Saturday, November 25, 2006

Whither Thou Goest, Singapore Malays?

The media in Singapore recently highlighted the grave concerns of some Malay professionals over the community's future as the island state moved rapidly into the mainstream of global competitiveness. They said the minority Malays might be pushed further behind and face a much worse situation than now.

Even though many Malays are successful, the overall statistics are not in their favour. In education, the Malays, who accounted for about 14 per cent of the 4.2 million population -- lag far behind from the Chinese and Indians.

According to the General Household Survey 2005 published in June, the percentage of Malays, who received polytechnic or university education, risen to 8.6 per cent last year compared to 4.9 per cent in 2000. These figures when compared to the Chinese had increased to 27 per cent from 20 per cent and Indians to 31 per cent from 20 per cent.

The income gap among the races had also widened. Statistics showed the Malays' monthly income rose to S$3,400 last year from S$3,200 while that of the Chinese to S$5,600 from S$5,200 and the Indians to S$5,200 from S$4,600.

"All indications are that the situation will worsen over time," said Association of Muslim Professionals chairman Imram Mohamed. The Malays need to find ways to reverse the trend "if we are not to end up as a largely under-class community, having to depend on handouts from others," he said at the association's 15th anniversary celebrations recently.

The media also reported that a significant number of Malays in prisons and drug rehabilitation centres were low-income earners and problematic Malay youths.

Imram indicated the reasons for the Malays' fate in the republic.

"Our community has not responded well to the new economy and they're not geared to meet the challenges of globalisation and stiff competition," The Straits Times quoted him as saying. It is true that Singapore had moved at a feverish pace into the mainstream of global economy. According to the A.T. Kearney Report/Foreign Policy Magazine Globalisation Index 2005, Singapore was the most globalised nation, outpacing Ireland, Switzerland and the United States.

Imram wanted the Malays to change their mindset to be more competitive and urged the government to raise the wages of low-income workers so that they could absorb the impacts of globalisation.

Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, however, said wage increases and protection from competition were not the solution. "The long-term solution remains more education and creating more professionals," he said.

He said the Malay-Muslims could move faster by seizing the opportunities available. "In order for a minority community to do well in a multiracial and globalised environment, we need to engage with other communities and we need to integrate with the mainstream of social life... that's where you can successfully compete," he was quoted by the daily.

The issue drew attention from the Malay analysts and social activists. Among them are Ramli Puteh who said most of the unemployed among the low-skilled were the Malays. "We should be more proactive -- seek solutions to issues before they become a problem," he wrote in Berita Harian. Efforts made so far, he said, were more towards rehabilitating those who had plunged into problems. Many Malay associations, concerned over the Malays' fate, had organised various programmes to help the community face the competition.

Dr Vivian was confident and had seen the proof that the Malays could also succeed with the emergence of many Malay professionals. "You have achieved what you have achieved on your own merit... without affirmative action, without quotas, without special rules," he added.

-- By Jackson Sawatan (BERNAMA)

***** Right there in that report lies a great lesson for the Malays here in Malaysia. Don't wait to learn the hard way. Take a leaf out of the Singapore Malay experience. Think seriously of the importance of the points highlighted - change of mindset in a globalised age, seize the opportunities that arise, protection from competition is NOT the solution but education is, engage with other communities and integrate with the mainstream of social life, implying the need to eschew the sikap 'katak dibawah tempurung.' The alternative is to be swept away by the forces of globalisation and no one, not even the government can save you.

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10 Comments:

Blogger devonic said...

It's always perceived by Malaysian's generally that the Malay's in Singapore is not taken care of...When the Minister Mentor of Singapore made some remarks on the Chinese occupants of M'sia,many jumped their guns..It was said a lot by our beloved leaders to the Mentor to look in their(Singapore) own back yard on how they treat the Malay's there...
But if we throttle down Singapore Malays,what do they think of the treatment they receive...Singaporeans perceive all as equals..whether you are in majority or minority..It's seldom they use this terms of majority and minority..instead Singaporeans is a common term...
Even the Malay's there call for each other to arm themselves with better qualities and to try harder without expecting any hand outs...

I do wish there were visionaries such as Dr.Vivian Balakrishnan in M'sia..It's hard work and the sheer quest to achieve will propel the entire community to prosper ,not by simply increasing wages and handouts..
The minorities in M'sia too should listen carefully to what Dr.Vivian had to say..We should not be counting on the government till the elephant turns white.If we can grasp what Dr.Vivian said we don't have to rely on political parties to determine our way of life rather they(the politicians) will rely on us on their survival,making them working for us rather working for them...
To those people who achieved on their own merits,it does not matter if you are a Singapore or Malaysia 'Malays,Chinese ,Indians and other races', well done...
"You have achieved what you have achieved on your own merit... without affirmative action, without quotas, without special rules," as Dr.Vivian puts it.

12:29 PM GMT+8  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Singapore Malays are taught how to use a lifejacket, then, thrown into the deep end. How well they float or sink depends on how well the lesson was learned.

The Malaysian Bumiputra are taught to use the same lifejacket. However, they are hand-held in the wading pool and lifted up each time they fall. Do you think they will ever be ready to dip into the deep pool? To move away from the comfort zone?

2:33 PM GMT+8  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Vivian Balakrishnan - a visionary? You gotta be kidding me!

As much as I think race matters, etc in Malaysia need to be addressed, Singapore is really the LAST place to be held up as a model.

