What the Chinese press say
THE social network is like a mirror that allows people from different regions a two-way view to better understand each other’s opinions and stands on common issues.
It also allows people to bypass various media reports and enables them to understand
one other’s perspective, attitude and mindset in a more direct manner.
Of course, the shared opinions and ideas on social media can be unaccountable and unsubstantiated and they do not necessarily represent anything or anyone except the personal thoughts those who posted them.
Every year on Aug 31 when almost all media stories are focused on National Day celebrations, we can also see Internet users from East Malaysia quietly posting messages or comments, saying Aug 31 does not concern East Malaysians as the true Malaysia Day should fall on Sept 16.
Every year during August and September, the question on which day should be observed and celebrated as Malaysia Day – Aug 31 when Malaya gained independence from Britain or Sept 31 when Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaya to form the federation of Malaysia – is still being raised quite appropriately from the standpoint of political as well as historical correctness.
This question has been debated since 2010. To the Borneo states, Sept 16 is deemed as the day they attained independence by helping to form Malaysia and that Sept 16 should be declared a public holiday.
Many people now think the time has come to officially set Malaysia’s “true Malaysia Day.”
When talking with friends from East Malaysia, there are always those who feel “East Malaysia is marginalised” and its resources have been invested for the development of West Malaysia.
The political power that be may have influenced the birth of such idea or thinking.
In social networking forums, many people come together to discuss issues related to both the peninsula and the Borneo states. Opinion polls have also been held to hypothetically gauge Sarawak and Sabah’s stand on Malaysia.
In a recent forum found in Cari, a poll was held on “Should Sarawak and Sabah obtain independence and form a Borneo nation?”
Of those polled within the confines of the forum, one hundred and ninety five (195) chose Yes and nine people chose No.
However, while East Malaysians feel “marginalised,” those from the peninsula who have visited East Malaysia may perhaps also feel treated as “outsiders” or “foreigners.”
In accordance with State Rights regarding immigration as embodied in the Agreement on the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, West Malaysians are required to produce identity cards when entering East Malaysia and are also only allowed a period of stay.
West Malaysians who are interested in working in East Malaysia are required to go through a lot of procedures. Whereas, relatively speaking, East Malaysians who want to work in West Malaysia enjoy much more conveniences.
Apart from the policy mentioned above, when West Malaysians visit Sarawak as tourists, the entry fee is another thing that may cause them to feel like “foreigners.”
The entry fees for West Malaysians and foreign tourists are the same and, to the peninsular visitors, the MyKad issued by the government does not provide any benefits as a visiting pass.
When East Malaysians are asked about this, nine out of 10 will react the same way, saying it’s no big deal for West Malaysians to pay a bit more since they have benefitted so much from our resources.
The two parts of Malaysia is separated by the South China Sea. It is not strange for people living in different regions to have different thoughts and feelings.
However, from now on, let us hope for a more interactive Malaysia Day with, of course, more equitable policies.(From Oriental Daily)