-Dr. S. Ramakrishnan, February 18, 2015.

Army Chief General Raja Mohamed Affandi’s statement on the recruitment of non-Malays including non-Muslims from Sabah and Sarawak as below expectation is not new. Earlier on the 26/10/2010 Ahmad Zahidi gave non-patriotism as a reason for non-Malays not joining the forces. Similar comments were made on 17 Sept 2002 by the then Defense Minister Datuk Najib Tun Razak. Umno Ministers have been making similar comments as and now to drive the message that non-Malays are not patriotic and that they are more interested in making money and leave the country’s security to their Malay brothers. Besides blaming non-Malays, these Umno ministers have never made any attempt to find out why the numbers dwindled.

Malaysian had illustrious and decorated officers both Malays and non-Malays. The army had about 15 Non-Malay generals, Navy about 12 non-Malay Lakshamanas and 14 non-Malay generals from the Air forces. The first local naval chief was Commodore T.Thanabalasingham. Every thinking Malaysian knows that there has been covert and informal policies by the government to employ only Malays at the expense of the non-Malays since 1970. After Mahathir taking over the Umno leadership, the cornerstone of recruitment policy was ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy). Non-Malays were and are leap frogged when comes to promotion and application forms of non-Malays go to dustbin while the Malays’ go to the recruitment desk.

Many well performing non-Malay officers were over looked and overtaken by their juniors many times shattering these non-Malay officers dignity. Furthermore the islamisation and non-merit race based promotion in civil service lead to many non-Malays turning away from the civil and uniformed services. Despite the racial policies Umno claims without any guilt that they are fair to all Malaysians regardless of race and religion. This is dishonesty and hiding facts with fictions. The current racial composition in the civil and uniform services is proof of past biased policies. 1Malaysia and other cheerful slogan chanting are made to hood wink the outsiders from knowing actual situation. 1.5 million Skilled and capable Malaysians are working outside the country strengthening other countries and MNCs. But Umno ministers and their supporters will continue to blame and find fault with the non-Malays, to divert the attention from their economic and political failures.

Security is the concern of every Malaysian regardless of race and religion. But the Umno government believes that the ketuanan Melayu (Malay Supremacy) will lead the Malays into being wealthiest and don’t need others. Even the Bumiputras of Sabah and Sarawak are discriminated against, as most of them are Christians. The Malays connected to Umno increased their economic share and wealth disproportionately while the unconnected remain poor and ignorant. Umno uses race and religion to instill fear among the village Malay masses by creating bogey enemy of non-Malays. Once this myth is busted the truth will dawn upon this folks.

Racial preferences have perpetuated nepotism, prejudices and distorted world views among Malaysian society. With the changing and evolving geopolitics and economy, Umno’s outdated policies will stand exposed. It’s matter of time and they know it too. The valor, contributions and sacrifices of the Chinese, Indians and our east Malaysian brothers and sisters towards the sovereignty and security of Malaysia is purposely omitted and subdued. Due to the discriminative public policies the uniform services have lost many talented and capable Malaysians. The loser is Malaysia.