theSun | FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11 2009
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Culture: Yours,
mine, ours?
THE aggression of the small but vocal
group of anti-Malaysia protesters in
Indonesia is intriguing. It was reported
on Wednesday that some activists had
blocked off a road in Jakarta with the
objective of “sweeping” for Malay-
sians. You can find lashings of “crush
Malaysia” material in the blogosphere
and on Facebook, and a t-shirt with
words to that effect accompanied by
a picture of recommended weapons is
so popular that it has sold out – at least
on the online shops I visited.
Claims over cultural material – tan-
gible or otherwise – can be epic. You
can get a heated argument started by
simply mentioning the Elgin Marbles
in front of a Briton and a Greek, and
the influences of someone as poetic as
Chopin can trigger debates between
Poles and Frenchmen. Assertions
of cultural superiority have caused
wars and justified entire empires: the
Victorians concocted an elaborate
pyramid scheme in which White An-
glo-Saxon Protestants reigned at the
top, followed by other Christians, then
other monotheists with pagans finally
at the bottom, a tool which usefully
conflated culture with ethnicity and
thus legitimising some of the nastier
aspects of colonialism.
There is a litany of potential
cultural flashpoints between Malaysia
Abiding
Times
by Tunku ‘Abidin
Muhriz
and Indonesia, so it was inevitable
that these would be exploited by
nationalists to buttress the portfolio
of existing, perhaps more substantial,
issues between the two nations. Given
the divergences in our modern – or
perhaps more accurately, post-1824
– history, it’s perhaps not surprising.
We obtained self-government in drasti-
cally different ways: Tunku Abdul Rah-
man always expressed pride in having
achieved Merdeka through peaceful
means (even though the communists
took a different view), while Indone-
sian independence was gained after
a bloody struggle. Also, we still take
pride in being a member of the Com-
monwealth – we hosted the Games in
1998, remember – and we’ve retained
so many of the institutions: the bicam-
eral parliament, common law, the way
we organise our military, and so on.
Not because we are romantics for
empire – but because these institu-
tions, regardless of the deficiencies
which we have latterly witnessed, still
by and large work better than many
of the alternatives. It’s the reason why
Hongkong and Jamaica and India and
Nigeria also keep them.
Given this catalogue of institutional
difference, I’d like to submit a small sug-
gestion that might enable both sides to
sidestep these heated repartees.
TELLING IT AS IT IS
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And that is for both Malaysia and
Indonesia to disclaim ownership of
pre-independence cultural artefacts.
It’s not as drastic as it sounds. The
Venerable Bede, Geoffrey Chaucer and
William Shakespeare are primarily de-
scribed as English, rather than British,
authors. When one sees bagpipes and
kilts one thinks specifically of the high-
lands of Scotland. Thus, there are clear
distinctions between what constitutes
uniquely English and Scottish culture
as compared to contemporary British
culture (which, no doubt, is influenced
by the traditions of its constituent
parts and migrant communities).
Similarly, contemporary Malaysian
and Indonesian culture is distinct from
its pre-independence component
parts. Yes, our arts continue to be influ-
enced by our pasts – some might say
it’s an amalgamation of them – but the
constituent cultures, I posit, ought still
to be treated as separate, lest we risk
further muddling our cultural history
and simultaneously suffocating our
various adat. Perhaps in this regard,
“Malaysia Truly Asia” serves as a more
accurate slogan than “1Malaysia”: the
first recognises that we’re host to
Irregularities under probe
WE refer to “Why bother with audit
reports” (CitizenNades, Sept 9). We
wish to reiterate that the matters
on Pempena Sdn Bhd are still under
investigation and several current and
former employees of Pempena have
been questioned and their statements
taken. Therefore, we need to allow
the due process of the investigations
to be completed, which in turn would
determine the appropriate course of
action.
We share your concerns and
have taken a very serious view of the
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various traditions, the latter might sug-
gest that they have been superseded
or smudged into one super-culture.
In Negri Sembilan we have the
cak lempong, while other states
use the gamelan. We have upward-
curving roofs atop our houses, and we
have many strange rituals that other
states do not have. We know why, and
we admit it: it’s no shame to us that
Minangkabau culture originated in
Sumatra; after all it predated both
countries by six centuries. To me,
it’s ludicrous to suggest that we’ve
“stolen” what is “Indonesian” – besides,
the migration then was voluntary
– much as it continues to be today.
And so, I hope that once our
Minangkabau structure at the Shanghai
World Expo gets filled with elements
from our other component cultures,
we won’t get activists trying to raze
it, as happened to the original Istana
Pagar Ruyong.
Tunku ’Abidin Muhriz is Founder
President of WauBebas.org: the Ma-
laysia Think Tank. Comments: letters@
thesundaily.com.
irregularities that were highlighted in
the audit report. Based on the findings
and recommendations of the audit
report, Pempena has lodged reports
with the relevant authorities namely:
» Commercial Crime Investigation
Department;
» Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commis-
sion; and
» Registrar of Companies.
Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng
Secretary-General
Tourism Ministry
13
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A barrier to
one Malaysia
I REFER to media reports on the
overwhelming support of the public
towards the announcement that
the cabinet may do away with the
requirement to indicate one’s race in
government official forms.
Many opine that it will remove a
barrier that inhibits us from achieving
Bangsa Malaysia. The requirement is
said to remind us of our individual
race instead of being Malaysian. It is
also seen as a positive effort in line
with the 1Malaysia concept.
However, I am intrigued as to why
these like-minded Malaysians are
silent when another initiative with
similar objectives was put forward. I
refer to the proposal to introduce the
single education system as practised
the world over. These children will
grow up to be fine citizens with a
sound understanding of the different
races and the need to stay as one. On
the contrary, a child who goes to a
vernacular school will be deprived of
this opportunity.
Thus, I fail to understand why on
one hand we object to practices that
separate us as a people but at the
same time we condone those having
similar features. We should all ask
the question whether we are being
honest with ourselves?
If we aspire to realise a Bangsa
Malaysia and believe in 1Malaysia,
we should support the introduction
of the single school system and put
serious efforts to make it a success.
Zamri Mahmud
Kuala Lumpur