THE progenitor of the idea, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had this dream where Malaysians would identify themselves by their national identity first instead of ethnicity.

The idea was conceived during his first tenure as prime minister and announced in 1991 in his speech on Vision 2020, his manifesto for a developed Malaysia both economically and socially.

Nearly three decades later, and two years short of 2020, Dr Mahathir is prime minister again and Bangsa Malaysia remains a dream, he told The Malaysian Insight recently.

It will remain a dream as “the people are not doing their part”, the 93-year-old leader said.

The government wants it, he added, but whether Malaysians do is a different matter “as the majority wants to be identified by race”.

The 61st Merdeka anniversary today is timely to reflect if this is true and here is what several prominent Malaysians have to say:

Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and former National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) chairman:

We have to understand what model we have been applying since Independence. We don’t have a “melting pot” model like our neighbours Indonesia and the others.

We are a salad bowl. We still have our tomatoes, salad, carrots… we are rojak. Meanwhile in Indonesia, they have melted into something new, a Bangsa Indonesia.

We have maintained our racial identities and our education with national and vernacular schools. While we try to build a Bangsa Malaysia, we do not provide the room to be one. I am not saying our vernacular schools are not important. It is just that Indonesia does not have them if we make comparisons.

We cannot blame anyone. It is just that we have had our own model that maintain our diversity. That is also the challenge we face.

We may not want to be identified by our race, but the model we have installed in the country makes it so. We will continue to be so as long as we are divided by our race, racial politics and different schools. We want to move the barriers but they always push us back.

It is tricky. It is worse when we – Malays, Chinese, Indians and others – are racist in many ways. It makes the situation more difficult.

What we can do is nurture Malaysians who speak Malay as the official language, who share the same patriotism towards the nation, and who share the same vision of moving forward.

We have to think beyond race to be Bangsa Malaysia. The only chance we have is through a united feeling of patriotism towards Malaysia.

We cannot have more racial politics or politicians who play up such sentiments. Politicians have to go beyond race and lead by example.

Religious communities also must move beyond using religion in their racial thinking. Religious communities should be going on the universal values of humanity, which are present in all faiths.

It is not that we have achieved nothing in building the Bangsa Malaysia. We have progressed but every time, there will be someone pulling us back with some racial issue, some narrow and racial narrative of Malaysia. We always have hurdles when we deal with racial issues.

Ann Teo, Bersih Sarawak chairman, Rise of Sarawak Efforts (Rose) chairman:

The vision to be a colour-blind society is fine and well, but much more needs to be done by the government, and we the citizens.

How much is being done to encourage grassroots organisations such as the local temples, churches and schools or civil societies, to do interfaith works to have a better understand of people of other races?

It is good to begin with children and young people because race is a social construct. We need to build a whole new generation of Malaysians to see themselves as Malaysians and not prejudge people by their ethnic group.

In Sarawak, although our people are lauded for being more tolerant and united, if we are careless, the ugly side of the race and religion will creep in.

Also, while it may be considered a sensitive topic, the question remains on when the affirmative action policies that are in place will be reviewed.

In the words of a wise Malaysian, Burhanuddin al-Helmy, you can’t use a crutch forever. A crutch is to help you when your legs are not well.

Stanley Yee, former press secretary to former Sabah Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan:

A hundred laws and programmes will not bring about the Bangsa Malaysia concept as long as some races think they are superior to others and are not willing to assimilate and make compromises.

We need to open up Mara and make it more inclusive, do away the Biro Tata Negara, allow inter-racial marriages across religions and do away with the “ketuanan” mentality.

Tan Kok Chiang, Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) vice-president:

For Sarawakians, only when the three states are equal, then we are qualified to talk about the Malaysian nation. First comes equality of the states, and then second, racial equality.

Sarawak people are extremely angry that the federal government has modified the true history of the Federation of Malaysia. Since 1963, when Malaysia was formed, Malaysia is actually only 55 years old.

Marina Mahathir, social activist:

I think becoming a Malaysian will always be a work in progress.

Humans like to organise themselves into tribes, whether by age, interests, ideas, professions, whatever.

Race is the least relevant tribe of all because that’s not the only identity we carry. For instance I may be Malay but I’m also female, middle-aged, a mother, a writer, an activist, who likes movies, tennis, R&B music and could be grouped into any of these identity “tribes”.

I think young people are more inclined to identify themselves by these other identity markers than just race and I think they’re the most willing to think of themselves as Malaysian, unless someone drums it into them from young that they have to think of race as their most important identity.

Denison Jayasooria, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Institute of Ethics Studies:

I think we have failed to understand how Malaysia was formed in 1963 including the implications of the 1957 federal constitution.

By the constitution, we are all equal irrespective of our race or religion as per Article 3 and 8. We adopted not assimilation, but diversity and we must celebrate and appreciate this.

The provision in Article 153 is to address imbalances and assist the disadvantaged as an affirmative programme and not as a right of one community over another.

We must address real issues of poverty and inequality, including the outcome so as to ensure that no one is left behind. We must address the abuse of affirmative action so as to be transparent and accountable.

Our difficulty is that due to politics, certain groups are pushing and articulating issues based on race and religion. We have certain agencies which have propagated an exclusive and extreme understanding of our history, and therefore we must undo this not just at a thought level but by the way the administrative and political arm of government operates. It must operate from a dynamic of diversity.

To see ourselves as Malaysians first requires a mindset change that includes seeing each other as human beings in a common humanity.

But we need to recognise that our ethnicity and religion, including our history, is our heritage. This is who we are but that should not restrict us from engagement and partnership with others.

In this context, Malaysians must take responsibility in work or in sports and other aspects.

Political leadership is key and we must have leaders who have the political will and courage to take the lead in leading the nation.

The ratification of International Convention in the elimination of racial discrimination is key. We must benchmark ourselves from a global instrument. We must have key policies and mechanisms to address hate speeches and discriminatory practices through community mediation centres and effective enforcement.

Post GE14, the government is more committed to a multiracial approach but over the next two years (2019 and 2020), especially in the second part of the 11th Malaysia Plan, we must seek to make Malaysia more inclusive, where all ethnic and religious communities are appreciated.

We need to write up the history and contribution of all groups. We must display this. We can do this by ensuring a multiracial workforce in the private sector and public sector. We must be able to receive complaints of discrimination and address them. – August 31, 2018.