UPM's Chinese-language society banned
A Chinese language and culture society in UPM has been refused registration and barred from organising activities for its members on campus.
According to the society's president, the purpose of establishing a Chinese-language society was to promote the language and Chinese culture to students and the community. There is no restriction of membership to Chinese and its activities are open to all students.
However...
UPM's student affairs deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Azali Mohd was quoted in the society's bulletin as saying registration was dis-allowed because the society was only for one race and language."Malaysia is a multiracial country. A race-based society would disunite the people," he was quoted as saying.
Let's see what other clubs and societies that UPM has sanctioned. Let's see if these clubs and societies cater for ALL races and ALL languages.
Go here to see the list of clubs and societies on UPM's website:
http://www.upm.edu.my/?aktvt=content&kat=X&kod=20061114318164114172165447
Here are some that I've picked out:
Clubs and societies in which only one race will ever be interested:
o Kelab Bahasa Arab
o Persatuan Seni Silat Cekak Malaysia
o Persatuan Seni Silat Cekak Hanafi UPM
o Persatuan Seni Silat Lincah UPM
o Persatuan Seni Silat Gayung
o Persatuan Seni Silat Sendeng
o Kelab Caklempong
o Kelab Kompang Seni Warisan
o Kelab Kijang Emas (Dikir Barat)
o Kelab Nasyid Nahwan Nur
o Kelab Rebana UbiClubs and societies that are race or religion specific :
o Kelab Tarian Klasik India (Putra Kalashektra)
o Kelab Nahwar Nur
o Persatuan Hindu
o Persatuan Buddhist
o Ikatan Kristian
o Persatuan KatholikClubs that only one race will ever be qualified to join:
o Kelab Alumni Matrikulasi UPM
Therefore, with so many sanctioned organisations for specific racial groups... how can the vice-chancellor justify saying that UPM only allows clubs and societies that cater to ALL races and languages? If a Chinese language and culture society is banned on this basis, shouldn't the ones above (which are equally as guilty of being racially exclusive) be banned as well?
In addition, UPM is not exactly a showpiece of racial integration, is it now? How can we forget the UPM canteen racial harassment incident back in July 2006?
4 comments:
Do you really believe only one race would want to join those clubs? My kids are not Malay but if they were attending college here, I can see more than one club on the list they might want to join.
Well, never mind. We don't plan on staying here that long anyway.
You seem to feel that Malaysia really infringes upon the rights of non-Muslims. Perhaps you are right. This is NOT an Islamic state so they shouldn't pretend otherwise. I gave up on my non-muslim homeland and came here on a short term contract because I wanted to live in a place where I could be a Muslim without anyone getting jumpy or calling me names.
I'm curiuos to know; do you think that things are getting progressively worse for non-Muslims in Malaysia?
This was a comment back in May which I failed to notice. But I think the commentator has put forward some good questions and deserves some answers:
>>>>> Do you really believe only one race would want to join those clubs? My kids are not Malay but if they were attending college here, I can see more than one club on the list they might want to join. >>>>>
And that's fine. I'm a bit miffed that UPM doesn't see the Chinese Language club as the type of club that would appeal to other races, while clubs like the ones I listed (which are propagating the very same philosophy) have no such issues from UPM' mgt.
Why is it that a Chinese-based club is seen as race-exclusive, but Malay-based clubs are seen as "opportunities for all races to get together?"
>>>>> You seem to feel that Malaysia really infringes upon the rights of non-Muslims. Perhaps you are right. This is NOT an Islamic state so they shouldn't pretend otherwise. I gave up on my non-muslim homeland and came here on a short term contract because I wanted to live in a place where I could be a Muslim without anyone getting jumpy or calling me names. >>>>>
Again, that's not a problem. You should have the freedom to practice your religion without 'anyone getting jumpy or calling you names.'
However, in Malaysia, there are certain groups and individuals (and I like to think of them as a small minority) who feel that they CANNOT be Muslim without getting jumpy about non-Muslims and calling them names.
That's who I'm against. Those who feel that honouring one's religion (or race) must come from the diminution of everyone else's religions (or race).
>>>>> I'm curiuos to know; do you think that things are getting progressively worse for non-Muslims in Malaysia? >>>>>
Let's put it this way. 50 years ago, millions of Chinese and Indians made Malaysia their permanent homes so that they could enjoy freedom of religion, language, culture and economic opportunities.
Today, 50 years on, they are migrating overseas to enjoy those same exact freedoms and opportunities.
So, you tell me.
this UPM incident's really disturbing. Seriously Malaysia ..what will you be in the coming future? malays malays... why act so naively? yer such a fool.. but anyway, with increasing number of chinese migrating elsewhere now, YAY, i hope u will survive with only the help frm 'the above'.. im so damn glad tht im outta tht place, i mean, y stay when yer being bullied/not appreciated all the time? so yea malaysia, i only miss ur mamak..ur food.. we can only hav a one-night-stand relationship frm now on haha.
p.s Malaysia bleh. send more angkasawan, it sure does help the economy LOL
Those hooligans are malays and i would say that they never excel in anything other than opressing the other ethnic groups of the country,to date more than 2.5 million of chinese and indian had emigrated to other countries because of the racist policies of the gov,the proof?In the memoir of Lee Kuasn Yew: From Third World to First,when he asked Abdul Razak about the "brain Drain" of Malaysia to countries like Australia and the US,Abdul Razak lamely replied that it is a "Troble Drain",they drain out the troublt from the country,if that is the remark from a Prime Minister,there's no doubt that the Malays scorn the presence of the chinese and indian in the country...the malays are bunch of incompetent people as a whole,without the quotas,and everything,they are nothing but a race that is destine to fail.........
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