1Malaysia an empty slogan

Obviously the Prime Minister sings one tune, and spends millions of ringgit on it's promotion and propagation, and yet, it comes to nothing as the events of this week has transpired.

For those not in the know, Subang Jaya Assemblywoman Hannah Yeoh along with her husband, Ramachandran Muniandy has just celebrated the birth of their daughter. With parents of mix-parentage, they attempted to register the child's race as "Anak Malaysia". However, the National Registration Department flat out refused to entertain such a 'preposterous' notion that the parents couldn't tick a box next to Malay, Chinese or Indian. Even the option of 'other' was not possible, and after a massive amount of arguing, they had to relent and register their child as Chinese.

One would have thought after all this racial marginalisation since independence, we would finally have a Prime Minister who understands that although we are a multi-racial, multi-cultural society, the reality is that Malaysians have evolved into once race and no longer need to call themselves Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan, Bugis and the like.

We thought that 1Malaysia which Najib had developed was supposed to place all Malaysians in the same steed. The DAP were a little worried that he stole the idea from the DAP, and he was going to adopt the idea to apply to BN. Fortunately or unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth.

Over the past 3 years, Malaysia has become more divided along racial lines, the old gripes resurfacing and politicians deliberately using racial sentiment for political gain while causing division. In 21st century Malaysia, this is simply unacceptable.

The NRD in their flat our refusal to accept "Anak Malaysia" seems contradictory to the PM's message, but we shouldn't be so surprised. In fact, the PM has no interest to unite the country, but to divide it in order to remain in power. 1Malaysia basically means that we should all unite during polling day to vote for BN and sink back and watch them rape and pillage the country under the New Economic Model.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng sums up the whole "Anak Malaysia" case in this quote:

"Forcing Hannah and Ramachandran to choose either "Indian or Chinese is repugnant when they just want their child to be known as Malaysian."

"They have striven to let Malaysians see that we should never allow BN to corrupt young minds with obsolete and dangerous racist ideology that one's child is never good enough and must be forever dependant on the tongkat or that they will never be rewarded for their good performances no matter how deserving they are just because they come from a certain race."

Deputy Prime Minister Muyhiddin Yasin in March 2010 when asked by Karpal Singh whether he was a Malay or Malaysian first to which he replied:

"I am Malay first, but being Malay doesn't mean I am not Malaysian," he said. "How can I say I'm Malaysian first and Malay second? All the Malays will shun me... and it's not proper,".

This shows us that some things never change.

Barisan Nasional have accused Pakatan Rakyat to be divisive by playing racial politics and that they are incapable of governing properly. That's rich. UMNO, MCA and MIC which form the core of Barisan Nasional are the most racist parties in the country, by having 'race' based membership. BN wants Malays to be Malay first, and like wise for the Chinese and Indians. Keeping the divisions keeps the people in line, which is exactly what they want.

Lim Guan Eng once again sums it up:

"Clearly BN is so racist that being a Malay first, Chinese first or Indian first is more important than being a Malaysian first.

"By deliberately forcing us into ethnic boxes BN is not celebrating diversity nor creating a common Malaysian identity, but opportunistically playing divide and rule politics."

I wish Shay Adora Ram all the best, and I pray that she can grow up in a country not governed by bigots.

Salam 1Malaysia.