Having lived in both, in my humble opinion, both systems mirror the other. And not surprisingly since both societies evolved from each other. It is only really since Singapore's attempt at "nation-building" from the 1970's that they sought to create a different identity. But deep down, WE (both Malaysians and Singaporeans) are really the same - with the same prejudices, attitudes and warmth!

So while Singapore may not have institutionalised racism (I beg your pardon, affirmative action) for any race, the availability of opportunities cannot be said to be given to ALL equally. There is not enough space here to discuss this in full, but as an example, if you put an ad for a job and specify that "only Chinese speakers need apply", this automatically disenfranchises all those non-Chinese speakers from that opportunity (note: chinese-SPEAKERS, not chinese race only). So in form, Singapore practices meritocracy, though in substance though since most Malays don't speak Chinese they are effectively excluded. Again this is a simple example and is not meant as conclusive evidence but I think you get the point.

By that some token, if there were no "affirmative policies" in Malaysia, could you possibly imagine over 13 million Malays i.e 50.6% of total poplulation of 26 million (less perhaps 100-200,000 pembesar Melayu born with silver spoons in their mouths) having the same desperate plight as Singapore-Malays!

In fact you don't really need to imagine - all you have to do is look at Indonesia and the huge disparity in incomes and the tensions between the "haves" and "have-nots".

I shudder at the thought!

So while problems in Malaysia need to be addressed, I do not necessarily think the "Singapore-model" is really a model at all!

6:25 PM GMT+8  
Blogger devonic said...

In some words I do agree with anonymous..Maybe I was wrong in a different sense,but the thing I've learned most, from that statement of the S'pore Malay's and Dr.Vivian is that, any community living upon hand outs will not progress.Instead the importance of education and self improving qualities matter most..
Only we can steer our path...

8:29 PM GMT+8  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi devonic,

This is Anonymous 6.25PM MYT.

I don't disagree with the basic notion that the affirmative action policies in Malaysia have not achieved their stated aims. I believe even the Malaysian government is of that view (albeit for different reasons).

But I just need to say this: it is a folly to hold up Vivian Balakrishnan as a visionary role model. Not because I have an axe to grind with him, but first and foremost, this wasn't "his" policy. And secondly, you really need to understand the context of Singapore politics before making such sweeping statements.

As a flavour, you might want to read articles at the following links:

http://yawningbread.org/arch_2006/yax-668.htm

http://commentarysingapore.blogspot.com/2006/11/mr-wang-is-skeptical.html

From these, you will clearly see there is a cogent and rational body of opinion who do not think Vivian and his ministry's policies are "visionary". (I reserve my own opinion on this.)

My point though is before you shower tributes on a foreign politician and call him "visionary", you had better know your facts.

It's a bit like a Singaporean praising Hishammudin Hussein Onn as a "saviour of the Malaysian race" - we all know how ridiculous that sounds, don't we?

11:29 PM GMT+8  
Blogger devonic said...

First of all thank you for anonymous
6.25Pm MYT for introducing some new links for me to ponder and to make me think of what I commented..
I'm sorry if I lead anyone to the thought, I was glorifying Dr.Vivian or what..Maybe I went overboard if I called him a visionary..But I certainly don't regard him as a knight in armour...
What made me to comment was,the statement rather than the person itself..For me it didn't matter who made the policy or who spoke about the policy..The thing mattered most is what is the policy is all about..And I do stick to the notion that only by education and self striving attitudes, a community can prosper rather than hand out communities..Thus said, is Malaysian's prepared to stop receiving hand outs.....?

6:06 PM GMT+8  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Really pity! Do you think Mr.Imran will get a free ride in a
media which is government control and this Vivian who
ever called Malaysian reporters animals.A lot and better
Malay and Muslim proffessional even didnt join this holy
AMP.Why? Bcos too many govt watchdogs.They are still systematically being swayed in every angle.In civil servant top 1-10 there is none.
10-20 ? Ask Dr.Vivian to check the Malay DNA.
What merit did he mean while there are still many govt
forbiddens upon the Malay.Singapura is surrounded and sit in a Malay Region thus do you think being a Malay in Singapura is fully trusted by the govt?The govt havent lift up the security perception against the Malay.NOT LOYAL
Any Malay historical being exhibit in the Asian Civilisation Museum ? Check Out

8:16 PM GMT+8  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Really pity! Do you think Mr.Imran will get a free ride in a
media which is government control and this Vivian who
ever called Malaysian reporters animals.A lot and better
Malay and Muslim proffessional even didnt join this holy
AMP.Why? Bcos too many govt watchdogs.They are still systematically being swayed in every angle.In civil servant top 1-10 there is none.
10-20 ? Ask Dr.Vivian to check the Malay DNA.
What merit did he mean while there are still many govt
forbiddens upon the Malay.Singapura is surrounded and sit in a Malay Region thus do you think being a Malay in Singapura is fully trusted by the govt?The govt havent lift up the security perception against the Malay.NOT LOYAL
Any Malay historical being exhibit in the Asian Civilisation Museum ? Check Out

8:16 PM GMT+8  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

<<"only Chinese speakers need apply">>

At least the Singapore Government does not encourage this, and has came out and address this problem. Can you say the same for a Malaysian Government?

A Singaporean

1:25 AM GMT+8  
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7:06 PM GMT+8  

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