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Multiculturalism's Rhetoric: A Breeding Ground for Racism?

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rights-posterA multicultural society, is most often an outcome of historical processes which brings together different peoples, cultures and religion to live together under one modern nation-state space . The history of the nation-state of Malaysia is today a potpouri of  different people coming in waves through different times of history dating back as far as 500 years ago to more recent colonization history of the British. The transition into independence saw an agreed framework for common citizenship for all in the country.  This was the path to creating a national identity.

56 years after independence, this task of nation-building and creation of a national identity still remains a daunting task and fraught with all kinds political, economic  and social hurdles.

Many believe that these divisions within society had been created for the past 56 years by the political structures that continues to operate within division of economic and politics that is based on race classifications. This is visible through  laws, policies and practise that perpetuate this racial borders within the nation.

In a multicultural society, role of governance and politics is crucial in shaping or reshaping the nation. Alas we are offered rhetoric’s but lack substantial political will to reshape this nation. Nevertheless, the emerging new political worldview is challenging the old notions of race based politics.

We remain seeking answers of the “sell”  of Malaysia a true nation of different ethnicity and cultures; and the reality of the exploitation of race politics to the detriment of the nation.

Is multiculturalism rhetoric’s a contributing factor in not addressing the real racism issues in Malaysia? 

 

Comments (3)
  • Gulliver

    blah,blah,blah,blah,apa ini? new version of Manglish ah? see what 56 years of dumbing down of the education system in favour of 1Race in Msia does to you? can't even speaking the proper English; welcome to the 21st century
    apart from the apostrophe,I can't really follow what the heck you guys are talking about in your precise or is it something else?
    c'mon CPI, what the heck are you doing?

  • Clive Kessler

    Why did I [over]react in that way to that recent apostrophe? Well, it’s a bit late now to complain, but .. .. .. I refer to that other forum on “Islamic State: Which Version: Who’s Responsibility?” in Subang Jaya on Nov 3. Either “Who’s Responsible?” or “Whose Responsibility?” but not “Who’s responsibility?”

  • Clive Kessler

    Is multiculturalism rhetoric’s a contributing factor in not addressing the real racism issues in Malaysia?

    Sorry to get pedantic, grumpy. But please, “rhetorics”, not “rhetoric’s”. Yet the apostrophe is the least of the matter. It’s the central substantive point that’s the big worry. People really need to be, and to make it, clear what they are talking about, how they are using words/concepts, before they leap into dramatic statements about multiculturalism, and start suggesting that it is or may be a legitimate cause of bigotry. Some uses/[mis]appropriations of “multiculturalism” may lend themselves to that sort of thing. But there are many senses, more usual and generally recognized senses, of the term that do not. Allowing, even assisting, this sort of glib sloganeering to be promoted, and enjoy uncontested circulation, does not do damage simply to the term “multiculturalism” [whatever it may mean]. Far worse, it encourages, “licenses”, all sorts of outright, ignorant bigotry [which is what you are all presumably trying to prevent or discourage]. That is far worse. Important philosophical and basic social theory concepts must be handled with care. There must be some respect for competent expertise — especially when one has in mind the unleashing of potentially fateful argument about basic, and basically contested, ideas in a deeply troubled and divided society, one facing the prospect of painful eruption, such as Malaysia today. Is that what people wish to detonate? I do not say that these things should not be discussed. They must be. But they must be treated carefully and intelligently, with the benefit of the insights, and fastidious intellectual care and conceptual clarity, of the best expertise. Amateur diagnosis and surgery, in this case as in others, can easily do untold harm.

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