UPM Teaching Guide - Double Standards are Alive and Kicking in Malaysia
'It is a teaching guide, not an authorised textbook'
The above statement is enough to send any fair-minded, peace-loving Malaysian into an outraged frenzy.
What am I referring to? Well, if you've read the newspapers lately, you would have come across several reports about how an Ethnic Relations module in Universiti Putra Malaysia makes several totally unfounded, biased and racially discriminating statements about the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia. In this so-called 'teaching guide', which will be used as a teaching reference for hundreds of students in UPM I might add, one of the audacious claims they make is that the May 13 riots were instigated by the Chinese backed party, DAP.
Wait a second here, I thought that the May 13 riots were caused by millions of disgruntled people-of-a-certain-race-which-I-shall-not-mention (POACRWISNM) who were so incredibly sidelined and poverty-stricken (due to their own incompetence one might add) that they felt that violence was their only course of action? In fact, I recall stories told of how convoys of military trucks ferrying hundreds of barbaric POACRWISNM would swoop into the city and begin viciously attacking innocent bystanders - men, women and child alike.
Stories were told of how families would be forced to leave their homes in the dark of night because of these gross acts of violence. Of how innocent people were forced out of a cinema by these POACRWISNM and hacked to death in broad daylight. And all because of what? The colour of their skin.
Let me repeat myself, 'a vicious, premeditated attack by the hapless and hopeless POACRWISNM in our country on other innocent people!' And the author of this so-called 'teaching guide' has the gall to blame it on the DAP?
How in the world DAP fits into this picture, I have no idea. They weren't the ones weilding the machetes which were used to shed so much blood on that fateful day in our country's history. Also, the DAP was not the political party which benefited so handsomely from the violence and upheaval.
In the face of mounting protests by all fair-minded Malaysians, the author of this 'teaching guide' tried to justify their lunacy by saying that these statements are not their own, and were merely borrowed from publications made by several other historians. Excuse me, that in itself is a very weak and lame excuse! Since when did a few zealots opinions form the backbone of our country's history? One man's opinion, does not history make.
But..but..but...it's just a guide
What infuriates and saddens me even more than these blatant lies is that our Higher Education Ministry will not even lift a finger to make things right. According to them, and a certain minister by the name of Datuk Mustapa watshisname,
"We will not recall this guide. Its claims are not considered seditious because it is not a 'book' in the real sense as it did not go through the editing process that a textbook would undergo"
So let me see if I get things right, as long as such inflamatory statements come in a publication which does not have the word 'BUKU' printed on its cover, then it's alright? Correct me if I am wrong, but it makes absolutely no sense! Racially biased lies are exactly that, lies, irregardless of whatever medium they may come from.
What if it were the other way round?
If my memory serves me well, I recall a big hoo-hah being raised over an advertisement which was aired on our local television network. In the ad, a Malay men played the part of an inconsiderate LRT passenger. Although it was just an ad meant to convey the importance of civility, many people thought otherwise. To them, it was an attack on the Malay race! It was racialy oppressive! It was a form of subversive victimisation! Bla bla bla ad infinitum.
All that fuss over a seemingly innocuous TV ad.
I really wonder what would the Higher Education Ministry do if a 'teaching guide', claiming that the Malays are the reason for our country's economic malaise, were to be published. Would they still say that due to the fact that it's merely a 'guide' and not a 'book', they see no harm in it being circulated and in the hands of thousands of young students?
You tell me.
The Malaysia we know and love
With the people in power refusing to acknowledge the gross misrepresentation present in this teaching guide, I can't help but wonder what is happening to our country. Whatever happened to the Malaysian ideals? The dream of living harmoniously together with people of all races? Of peace, respect and tolerance?
Are all the good things which Malaysia stands for slowly disappearing due to the actions of a group of misguided individuals?
Honestly, I don't have the answer to that. You tell me.
*the Education Guide has since been withdrawn, as reported in The Star, July 20th. Looks like there is hope after all
The above statement is enough to send any fair-minded, peace-loving Malaysian into an outraged frenzy.
What am I referring to? Well, if you've read the newspapers lately, you would have come across several reports about how an Ethnic Relations module in Universiti Putra Malaysia makes several totally unfounded, biased and racially discriminating statements about the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia. In this so-called 'teaching guide', which will be used as a teaching reference for hundreds of students in UPM I might add, one of the audacious claims they make is that the May 13 riots were instigated by the Chinese backed party, DAP.
Wait a second here, I thought that the May 13 riots were caused by millions of disgruntled people-of-a-certain-race-which-I-shall-not-mention (POACRWISNM) who were so incredibly sidelined and poverty-stricken (due to their own incompetence one might add) that they felt that violence was their only course of action? In fact, I recall stories told of how convoys of military trucks ferrying hundreds of barbaric POACRWISNM would swoop into the city and begin viciously attacking innocent bystanders - men, women and child alike.
Stories were told of how families would be forced to leave their homes in the dark of night because of these gross acts of violence. Of how innocent people were forced out of a cinema by these POACRWISNM and hacked to death in broad daylight. And all because of what? The colour of their skin.
Let me repeat myself, 'a vicious, premeditated attack by the hapless and hopeless POACRWISNM in our country on other innocent people!' And the author of this so-called 'teaching guide' has the gall to blame it on the DAP?
How in the world DAP fits into this picture, I have no idea. They weren't the ones weilding the machetes which were used to shed so much blood on that fateful day in our country's history. Also, the DAP was not the political party which benefited so handsomely from the violence and upheaval.
