Book Launch, MIDAS Dialogue @ UCSI University

In trying to promote unity in diversity and to celebrate Malaysia’s multi-ethnicity and collectiveness under the guise of Bangsa Malaysia, 1Malaysia or Multiethnic Malaysia, the Malaysian Institute for Development and Asian Studies (MIDAS) at UCSI University organized a dialogue on Malaysian multiplicity which coincided with the official launch of a new book titled: Multiethnic Malaysia: Past, Present and Future.

Present at the event were Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Member of Parliament for Gua Musang, Tan Sri Musa Mohamad, Chairman of UCSI University Foundation, Peter Ng, President of UCSI University, Dr. Lim Teck Ghee and Associate Professor Dr. Alberto Gomes, co-editors of the book and Dr. K. J. John, Director of MIDAS.

In his welcome speech, the President Peter T.S Ng congratulated MIDAS for initiating the event. He further acknowledged the multiethnic and multicultural community that exists in UCSI University with staff and students from more than 70 countries around the world. Thus, a natural platform to launch the book Multiethnic Malaysia: Past, Present and Future.

The book features contributions from a distinguished team of independent scholars which are aimed to provide a definitive survey of race interaction, ethnicity, nationalism and politics in Malaysia. It also examines the historical roots of national and ethnic identity, the sources of conflict and social cohesion in this society.

In delivering his keynote address, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah reminded his audience how unique Malaysia is and acknowledged how races have come together to live in peace and harmony.

“Malaysia, for all its frustrations and perils, is truly special. We are a coming together of communities, cultures, traditions and religions unlike anything anywhere else,” He further stated, “it is not in political sloganeering or in tourist jingo’s that we find our special nature. We recover it only by paying attention to the concrete details of our everyday life and our particular history.”

He also reiterated how Malaysia came through consultations with various interest groups in the country and how they all united under a Federal Constitution that was acceptable to everyone at the time of independence. His believe is that the Malaysian constitution is the greatest safeguard of fundamental liberties of all Malaysians.

“The constitution is the ultimate safeguard of our fundamental liberties. These are liberties which cannot be taken away.” he said.

Meanwhile, the dialogue which had a panel of experts in their respective fields consisting of Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, a high-powered, high-profile advocate for good governance, democracy and human rights, Dr. Asma Abdullah who has written and published more than 40 articles on culture, women, training and development, Dr. Beth Baikan, an Environmentalist Consultant, Dr. Helen Ting, a research fellow at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS) and Ms. Tricia Yeoh, a Research Officer for the Selangor Chief Minister.

The panel of intellectuals discussed issues that centered on politics, race, religion, culture diversity and national unity.

Throwing more light on the panel’s discussion, Dr. Alberto Gomes, Associate Professor at La Trobe University Australia said that for the country to move forward and achieve greatness, Malaysians must learn to love one another. He said that racial barriers must be eliminated and all Malaysians should see themselves as one race rather than identifying with individual races such as Chinese, Indian or Malay. He said if that happens, then the country would grow from strength to strength.