On a few previous occasions, we’ve had politicians say “unintentionally” or were “misquoted” in saying that Chinese in Malaysia are mere immigrants “pendatang” and should leave if they aren’t happy with the way they are treated. Many have but many remain.
No regard was given to the Chinese who gave their lives for the security we have today. Today, I read the Star Metro and a statement by a British war veteran who fought here during the Emergency made me pause:-
For the first three years, he said, he and his comrades became drill sergeants, training volunteers recruited from Malay villages to protect the planters and tin miners being targeted by the communists.
At one point, the local police were taking “a terrible beating”, but Turnbull believes that the tide began turning when the Chinese started joining the police force.
Most of these recruits, armed with their Senior Cambridge School Certificates, had even lied to their mothers to join the force and the Special Branch, Turnbull quipped.
Coming from an independant person who had nothing to gain by coming here when he was just 22 years old to fight a war that did involve him, I wished the irresponsible politicians who made the inflammatory statements would read it.
People of all races laid down their lives for the country. When they first arrived, they were immigrants, I don’t deny. After a few generations, we are now all Malaysian and no one should make us feel any less so because most of us have known no other home except this one.
Its sad that the politicians still play on the race issue thereby keeping race at the forefront of everyone’s minds consciously or unconsciously. Should the day come when we have to lay down our lives for the country, what will the outcome be?
Personally, I’m not sure I’m quite prepared just yet to lay down a life for a country that does not consider me a full fledged citizen but always a “pendatang”.
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