From Malayan Union, Malaya to Malaysia - A lesson for Singapore

 Many Malaysian Chinese still regretted their plight as second or third class citizens in Malaysia. Without political power, their well being is at the mercy of the Bumiputras, the ruling race in Malaysia. This was not the case in the earlier history of Malaya. When the colonial power, the British, were here, the local races of Malay, Chinese and Indians were more or less treated in the same way as far as legal status was concerned. The exception was the Malay sultans, the rulers of Malaya.

The Malaysian Chinese actually had 3 chances to fight for equal rights, during the formation of Malayan Union, the Federation of Malaya and the final chance, the formation of Malaysia. In the Malayan Union and Malaya days, the British were in favour of equal rights for all. But the Malay nationalists led by Jaafar Onn fought fiercely for Malay special rights. The Chinese, led by the MCA did not put up a strong fight or actually forfeited their equal rights by not fighting. The position of the Chinese then was that as long as they were left alone, as long as they could pursue their business and commercial interest, as long as they were financially comfortable and could play a big part in the country's economy, they were quite contented. The Malays could have the political power. This is a very brief description of a complicated political and legal issue of the history of political change in Malaya and Malaysia.

Without the Chinese fighting for their equal rights, and with the Malays fighting vehemently, the British gave in and the special rights of the Malays were written into the constitution of the Federation. Initially things were still comfortable and nothing dramatic and serious happened. The status quo was accepted by all the races.

In 1963, the Malaysia concept came to life and Singapore was involved, and the PAP joined the new state on the ground of a Malaysian Malaysia. This again was not acceptable to the Malays and eventually led to the separation. But the affair sparked a revival in Malay nationalism and Malay special rights culminating in the May 13 racial riots in 1969. That event paved the way for Mahathir to return to politics and took over the premiership from Razak. 

During his tenure as PM, Mahathir made many sweeping changes to the Malaysian polity and raised the profile and interest of the Malays beyond recognition. The Malay or Bumiputra population was increased through many means and affirmative actions. And not only he strengthen their political power, but also economic power and all aspects of life in Malaysia. And the fate of Malaysian Chinese was never be the same again. Once political power was lost and the power of the day applied all the forces of the state to their advantage, including changing the racial composition, appointments of all political and govt offices, including carving out a big chunk of the economy by virtues of special rights, whatever that was left for the Chinese was left to the mercy of the power of the day. The power of the day has absolute control to deal with the Chinese as they pleased and there is no turning back the clock.

No groups, especially racial or religious groups, once in control of a country or organisation, would voluntarily give away its power to the challengers or opposition. Only those suffering from stupidity has no cure disease would do that. And they will be cursed by the generations to come for a life sentence that they needed not have to serve.

The experience of the Malaysian Chinese and their pathetic state of being a second or third class citizen of Malaysia is a very painful lesson for Singaporean Chinese. What can happen in Malaysia can also happen in Singapore if the stupid allow it to happen. And when it happens, the Singapore Chinese would be in the same situation as in Malaysia, and even worse. There will not be a neighbouring country to allow them to be the best they could be, like Singapore is to the Malaysian Chinese, but a hostile sea filled with hungry crocodiles. The population composition would be changed dramatically with foreign imports, the appointments to political and govt offices would be changed, the share of the economy would also be changed. And there will not be a second chance to turn back the clock. There will be no 4Gs to be nominated to take over the premiership like what it is now.

What is happening to the large number of citizens being jobless and driving Grabs or delivering food are only a small signs of what is to come. It could be hundreds or thousands of times worse than now. By then cry heaven cry hell also no use. The daft and stupid would always suffer for their ignorance and stupidity and apathy thinking they can leave their futures to others. They will end up at the mercy of others.

Once political power is lost, it is lost forever. And the price to be paid is heavy and no amount of tears and regrets would be able to console the victims of this stupidity in the future generations. Enough said.