Malaysia NU

Question 1

Malaysia Politics

Answer 1

Politicisation of Ethnicity: Agong as symbolism of Malay political dominance; chosen from sultans every 5 years who were also seen as protectors of Malay privilege
Despite Alliance consisting of multiple ethnic groups, preservation of Malay supremacy got in the way of multiculturalism
Under Barisan Nasional from 1971, used shrinking of political debate regarding Malay rights and national language led to suppression of outright conflicts

Question 2

Malaysia Ideological Policies

Answer 2

Rukunnegara (Accommodative): National ideology in response to the 1969 racial riots. Serve as a focus for multi ethnic population; based on belief in god, loyalty to national, upholding constitution, rule of law and good behaviour and morality. Vague / Broad values that could be followed regardless of ethnicity and religion and used to destroy distinct cultural identities

Question 3

Malaysia Economic Policy for NU

Answer 3

NEP in 1971 designed to reduce poverty and remove identification of race with economic profile; aimed at affirmative action towards Malay to equalise economic profile of Malay and Chinese
However inherent preferential treatment led to discriminatory policies against Chinese and others in terms of Uni appointments and promotions

Question 4

Malaysian Language Policy

Answer 4

Declaration of Bahasa Malay as national language and phasing of English out of schools
Conversion of English to Malay language schools, and Malay as the sole language of instruction
Boarding schools set up specifically for Malays

Question 5

Minorities of Malaysia

Answer 5

Chinese: Chinese schools supplied with Malay texts. Chinese protested against the barriers faced in higher education and forced Govt to create College where medium of instruction was English
Indian: Tamil schools were poorly funded and coni tubes the poverty of Indians in Malaysia
Orang Asli: Constant denial and loss of land rights and are presumed to be backwards. Some attempts at integration, yet only in late 1990s

Question 6

Minorities of Malaysia

Answer 6

Chinese: Chinese schools supplied with Malay texts. Chinese protested against the barriers faced in higher education and forced Govt to create College where medium of instruction was English
Indian: Tamil schools were poorly funded and coni tubes the poverty of Indians in Malaysia
Orang Asli: Constant denial and loss of land rights and are presumed to be backwards. Some attempts at integration, yet only in late 1990s