Most Chinese Singaporeans will not think so. But would like to
hear from Malay Singaporeans and other minorities
Singaporeans.
See below what a former Malaysian MP has written to Malaysian
PM:
Dear Prime Minister.
May you and family be in the best of health and blessings.
If there is a way, can you ask local papers or media channels to
stop from reporting or discussing the remarks made by MM Lee about
Malaysian Chinese?
I say this coz comments published in Singapore (supporting MM's
comments) are made from a skewed angle and do not take into account
the historical reasons.
The comments so far are made by Chinese Singaporeans who do not
really understand the issues. They also seem to suggest that
similar problems do not exist in Singapore when, in fact, Singapore
Malays in their own motherland, Singapore, are treated more
dismally that Malaysian Chinese in the land of Malay Bumis.
Indeed, if this issue is to continue, then it is only fair to show
that Chinese leaders in Singapore are doing greater injustice to
Singapore Malays than Malay Malaysian leaders to Malaysian
Chinese.
The Malaysian Chinese are not bumis in Malaysia yet they get nearly
every thing:
a) Right to have Chinese vernacular education from preschool to
university.
b) Right to retain their Chinese names [The Chinese in Indonesia
and Thailand get nothing of that sort. Worse, they have to have
Thai or Indonesian names]
c) Right to display Chinese names in Chinese characters in huge
public adverts in buildings and public places
d) In development projects, they reap early profits as all projects
require infrastructures and these materials are controlled by
Malaysian Chinese
e) Voting strength by constituencies also show so many Chinese
advantage.
It is good for us not to say that Malaysian Chinese are
"marginalized".
If they want to talk about marginalization or injustices, it is
better that they talk about Singapore Malays who, in their own
motherland, are marginalized and subject to so many
injustices:
1. Malay language has lost its stature in the State and
industry
2. Chinese language has now become a universal precondition in
employment
2. Malays are "cordoned off" in National Service. Many key security
sites are out-of-bounds to Malays [Even Malay Ministers and MP's
are not allowed to enter such areas]
3. The Civil Defence takes in high proportion of Malays considering
the lower stature of CD and the higher death and injury risk in CD
services
4. No Malays are holding key positions in government and statutory
boards.
5. Malay MP's are given sinecures. In fact Malays are deemd fit
only to be Ministers in Sewerage, Drainage, Refuse, Welfare and
Drugs matters
6. Promotions and postings in government and statutory boards also
show the Singapore Chinese' disdain towards Singapore Malays
7. Recent retrenchments also reflected that Singapore Malays
"should go first"
8. Proportion of Singapore Malays who remained unemployed is high,
notwithstanding good educational and vocational
qualifications
9. Vast in-take of Chinese from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan into
Singapore but strict control of Malays from Malaysia and
Indonesia.
I hope your office would do something to stop thsi, or rectifiy the
matter by giving the issue its proper balance.
I cc this note to BH Singapore and Malaysia.
I do not cc to Straits Times as they do not publish letters of this
kind.
I cc to TODAY coz two strong letters were piblished in todays TODAY
edition.
Regards
Mansor Haji Sukaimi
Former Member of Parliament (1976-1984)
