Bumi status for all?

Malaysians born after the country's independence on 31st August, 1957 should be given Bumiputra status, suggests blogger Pasquale. 

Pasquale says the major reforms outlined by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on September 15, where he announced the repeal of the Internal Security Act (I.S.A) should serve as the impetus for more fundamental changes.

Malaysians born after the country's independence on 31st August, 1957 should be given Bumiputra status, suggests blogger Pasquale. 

Pasquale says the major reforms outlined by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on September 15, where he announced the repeal of the Internal Security Act (I.S.A) should serve as the impetus for more fundamental changes.

".... we have a prime minister who dares to be brave; he should be more bold (bolder) by making those born after Malaysia's independence Bumiputras."

Pasquale says there was merit to the suggestion by Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan in May 2009 and that it would be a positive step towards the 1Malaysia concept since "the provisions for the Malays in our constitution will not be touched."

Pasquale suggested in his blog Barking Magpie that the idea should be given serious thought and debated constructively to make the future meaningful for Malaysians, especially the young.

UPDATE 22/9/11 11:10 AM - Comments to the post's main suggestion are varied. One reader said the Bumiputra status, by itself, did not amount to much, with those within it being divided into different socio-economic categories.

A fews reader asked whether Malaysians, in reciprocating to the suggestion, would also be willing to do away with the various vernacular schools and have only one.

A reader who acknowledged that there was merit and sense to making all Malaysians either "Malays or/and Bumiputras", however did not agree that the status be backdated to Merdeka. He suggested that a future date should be used instead.

Another reader expressed concern that other changes might also occur. With the change of the status quo, he said, there was the possibility that some might question the conctitutional monarchy and also demand for the country's name to also be changed.

Source: MOLE