Racial Unity Debate.

[chenchow]

Information Ministry has initiated this series of Racial Unity Debate to raise public awareness on the need to inculcate the spirit of solidarity among the people

The first one was last week featuring Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, Pas secretary-general Nasharuddin Mat Isa, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and MIC Social Strategic Foundation executive director Dr Denison Jayasooria. Topic was "Racial solidarity is key to national prosperity".

And the second one today would feature Perak Umno Youth head and state exco member Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, JUST World Trust director Dr Chandra Muzaffar, Kepong MP and DAP deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw and Datuk Dr Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid who is Humanities and Social Science Faculty dean of Universiti Tun Abdul Razak. Topic is "The level of racial unity in Malaysia"

What do you guys think of such debates? Is this a step forward in bringing Malaysian from different political forums to be debating on such issues?

It is screened live on TV1 at 9pm from Angkasapuri and anyone can get to go to Angkasapuri to be an audience and asked any question uncensored.

[Thirdshifter]

it is definetely the right step. Talking about the Issue directly will help everyone understand where you stand.

What do you think about it Chenchow?

[jiinjoo]

That makes me curious - is TV1 programmes streamed off the web as well or is anyone going to tape it?

Is this a step forward in bringing Malaysian from different political forums to be debating on such issues?
Yes. Definitely. Not a big step but it is a step forward not backward. The existence of conversations in crucial after an era of silence. But again, you know what the largest step forward would be? Not just political figures but Everyone should start having such conversations.

In schools for example, such conversations are definitely a good thing. In community centers, public gathering spots, work forums, etc. everywhere, people should be discussing about this, not just a few people on TV.

The reason is that if we only have political figures communicate, we're still in what's called the "Racial Consensual Democracy", where the elite from eac race come together to make consensus, then go back to their respective groups to relay the concensus. No interaction between the groups actually has to happen. This works, but it won't break the racial barrier as they would hope.

An online forum like ReCom is also a step in the right direction, but it won't be enough.

[chenchow]

TV1 is streamed off the web.
http://www.rtm.net.my/english/web/users/login.php

You would need to sign up for a free account.

On this issue, I agree with what Jiin Joo is saying, having that debate on media is a step forward, but eventually what matters most, is that all Malaysians are getting involved in this step.

One thing pointed out by the newspaper is that the audience of the forum is segregated, i.e. majority of the audience choose to sit with people of their own race.

Anyone has any idea on what ReCom could do in this effort? I think subconsciously ReCom is a step ahead, but it is a very small step.

[digimushu]

Racial unity....
I would love to see the answers by the different parties to a question based-off the recent comments of the vice-chancellor of UiTM...

Yes, recom is a small step, nevertheless..a step ahead. hopefully Malaysians will all be colorblind in the future.
:)

[Schye]

Although I didnt watch it yet but from what i heard, its more like a question-answer session rahter than a debate. However I think this is really a big step as its on TV1 ,our national channel. I think more similiar programmes will be carried out by other private television channels.

[chenchow]

The third debate is tonight 9/26 (9pm on TV1) between DAP MP for Bukit Mertajam Chong Eng will join Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah, Umno MP for Gerik Prof Datuk Dr Wan Hashim Wan Teh and PAS Youth head Salahuddin Ayub in the debate on ?Racial Interaction Enhances Unity?.

[wyeoh]

No one happens to know how one can watch it if they aren't in Malaysia eh? Any online link, delayed telecast, etc? I am so curious what they actually talk about. :)

[gonjeng]

damn this is definitely a step forward and the first step is always the hardest step. anyway, for the ppl to talk about it between each other is somewhat hard and risky, i think. while some of us are open minded, some of us are still not. the risk comes when the conversation involves a hard-core malay, chinese or even indians. things might get heated up and consequently ay end up in fighting and worsening the situation. you know, there are so many crazy ppl out there and some with their own nasty agendas. unless and only unless the talks are moderated, IMHO it may be hard.

maybe the teachers may want to start educating the youngsters about racial unity. at least, teach the students about the malay, chinese, indian, etc. culture so that they will understand and learn to respect.

ehh crap! i have more to say but got to go... anyway, what do you guys think? and uh uh, maybe if anybody could actually record the so-called debate and burn it into a cd, that would be great :) i want to watch it too, hehehe...

