But what Sabahan has to realise is that its not too late although its a daunting task. While galvanising the fractious groups in Sabah, they cannot underestimate reaching out to Malay Muslims in Sabah – the cornerstone of UMNO power. Sell the message to the Malays Muslim that they are better off in an inclusive state that is fair to all than one that is corrupted although it supposedly favour them. Sell the message that the corrupted regime of UMNO/BN does not include them by pointing to Kelantan, Terengganu and many other pockets of PAS stronghold..

On the matter of nation building and identifying how different people may view “1 Malaysia”, it is important to clarify 3 concepts via metaphors: (1) “melting pot”, (2) “salad bowl” and (3) “Imperial Emperor’s Dish”.

1. Melting Pot: Its a metaphor for a plural/heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements “melting together” into a harmonious whole. It is particularly used to describe the assimilation of immigrants to the United States! It is not applicable here. Even during TDM’s time it has been abandoned. Minorities are not culturally absorbed. They don’t want to be absorbed. Neither do majority want to absorb them or have plain give up trying! Chinese for example are culturally absorbed in Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines.

2. “Salad Bowl” is multiculturalism, which asserts that cultural differences within society are valuable – different cultures mix (on equal basis), but remain distinct. Better examples are Singapore, and (I am not sure) likely Switzerland!

3. “Imperial Emperor’s Dish” is also multiculturalism, which asserts that cultural differences within society are valuable but unlike “salad bowl” the different cultures mix on an unequal basis where one culture, the one of the dominant majpority group is deemed paramount and given, and continued to be given, state’s full support. Call it what one wishes – whether Cultural colonialism or imperialism it signifies internal domination by one group and its culture or ideology over the rest).

If one looks closely at the table of 1 Malaysia’s “one people, one nation, one dream” based on national “unity, harmony, the prerequisite of prosperity”, all these can, with cogence, be argued to exclude the “Melting Pot” but include both the “Salad Bowl” and the Imperial Emperor’s Dish. Now if Sin Chew or Non Malays interpret “1 Malaysia” as “Salad Bowl” and Utusan and UMNO right wingers, “Imperial Emperor’s Dish”, can “1 Malaysia” reach its destination via 3 stages“ of one people, one nation, one dream” based on national “unity, harmony, the prerequisite of prosperity”?

For 50 years, there is this disjunct between majority & minority groups in perceiving what nation building means whether under motto of Bangsa Malaysia, Vision 2020 or now 1 Malaysia! Nothing has changed (except political rhetoric) unless those who prescribe it come out openly to say it means the “Salad Bowl” because is healthier for the diet of the body politic instead of the high Cholesterol Imperial Emperor Dish!

It depends on what ‘1Malaysia’ exactly means. Problem is it may be opened to all kinds of interpretations.

Lets hear from the Horse’s mouth: The MalaysianInsider’s report by Clara Chooi of 28th Feb under caption “Najib’s 1 Malaysia means total acceptance of diversity” has reference.

The PM says there are 3 stages: First, tolerance, with each community tolerant of the other. However that’s not enough. From passive tolerance we make transition to second stage ie acceptance of differences/diversity from our pluralistic races and cultures. This (passive acceptance) again is not enough. The third apex stage is when we make transition from acceptance of differences/diversity to a “celebration” (ie active appreciation) of the differences/diversity. Although national harmony can prevail in all 3 stages, permanent “unity, harmony and prosperity” is attained in 3rd stage. I think that’s what he means to say.

In these senses, one set of Chinese New Year greetings by the “stand-alone” Sabah MCA Chairman and another set of Chinese New Year greetings “featuring the lame-duck MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat & his clique may not be compatible with MCA unity but is not necessarily incompatible with national unity, harmony and prosperity”.

What is more interesting – and controversial -in what PM says is this: certain groups may embark on separate pathways – hence Sin Chew and Utusan Malaysia may take a different paths – but what is important is that all Malaysians converge and reach that final destination of “one people, one nation, one dream” based on national “unity, harmony, the prerequisite of prosperity”.

The Question to ask is whether this is possible (arriving at same destination) having regard to the Sin Chew and Utusan Malaysia’s going separate parts.

I submit whether possible or not depends on definition of what that ‘ final destination’ is.

Can’t proponents of Ketuanan also identify with ‘1 Malaysia’ if ‘ final destination’ is defined as “one people, one nation, one dream” based on “unity, harmony and prosperity” under Malay hegemony??? (So far nothing that proponents of 1 Malaysia say is dismissive of Ketuanan!)

Yeah, right. UMNO’s lying tongue is as as meandering and as dirty as the Klang River. (sorry to borrow West Malaysian landscape).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashmir_Princess