21st February 2024
Press Statement : Chinese in Malaysia are citizens, foremost
Press Statement
Wednesday, 21 February 2024
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Chinese in Malaysia are citizens, foremost
Dear Editor,
It is with vexed feelings that Patriot takes cognizance of sentiments raging over the declaration of Chinese villages as
world heritage sites in the country.
Why are we in this state of unjustified prejudices and are seen to be peddling discriminating fears when it comes to
Malaysian citizens of Chinese ancestary having their long standing villages, or 'Chinese New Villages', being
preserved for posterity?
Patriot knows too well our victorious national history that is punctuated with gallant stories of how we fought off the
advances and infiltration of communist.
If today we are enjoying and benefiting from the peace, harmony and multiracial coexistence in the country it is
because our Malayan soldiers (and police) of Chinese ancestory stood shoulder to shoulder with other Malayans to
defend a young, struggling nation once upon a time - not too long ago that is, to successfully fight off the
communists.
More important, the Chinese villagers could have bandid together and betrayed our rulers and government then.
But no, they instead demonsttated their resolute loyalty to their 'new' nation' Malaya and helped our defence and
security forces to fight out the communists.
No one of sound mind and a decent heart can deny how Malaysian Chinese have worked together, fought together
and stayed together to build this nation.
In all of these gallant endeavours one significant truth that emerges is the fact that our Chinese villages have and do
continue to play a symbiotic role in nationhood.
Instead of celebrating a world heritage recognition for our distinctly deserving Chinese new villages we seem to be
drumming fears and sowing more anti-racial feelings.
Instead of working towards gaining more world recognition for how our unique country preserves and thrives on
nurtured traditions, cultures, customs, we are instead seizing the opportunity to keep suspicion at a higher cresendo
and belittling our 'Malayan' and even 'Malaysian' achievements.
Not only are all these divisiveness ruining the country's economic potentials of the future but also causing irreversible
damage to the power of coexistence and thriving on diversity.
Patriot warns decision makers and public opinion agentry as well as dubious politicians who are bent on attempting to
make desolete any or all ideas and initiatives meant to further enrich our future.
As much as the Chinese citizens of Malaysia have a right to preserve their past, all of us today have a reciprocal duty
to preserve and celebrate our honest history.
Lt Col Dato' Zarazilah Mohd Ali
President
Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan
MALAYSIA
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