In the face of mounting protests by all fair-minded Malaysians, the author of this 'teaching guide' tried to justify their lunacy by saying that these statements are not their own, and were merely borrowed from publications made by several other historians. Excuse me, that in itself is a very weak and lame excuse! Since when did a few zealots opinions form the backbone of our country's history? One man's opinion, does not history make.
But..but..but...it's just a guide
What infuriates and saddens me even more than these blatant lies is that our Higher Education Ministry will not even lift a finger to make things right. According to them, and a certain minister by the name of Datuk Mustapa watshisname,
"We will not recall this guide. Its claims are not considered seditious because it is not a 'book' in the real sense as it did not go through the editing process that a textbook would undergo"
So let me see if I get things right, as long as such inflamatory statements come in a publication which does not have the word 'BUKU' printed on its cover, then it's alright? Correct me if I am wrong, but it makes absolutely no sense! Racially biased lies are exactly that, lies, irregardless of whatever medium they may come from.
What if it were the other way round?
If my memory serves me well, I recall a big hoo-hah being raised over an advertisement which was aired on our local television network. In the ad, a Malay men played the part of an inconsiderate LRT passenger. Although it was just an ad meant to convey the importance of civility, many people thought otherwise. To them, it was an attack on the Malay race! It was racialy oppressive! It was a form of subversive victimisation! Bla bla bla ad infinitum.
All that fuss over a seemingly innocuous TV ad.
I really wonder what would the Higher Education Ministry do if a 'teaching guide', claiming that the Malays are the reason for our country's economic malaise, were to be published. Would they still say that due to the fact that it's merely a 'guide' and not a 'book', they see no harm in it being circulated and in the hands of thousands of young students?
You tell me.
The Malaysia we know and love
With the people in power refusing to acknowledge the gross misrepresentation present in this teaching guide, I can't help but wonder what is happening to our country. Whatever happened to the Malaysian ideals? The dream of living harmoniously together with people of all races? Of peace, respect and tolerance?
Are all the good things which Malaysia stands for slowly disappearing due to the actions of a group of misguided individuals?
Honestly, I don't have the answer to that. You tell me.
*the Education Guide has since been withdrawn, as reported in The Star, July 20th. Looks like there is hope after all
Labels: Nation/Politics
posted by Bernard Yong at 10:53 PM
10 Comments:
frackin hell....i havent been reading the papers for a few days...and i read this.. frack...
" Abdullah said racial issues were still sensitive to the people although Malaysia had almost 50 years of independence.
“Just look at the reaction,” he pointed out. “We are still sensitive (on race matters)."
Just look at the reaction? We are still sensitvie? Is this the only thing our PM can say? frackin hell...
Oh, so WE (Chinese & Indians) are the sensitive ones are we? Well, lemme see...
- We weren't the ones making a big fuss over a silly little TV advertisement
- We didn't demonstrated in front of the Danish Embassy over some stupid, harmless cartoons
- We aren't the ones who feel so threatened by other races that we feel the need to shelter ourselves beneath hundreds of racially-discriminating and unfairly-preferential laws
The list goes on and on. I wonder which party is guilty of being 'overl sensitive'...hmmmm.
Badawi Badawi, please don't lose the respect of the non-Bumi community by pandering to the masses. Speak from your heart.
I'm afraid that our leaders have lost sight of what is harmony. In an attempt to quick-fix a problem that took decades in incubation to manifest itself to what we see today. It's like peeing on a raging forest fire hoping that it would clear the fire.
The insecurities that some have still influences their minds to the point that they had to undermine and point fingers at other races, 30 years on. Time to wake up and flippin' smell the bloody roses! Get with the program... remember???!!! Racial harmony not the other way around!
I have lost faith with this country. As long as the mentality does not change, it would be just crap upon crap, and yes... we are laughing stock of the region and world. Oh not to forget the rudest too! Why am I not surprised?
Well, I still have high hopes for Malaysia. Personally I don't think that all is lost. Everyone (Malay, Chinese, Indians etc alike) just needs to work hard to ensure that our hard-fought progress is protected and not destroyed by the actions of a few looney cavemen.
Good to know that you still have faith in the people. It just seem so hard to find that light at the end of the tunnel.
Their mentality are archaic to say the very least.
Sigh.
I sincerely think it's absolutely pointless for you to talk about the victimisation or the non-Bumis in Malaysia when you are blatantly racist yourself.
Guess I shall not stoop down that low to counter Nizam's apparent "informed" notion.
Hmm... it's a sunny day isin't it? Nice. =)
nizam zakaria : I sincerely disagree, have a nice day!
Again, I would like to note to all my readers in general. If you want to disagree with me, please oh PLEASE elaborate a bit lah. What's the fun of saying things like...'You are racist, full stop?'.
Elaborate a bit lah for friggin crying out loud. Sheesh, its no fun blogging if nobody can come up with a decent come-back :P
Anyway, back to nizam zakaria, in case you don't know your history (which I assume you don't), I was merely pointing out the facts my good man. Does that constitute 'racism' to you?
Please find out what the word 'racist' really means before frivolously throwing it around you tosser.
Oh, and also how can I be considered a racist when I didn't even finger out any particular race?...hmm.
I merely implied that a group of people (which I grouped under the acronym POACRWISNM) instigated the attacks. My my, why the defensiveness Mr.Nizam?
Enjoyed a lot! » » »
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