[qedx]

here's a couple:
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=93767
http://www.malvu.org/malvu/html/index.php?module=articles&func=display&aid=1148&ptid=5

i'm sorry to say I didnt watch it myself as I had a prior engangement (read:EPL :p)

EDIT: tonight got another one

[chenchow]

No one happens to know how one can watch it if they aren't in Malaysia eh? Any online link, delayed telecast, etc? I am so curious what they actually talk about. :)

Scroll up a few messages, there is a link of TV1 streaming. However, its bandwidth is not very big, so you may get the response of exceeding quota sometimes, if there are too many people trying to log in and stream.

[chenchow]

Since many of us in ReCom don't get to watch the debates or ask questions during the debates, perhaps it would be a good idea for us to debate/discuss these issues objectively here. I guess the main benefits derived would be to share awareness. Share your view points objectively, by looking into the context of our country - Malaysia, and hopefully this discussion could be useful in helping our country to develop further.

Topics that have been debated before.
T1:- Racial solidarity is key to national prosperity.
T2:- The level of racial unity in Malaysia.
T3:- Racial Interaction Enhances Unity.

I would start with T2, where I would say that the level of racial unity in Malaysia is still at a insufficient level. There is still a lot to be done. While I would like to portray a sense of perfectness, I have to say that it is really saddening that as we walk around Malaysia, we still see Malaysians of the same races flock together, whereever people go. I am not saying that all Malaysians are doing that, but we are not mingling sufficiently across races. It is really sad to read in the reports of NS that many of those students in NS, be it in any race, their first few real friends from other races, are only found during NS, when they are already 17 years old.

Perhaps a question to ask, why is this happening? How can we rectify this?

[zchen]

well...i am optimistic this can happen.but a lot will have to be done.my bet is that is things are going right,probably our children will be the first to enjoy inter racial bonds without much prejedice or whatsoever

self accessing questions:
1.what do you say when you are asked what race are you?
2.a 50-50 situation between two different races.will you pick your fellow 'compatriot' or the other?
3.in a hostel do you specially look for room mates of the same race?

it's just too bad many of us were educated wrongly
eg. <btw this is not me> when my neighbour was small,his mother used to bang into his head that if he's naughty,the indian uncle from opposite will kidnap him and take him away.well when you older,you realized it's no joke.sub conciously, you are actually afraid of the indian guy...the fear drilled into you by none other than your parents.

many things to be done...but i believe malaysians are more open nowadays...look at malaysian idol jac...if the racial factor is in she would have fat hope of landing the tittle.i believe small successes should be taken into account and further bettered.it can be done.
btw,i say my race is malaysian.the other two....i am not so sure...<haha negative thinking>

[Dr_Tay]

Equal opportunity in employment, in purchasing a home, in getting loans, in getting scholarships, in getting entry into universities, in owning a business etc etc etc

All these must be asked before you even start debating.

[misled_youth]

*hmph*
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[Benster]

many things to be done...but i believe malaysians are more open nowadays...look at malaysian idol jac...if the racial factor is in she would have fat hope of landing the tittle.i believe small successes should be taken into account and further bettered.it can be done.
btw,i say my race is malaysian.the other two....i am not so sure...<haha negative thinking>

But if u really consider both vic n dina's singing ability, you'll find tht vic is suppose to be in the final with jac but not dina. Even the commentators and judges did admit tht Vic has a better voice and singing ability plus appearance compared to Dina. Now the question is how did Dina manage to get over it? Sad to say but it's very clear that racial factor is one of the issues that most of us consider when we vote!! You can never deny this fact. Here you see the answer for the question i raised out.

[wendy]

many things to be done...but i believe malaysians are more open nowadays...look at malaysian idol jac...if the racial factor is in she would have fat hope of landing the tittle.i believe small successes should be taken into account and further bettered.it can be done.
btw,i say my race is malaysian.the other two....i am not so sure...<haha negative thinking>

But if u really consider both vic n dina's singing ability, you'll find tht vic is suppose to be in the final with jac but not dina. Even the commentators and judges did admit tht Vic has a better voice and singing ability plus appearance compared to Dina. Now the question is how did Dina manage to get over it? Sad to say but it's very clear that racial factor is one of the issues that most of us consider when we vote!! You can never deny this fact. Here you
see the answer for the question i raised out.

hey i personally think that Dina voice is way better than vic's one.
I mean I didn't even expect him to get into the top 3!
Btw i was rootin for jac all the way.she really deserve it! it's just too bad that world idol is not held this year,....or else jac could hav kick fantasia's butt !! haha