MALAYSIA THREE RACES SEARCH FOR A NATIONAL UNITY

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32032, 5 July 1969, Page 12

MALAYSIA THREE RACES SEARCH FOR A NATIONAL UNITY

(Specially written Jar "The Press" by

CEDRIC MENTIPLAY)

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30.—“ How soon we return to normal depends on the people,” said the weary-looking little man in the opennecked shirt. “We must learn the lessons of May 13 if we are to survive.” Tun Abdul Razak does not look like a dictator—but for more than a month he has been sole ruler of Malaysia. In the absence of the Prime Minister (Tunku Abdul Rahman), who is recovering from an eye operation, he is chairman of the National Operations Council, as well as Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.

He saw our New Zealand party today in the room in which the Council had just been sitting. It is an ornate room, in Malaysia’s beautiful new Parliament Buildings, which are more spectacular than even New Zealand’s projected “beehive” will be. But armed guards man the gates leading to Parliament Hill.

Nobody knows the casualtylist of May 13,' when racial rioting broke surface in Kuala Lumpur. There may have been 400 dead. There were certainly hundreds of wounded. Since then there has been armed watchfulness, but five more died last Saturday night in a brief MalayChinese flare-up. Firm Measures

"No doubt we shall pull through,” Tun Abdul Razak said. “We have to take firm

measures. There is no other way. We fought the Communists in 1948—and with your help we beat them. This is 1969—but the Communists are there all the time, taking advantage of any situation to embarrass us.”

Asked whether the rioting might have been a blessing in disguise, as it drew attention to differences in representation between citizens of Malay and Chinese descent, Tun Abdul Razak said:

“That is a good way of looking at it—but the price has been high. There must be discipline. There must be rales. We must somehow find a national unity.” Of his new economic policy, which was to be announced the following day, he said: “A new plan must be found. If young people have jobs there is less time for mischief. We have three races here, Malay, Chinese and Indian. We thought that by going forward we could avoid racial tension. Now we must move urgently to solve this problem.”

The tragedy of Malaysia today is that the riots have occurred and Parliament has been suspended in a new State which is far more advanced than any other in South-East Asia except possibly neighbouring Singapore.

Legacy Of Efficiency

Twelve years ago, when the British handed over, they left a legacy of efficient administration. Almost alone among the South-East Asian countries, Malaysia has no traffic problems. The streams of modern cars and trucks keep smoothly to the left and respond to signals. There is no lawless traffic mayhem as in Bangkok. The electric power does not break down. The telephone system works flawlessly even during riots. The streets are clean. There may be poverty, but there is no squalor. Low-cost housing estates spread across the countryside and high-density housing sprouts mushroomlike in the towns.

Though there is unemployment, there is work aplenty in the rubber plantations, tin mines and palm oil groves. In the villages we have seen ample evidence that the races are living happily together. This was true also in Kuala Lumpur-until the disaster of May 13. Until very recently, this country was a show-place of multi-racial harmony. What went wrong?

There is much evidence to suggest that a prime cause of tension was created when the Malays were given a preferred position over the Chinese and Indians, many of whom are third and fourthgeneration Malaysians.

Malays’ Position

The constitution lays down provisions for the safe-guard-ing of the “special position” of the Malays. The King is given functions under the Constitution and federal law “to ensure the reservation for Malays of such proportions as he may deem reasonable of positions in the public service, and of scholarships, exhibitions and other similar educational or training privileges. ...” This has been interpreted as meaning that Malays should be employed in the civil service and the legal profession in a ratio of four Malays to one non-Malay. It is generally accepted that the non-Malay, particularly the Chinese Malaysian, has been shut out of many of the higher positions. Chinese are industrious, and concentrate more effectively in trade and commerce. Their children have a higher standard of education. Many have completed post-graduate courses abroad. Under these circumstances one would expect the rioting to be carried out by the Chinese. It may be noted, however, that the premises gutted in the rioting and now lying open to the weather include Chinese schools and business premises. Asked about this, one Malaysian commented: “You may remember that the word ’amok’ was a Malay contribution to the English language. Frustration, pressure, envysome special pressure tends to drive the Malay into a killing rage. Perhaps it is a sign of growth; or that we are a little off the rails.”

Pattern Of Riots

That is one view. Another, which is held by many people in high places, is that race relations are being abraded deliberately by Communist elements. A pattern of riots in Malaysian key spots has been indicated.

Malaysians are very proud of the fact that communism received a thorough trouncing in the area. It has been suggested that the Communists moved too soon, and that the Malaysian authorities will never allow them to get the upper hand again. Be that as it may, communism is only one of Malaysia's problems. Among those I have spoken to is an official whose great - grandparents came from India back in 1880. He is frankly afraid of what militant political Malay groups could do.

Some Moslem priests have raised the old intolerant slogans In the villages, he says. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that a Moslem party, coming to power, could decree the universal wearing of the black cap, the adoption of the Moslem religion universally, and the complete abolition of pork (beloved by the Chinese). “Then there would be no? where for non-Malay Malaysians to go,” he Mid. “Therp is no place for me in India, and there is no place in China for the Chinese.”

Mr Mentiplay Is with a party of New Zealand journalists at present touring several South-East Asian countries.