A Patriot’s open letter to Dr Zainal Kling

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 8 Oct 2019 10:10PM · 6 Comments

“THERE is no such thing as a Social Contract,” said royal professor Ungku Aziz in The Star, May 12, 2008.

Dr Zainal King, you should know better. In the late 1970s you were lecturing at Universiti Malaya under vice-chancellor, royal professor Ungku Aziz.

Did you clarify with him on this so-called social contract? The answer is obviously, no, because there was no such contract to show.

The term “social contract” was used by Abdullah Ahmad (then Kok Lanas MP) in his “Malay dominance” speech at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs in 1986 (he did not use the term “Ketuanan Melayu”, which was a translation by the local Malay press).

Ever since then, the Chinese, and to a lesser extent, the Indians, have been held to ransom on this so-called social contract.

It is constantly used as a political weapon against the Chinese whenever an opportunity arises to remind them to be forever grateful for the granting of citizenship to non-Malays.

Now, let’s do the maths on citizenship.

In 1957, the census showed the total population of Malaya was 6.3 million, of which 2.3 million were Chinese.

Of this 2.3 million, more than half had already been given citizenship prior to August 31, 1957 by Gen Gerald Templer before he left for home after 28 months as High Commissioner and Director of Operations in Malaya.

Assuming the Chinese population then was 2.3 million, it means more than 1 million Chinese were already citizens prior to Merdeka.

To this number were added the thousands of Chinese living in Penang and Malacca, both British crown colonies, who became Malayan citizens automatically by operation of law on Merdeka Day.

Most of them, and the remaining Chinese residents granted citizenship later, would now be in their 90s or deceased.

To those born in this country, there is only one class of citizenship: no one is superior or subordinate to another; all are equal before the law.

Anyone who disputes this, whether Chinese or anybody else, should be dealt with in accordance with the laws of this country.

Stop harping on about citizenship and the social contract; it does not show good faith. We are all Malaysians.

Let me relate a small personal anecdote: recently, my wife and I were in transit in Changi Airport on the way home to KLIA.

At Changi Airport, we were in wheelchairs being looked after by the airport workers, a Chinese and an Indian man.

We chatted and they were very friendly. At KLIA, we were also wheeled by two airport workers. Again, they were very friendly and we chatted.

Just before they left us, my wife tipped both of them. I then casually asked her why she had not tipped those two in Singapore.

Her answer: these are our people. Incidentally, they were young Malay women. I kept quiet. In my heart, I knew she was a real Malaysian.

Zainal, if you are headed towards becoming a full-time politician, remember that no man is an island.

Cherish our beloved multiracial, multicultural country. Please contribute positively to nation-building.

On a personal note, may I say I served my King and country for 34 years, beginning with the First King, Tuanku Abdul Rahman, and ending with the ninth Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Azlan Shah. My service covered the First Emergency, Congo Peacekeeping Mission (two tours), Confrontation, May 13 Troubles and the Second Emergency, often putting my life on the line.

I am a proud Malaysian and a patriot.

Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku!

* Lt Col (rtd) Tan Siew Soo reads The Malaysian Insight

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.

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Comments

  • Dear Lt Col
    I admire your heartfelt op- piece.
    Unfortunately, racists like Zainal couldnt care less; they are only bent on milking whatever social fault lines they could take advantage of, to further their political and financial ends.

    As a nation, we have been forced to put up with this predicament for a long time. But the snowball effect gained momentum when Hishammuddin raised the keris at the UMNO assembly. No one from the ruling government then reprimanded him. And because of the failure to nip the racial rhetoric at the bud by the powers that be, the extremists remain emboldened.

    And now we have the Prime Minister attend the conference, which pretty much validates the gathering.

    The real issue in Malaysia - and specifically, Putrajaya- we do not have statesman-like leaders governing. Much the coterie of Pakatan cabinet yahoos are a huge letdown; maybe even more so that those from the UMNO-BN era. Bcos PH rode on the promise of being the exact opposite of UMNO. As you can, nothing has changed.
    I am now tempted to believe that cliched but apparently true adage: Q - When is a politician not lying? A - When his lips are not moving.
    Doesnt matter which side of the divide they come; most of them pretty much prove the adage to be true.
    Looks like the struggle for a New Malaysia is not over. In fact, Im not even sure if a New Malaysia did dawn the day after GE 14.

    Posted 6 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • In 1968, during a meeting preparing for the opening ceremony of the new secondary school in Sg. Pelek, Tun Razak our DPM reprimanded the DO when he used the term 'Orang Asing' for the non Malays in the seating arrangement briefing. How things have changed since then. How are we ever going to defend this country from any external enemy with so much of bullying and hate going on.

    Posted 6 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply

  • As long as we don't call ourself as one entity, 'Malaysian' as equal and fair under the Constitution, we will be divided and self destructing and the country will fall apart.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Rodger that Sir.

    Posted 6 years ago by G.Selva Ganeson · Reply

  • Well written sir!!

    Posted 6 years ago by Lan Lan · Reply

  • It all started after Tan Siew Sin and Manikavasagam when there was a change in leadership. Both MCA and MIC were too busy looking after individual's own interest so much so that what was put to them were accepted hook line and sinker. When they objected they were told to accept and given plush contracts as incentive hence as time goes the ' social contract' was 'coined' to make it easier to steam roll their objectives. They became bolder and demanded that the sons of the soil be given favoritism over the Nons due to the social contract.

    Posted 6 years ago by Justin Leno · Reply