Press statement by MCA Deputy Secretary-General and Tanjong Piai Member of Parliament Datuk Wee Jeck Seng

Raja Arif went against PM's stance: Chinese, Indians, Ibans, Kadazans – We’re are all Malaysian citizens

National Civics Bureau (BTN) director Raja Arif Raja Ali's statements in a press conference during the so-called 'National Patriotic Conference'   that there is nothing wrong to describe the Chinese, Indians, Iban and Kadazan as pendatang because these are historical facts which cannot be denied and that Malaysia 'should opt for single-stream education system' are disappointing and shows that he is completely ignorant about the true meaning of patriotism.

Malaysian Chinese and Indians are the outright citizens of this country. Malaya, and later Malaysia exists and thrives today as a result of the hard work and perseverance of our peoples who comprise a multi-racial set-up, including the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Iban, indigenous groups and all other peoples in fighting for independence from the British colonial government and building it up from scratch.

As such, this country belongs not to a single race but to all Malaysians. In addition, there is no single 'immigrant' (pendatang) race here. Malaysians who are born and raised here are Malaysian citizens. Our loyalty to Malaysia cannot be disputed, much less erased. This is a historical fact and the spirit of moderation, inclusiveness and diversity which were taken into account in the drafting and then enshrined in the Federal Constitution. 

We are angered by Raja Arif who as a senior civil servant, nevertheless fails to understand the true meaning of patriotism. Raja Arif lacks professionalism as he has had clearly contravened Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak's earlier statement that, no Malaysian citizen should be labelled a pendatang.

His advocating for a single-stream education to allegedly enhance national unity also shows his ignorance about the true meaning of unity as even countries practising single-stream education system are not 100% united.

The real culprit on national disunity is not education per se but racists who provoke racial sentiments. We sincerely advise Raja Arif, being the BTN director, to endeavour to find ways to educate the extremists, correct their thinking and inculcate national unity and harmony instead.

Datuk Wee Jeck Seng
MCA Deputy Secretary-General
Member of Parliament for Tanjong Piai

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