KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — Patriotism in the country is at an “all-time low” because of directives from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition that demand Malaysians put on an overt display of love for country regardless of how they personally feel, PAS’ Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said.
The Islamist party’s central committee member added that patriotism cannot be forced and will emerge naturally when Malaysians see “a better Malaysia”.
“Anyone would be ready to rise and defend the country but if that patriotism meant waving the Jalur Gemilang, using last year’s slogan ‘Janji ditepati’ and to be linked to the government of the day might not invoke [patriotism] because it must be related to the nation, rather than a particular branch of the government, namely the executive.
“Don’t force it down their throat,” the executive director of the PAS Research centre said during a Malaysia Day forum entitled “Understanding, Accepting and Celebrating Diversity” at the KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here on Wednesday.
He was referring to reports that Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek had said a law was being considered to compel premises to fly the national flag throughout August, the month when the country’s achieved independence from the colonial British imperialists.
Putrajaya had also made it mandatory for cinemas nationwide to play the national anthem “Negaraku” before the start of movies for a week ahead of the country’s National Day, celebrated on August 31, which is separate from the anniversary of the country’s founding on September 16, which is celebrated as Malaysia Day.
Half a century on, the Southeast Asian country that hopes to be a global economic force by 2020 appears more racially-polarised than when at the time of its founding when the federation of Malaya — which comprised of the peninsula — had joined with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore to form Malaysia on that day in 1963.
The rift also appear to be socio-economic, drawing an urban-rural divide that is also reflected geographically by the South China Sea that separates the more developed peninsula side from the oil, timber-rich Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak.
Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob reportedly expressed disappointment over the low turnout by the Chinese on Malaysia Day, which drew flak from those who saw his statement as belittling the contribution of non-Malays to the nation.
Dzulkefly, a former federal lawmaker, said that unity is a “consequential thing” and much like the feeling of patriotism, love, respect and loyalty a person feels a country.
“You don’t need to stand up to the national anthem before the showing of a movie at the cinemas to show that you are patriotic.
“But what is in serious need by the rakyat is a better Malaysia, a Malaysia that they can identify themselves with, a Malaysia that celebrates plurality, religious, cultural, ethnic, political, much less ideology and what not,” the one-term Kuala Selangor MP said.
Dzulkefly said the people would unite when the country’s economy is well managed, when there is an independent judiciary system and different religious practices are respected, even with their differences.
“These kind of racial bigotry as if Muslims are under siege, this mentality has brought defiance to [certain] religions.
“Religions should be an enhancing factor in unity and not used as a divisive tool and bring about rebellion.”
Over the past few months, a number of inter-faith rows had flared up that were seen by Malay right-wingers to be a challenge against their creed, Islam.
Among them was the Catholic Church’s legal bid to call the Christian god “Allah”, an Arabic word Muslims here say is exclusive to Islam, which the Court of Appeal is to decide next month.
