Non-Malays, Orang Asal deliberately kept out of uniform

1Malaysia and other cheerful slogan chanting are made to hoodwink the outsiders from knowing the actual situation within.

KUALA LUMPUR: Army Chief General Raja Mohamed Affandi’s statement on the recruitment of non-Malays including non-Muslims from Sabah and Sarawak as below expectations was not new, points out former Senator S Ramakrishnan and cites instances.

On October 26, 2010, then Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi gave “non-patriotism” as a reason for non-Malays not joining the forces. Similar comments were made on September 17, 2002 by then Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The valor, contributions and sacrifices of Chinese, Indians and Orang Asal and sisters towards the sovereignty and security of Malaysia is purposely being omitted and subdued.

“Umno Ministers have been making comments now and then to drive home the message that non-Malays are not patriotic and that they are more interested in making money and leaving the country’s security to their Malay brothers and sisters,” said Ramakrishnan.

Besides Malays, Malaysia had illustrious and decorated non-Malays officers, he recalled. The Army had about 15 non-Malay generals, the Navy about 12 non-Malay Laksmana (Sanskrit for navy chief) and 14 non-Malay generals in the Air Force.

“Laksmana Muda (Rear-Admiral) K Thanabalasingam was the third chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy, and the first Malaysian, the earlier two being British,” recalled the former Senator.

Besides blaming non-Malays, he lamented, these Umno ministers never made any attempt to focus on why the numbers dwindled. “Every thinking Malaysian knows that there has been covert and informal policies by the government to employ only Malays at the expense of the non-Malays since 1970.”

He blamed former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who made “recruit Malays only” as the cornerstone of recruitment policy. “Non-Malays were and are being leap-frogged when it comes to promotions and application forms of non-Malays go into the dustbin while that of Malays go to the recruitment desk.”

“The Islamisation and non-merit race based promotion in the civil service have led to many non-Malays turning away from the civil and uniformed services.”

Many well-performing non-Malay officers were over-looked and overtaken by their junior Malays, he reiterated, shattering their dignity.

Despite the racial policies, Umno claims without any guilt that they are fair to all Malaysians regardless of race and religion, noted Ramakrishnan. “This is dishonesty and hiding facts with fiction. The current racial composition in the civil and uniform services is proof of past biased policies.”

“1Malaysia and other cheerful slogan chanting are made to hoodwink the world from knowing the actual situation.”

He cited from current literature that about 1.5 million skilled and capable Malaysians, non-Malay and Malay alike, are working outside the country strengthening other countries and MNCs. “But Umno ministers and their supporters will continue to blame and find fault with non-Malays, to divert attention from their economic and political failures.”

“Due to the discriminative public policies, the uniformed services have lost many talented and capable Malaysians. The loser is Malaysia.”

Racial preferences have perpetuated nepotism, prejudices and distorted world views.

Security is the concern of every Malaysian regardless of race and religion, said Ramakrishnan. “The Umno government believes that a policy of ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy) will lead the Malays into being the wealthiest and they don’t need others.”

“Even the Orang Asal of Sabah and Sarawak are discriminated against, as most of them are Christians.”

It’s the Malays connected to Umno who have increased their economic share and wealth disproportionately while the unconnected vast majority remain poor and ignorant, he continued. “Umno uses race and religion to instil fear among the village Malay masses by creating the bogey enemy of non-Malays.”

Once this myth is busted, he expressed confidence, “the truth will dawn upon these folks, that racial preferences have perpetuated nepotism, prejudices and distorted world views among Malaysia”.

With the evolving geopolitics and economy, he said, Umno’s outdated policies will stand exposed. “It’s a matter of time and they know it too.”