference of the Chinese and Indians to join the military and police force. I would describe him as an ostrich burying its head in the sand and ignoring the realities of the day. The UMNO/BN Gevernment have killed whatever interest and eagerness in them serving the armed forces through the discrimatory NEP.

A man of letters would not utter sweeping statements like what he did. I would have expected that he be better behaved,more couth, and polished in his public utterances.

As a minister with the UMNO/BN Government, he should realise the circumstances that contributed to the present sorry state of affairs. Intake of non-Malays was reduced to the minimum for many years in the 70s and 80s. Their promotion was held back to allow their malay colleagues to move ahead of them. Just imagine, juniors climbing over the heads of their seniors! This caused emoraliation and frustration among the non-Malays; no wondr, many to leave the forces prematurely and serve our neighbouring countries.

I remember in the 50s, Chinese and Indian youths had no qualms at all about volunteering to join the armed forces. There was fairness in assessemtn, treatment and promotion was based on merits rather than on their ethnic origin, religious background and skin colour.

If I may say so, this indifference was caused by the discriminatory, divisionistic and racialistic policy of the UMNO/BN Government. The NEP that was introduced after May 13, 1969, though its objectivs were noble on paper, was implemented to the detriment of the nation. As a result, the country is now divided along racial, religious, language, education, occupation and business lines. And it will take generations before these barriers can be taken down like the Berlin Wall.

Look at the brain drain each year. Non-malay students are not offered courses of their choice in the local universities, so they have to pursue their tertiary education either through local or overseas private colleges or universities at great expense of their parents. Many were offered scholarships by neighbouring countries and when they graduate, they serve the countries that gave them the helping hands. Should not this be the basic social responsibility of the Malaysian Government? The divide and rule policy of the UMNO/BN Government have definitely dampened whatever patriotic feelings that these growing youths might have in their hearts.

From young these potential leaders are faced or made to face and grapple with the various divides - in schools. colleges, universities, occupations and business. How would anyone expect patriotism to be inculcated in the minds of these growing youths? UMNO/BN have destroyed the nation through their bigotted and divisionistic social economic policies during the past four decades.

They have succeeded in causing suspicion, mistrust and division among the races of the country, implementing the 'apatheid policy' in respect of education, award of scholarships and places in the local public universities, employment in the civil service, military and police forces. The policy of governing the country with justice and benevolence as taught in the Islamic religion is all swept under the carpet for certain UMNOputric selfish interest.

The Government should set a good example of the type of conduct and values they would like to inculcate in and mould the country's citizens. If it continues to allow and condone corruption to prevail within and across its machineries, then the people would just follow suit.

Country building cannot be left to the tyros. The UMNO/BN putras are too complacent and too ensconced in their comfortable chairs. They only know how to enrich their pockets but not the masses. Hence, a change is needed for them to wake up. Let the opposition party show them how one can be prudent in spending, how to economise and save for the rainy day, how to preserve and prudently and productively develop the country's human nd natural resources in line with the national needs, how to elevate the standards of college and university education;, how to improve the income of the average worker, and bring in high-tech industries into the country etc.

If UMNO/BN is to survive the next GE, it must be sincere in its policy implementation. The people shall be the sole judges and she cannot continue to fool the masses any longer. The corrupt must be booked and severe action to be taken against them including on conviction forfeiting and confiscating all their ill-begotten and unexplained wealth and have them distributed to the country's needy.

Unless justice is done, racial harmony will remain at stake. There shall never be peace and trust among the races in the country. For progress, all races must be given the opportunity to move forward freely, equally and in tandem and be granted the dignity and recogntion of their human rights. Politicising and polarising religion and race must stop altogether. Days for such matters are over.

With all the above matters in place, the lost patriotism will one day be restored. We call for justice, equality and opportunity to be shared by all in the country. Let us get started now before it is too late.