Bangsa Malaysia
I don't get what the brouhaha that is all over the news recently over the concept of 'bangsa Malaysia'. Like a Health Minister who said it is to be differentiated between the concept of citizenship and race. Unfortunately, the word 'bangsa' may metaphorically or otherwise, using poetic licence or otherwise, be construed as citizens albeit with some stretched interpretation. Generally, it means race (as stated in the Kamus Dewan 3rd ed, but am not sure of the recent 4th ed) but it can also mean "kumpulan manusia dalam satu ikatan ketatanegaraan" Don't we all follow the same "Rukun Negara" ? Regardless of whether you're a Malay, Indian, Chinese and whatnot..
Don't we come under this "bangsa Malaysia" ?
Semantics aside, there is a simple solution to all this. If you live in Australia/born bred there/obtain citizenship there = you're an Australian. If you're in Canada, you're a Canadian. If you're in Malaysia, you're a Malaysian. "Warganegara" Malaysia and "Bangsa" Malaysia does not really make much of a difference does it? Unless you want to drag the race issue in and start harping on equity and rights and privileges. Notwithstanding the special rights/privileges granted in the Constitution, we are still from one country and we are still its citizens. Is calling "Bangsa Malaysia" so wrong? No doubt the constitution as it was then drafted did not contain "bangsa malaysia" but times change. We are more globalised and dynamic now. People marry into other races. Love is universal. All that jazz. And you still have the nerve to start criticising and finger-point from that secluded corner under that ancient coconut shell?
Don't we come under this "bangsa Malaysia" ?
Semantics aside, there is a simple solution to all this. If you live in Australia/born bred there/obtain citizenship there = you're an Australian. If you're in Canada, you're a Canadian. If you're in Malaysia, you're a Malaysian. "Warganegara" Malaysia and "Bangsa" Malaysia does not really make much of a difference does it? Unless you want to drag the race issue in and start harping on equity and rights and privileges. Notwithstanding the special rights/privileges granted in the Constitution, we are still from one country and we are still its citizens. Is calling "Bangsa Malaysia" so wrong? No doubt the constitution as it was then drafted did not contain "bangsa malaysia" but times change. We are more globalised and dynamic now. People marry into other races. Love is universal. All that jazz. And you still have the nerve to start criticising and finger-point from that secluded corner under that ancient coconut shell?
