Comments on: “Reformasi changed everything” http://www.thenutgraph.com/reformasi-changed-everything/ Making Sense of Politics & Pop Culture Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:50:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Emily http://www.thenutgraph.com/reformasi-changed-everything/#comment-6664 Emily Fri, 29 May 2009 05:21:15 +0000 #comment-6664 Did TNG add in all the (Malaysian)s? Sly. In any case, the phrase "Malay-Malaysians" should be more widely used. Go. Did TNG add in all the (Malaysian)s? Sly. In any case, the phrase “Malay-Malaysians” should be more widely used. Go.

]]> By: Steve McCoy http://www.thenutgraph.com/reformasi-changed-everything/#comment-6389 Steve McCoy Sat, 23 May 2009 17:12:07 +0000 #comment-6389 Nurul Izzah is a breath of fresh air. She rightly points out that what we need is nothing short of a paradigm shift. However, the million dollar questions are from what, to what, and how - a broad subject, of which I will make one comment. While the high birth rate of Malay Malaysians which ensures the majority share of Malaysian citizenry may well cut through Malay nationalistic fear-mongering - for example, Ahmad Ismail’s comment ‘we will be forced to push the Chinese in the interests of our own survival’ made at the Permatang Pauh by-election recently, this kind of argument is a double-edged sword, and I fear the other other side of the blade is far sharper. The Malay Malaysian fertility rate is one of the highest in Asia this side of the sub-continent. This fact needs to be understood within the global context of 6 billion people already living beyond the carrying capacity of the planet (we are already using up about one and half earths, a luxury we can ‘afford’ for a short time only because the planet has built up resource stores over many millennia). When this is added to the fact that the world is increasingly ‘flat’, with a swelling middle class and the consumption patterns that go with it, and the fact that world population figures are set to hit 9 billion within half a lifetime, celebrating or being complacent over the high fertility rate in one section of our population, no matter how politically expedient now, does not get us where we need to be in the long term. Unsustainability in any area shouldn't be part of the new paradigm we seek. Nurul Izzah is a breath of fresh air. She rightly points out that what we need is nothing short of a paradigm shift. However, the million dollar questions are from what, to what, and how – a broad subject, of which I will make one comment.

While the high birth rate of Malay Malaysians which ensures the majority share of Malaysian citizenry may well cut through Malay nationalistic fear-mongering – for example, Ahmad Ismail’s comment ‘we will be forced to push the Chinese in the interests of our own survival’ made at the Permatang Pauh by-election recently, this kind of argument is a double-edged sword, and I fear the other other side of the blade is far sharper.

The Malay Malaysian fertility rate is one of the highest in Asia this side of the sub-continent. This fact needs to be understood within the global context of 6 billion people already living beyond the carrying capacity of the planet (we are already using up about one and half earths, a luxury we can ‘afford’ for a short time only because the planet has built up resource stores over many millennia).

When this is added to the fact that the world is increasingly ‘flat’, with a swelling middle class and the consumption patterns that go with it, and the fact that world population figures are set to hit 9 billion within half a lifetime, celebrating or being complacent over the high fertility rate in one section of our population, no matter how politically expedient now, does not get us where we need to be in the long term. Unsustainability in any area shouldn’t be part of the new paradigm we seek.

]]> By: roastpork http://www.thenutgraph.com/reformasi-changed-everything/#comment-6305 roastpork Fri, 22 May 2009 04:31:13 +0000 #comment-6305 Great article! Nurul Izzah brought up a good point. With the current trend in birthrate, there will soon come a time when Malay Malaysians make up a great majority of the population. Say in 50-100 years Malay Malaysians/bumiputeras make up 80% of the population. This makes affirmative action policies irrelevant. What advantage does one gain from special treatment if almost everyone also gains from it? Great article!

Nurul Izzah brought up a good point. With the current trend in birthrate, there will soon come a time when Malay Malaysians make up a great majority of the population. Say in 50-100 years Malay Malaysians/bumiputeras make up 80% of the population. This makes affirmative action policies irrelevant. What advantage does one gain from special treatment if almost everyone also gains from it?

]]> By: Jason Sim http://www.thenutgraph.com/reformasi-changed-everything/#comment-6291 Jason Sim Thu, 21 May 2009 17:30:03 +0000 #comment-6291 We need more young politicians like her in Malaysia. The old ones are becoming more and more out of touch with reality.... We need more young politicians like her in Malaysia. The old ones are becoming more and more out of touch with reality….

]]> By: djambu http://www.thenutgraph.com/reformasi-changed-everything/#comment-6278 djambu Thu, 21 May 2009 15:21:36 +0000 #comment-6278 Every generation needs a key-figure to emulate. Nurul Izzah can be one if she stands out more in the crowd every now and then. I would like to see more of her 'in action' in the Dewan Rakyat. You can't 'tumpang nama ayah' forever, kan? :-) Every generation needs a key-figure to emulate. Nurul Izzah can be one if she stands out more in the crowd every now and then. I would like to see more of her ‘in action’ in the Dewan Rakyat. You can’t ‘tumpang nama ayah’ forever, kan?

:-)

]]> By: Naoko http://www.thenutgraph.com/reformasi-changed-everything/#comment-6250 Naoko Thu, 21 May 2009 08:43:52 +0000 #comment-6250 I feel like crying, but for a good reason. Glad to know that in the midst of all the doom, gloom and stupid power grabs, there ARE young politicians who know what the people want, and that they (the politicians) want it for themselves because it's right, and not because it's what the electorate wants to hear. Kudos, Nurul Izzah. I feel like crying, but for a good reason.

Glad to know that in the midst of all the doom, gloom and stupid power grabs, there ARE young politicians who know what the people want, and that they (the politicians) want it for themselves because it’s right, and not because it’s what the electorate wants to hear.

Kudos, Nurul Izzah.

]]> By: Rajindar Singh http://www.thenutgraph.com/reformasi-changed-everything/#comment-6244 Rajindar Singh Thu, 21 May 2009 07:06:32 +0000 #comment-6244 I generally avoid long articles about politics but I read this one through. What makes me glad is the reality that has sunk in here, she realises and knows that the BN has set the path for the destruction of their very own by proverbially giving the fish rather than teaching how to fish. She is right - the Malay majority will increase over the generations due to birth rates which are directly proportional to the belief systems but do we want a large population of average Malay Malaysians or do we want a majority of Malaysians to be competitive and strong? The basic systems like education and upbringing lay the foundation for the strength of a generation, be it Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazans, and other tribals and aborigines. So it is up to us all, want any easy handout and suffer the long term deterioration or do we want to struggle now for long term success, improved standards of living and enhanced livelihood? It is our choice, let's make it! I generally avoid long articles about politics but I read this one through. What makes me glad is the reality that has sunk in here, she realises and knows that the BN has set the path for the destruction of their very own by proverbially giving the fish rather than teaching how to fish.

She is right – the Malay majority will increase over the generations due to birth rates which are directly proportional to the belief systems but do we want a large population of average Malay Malaysians or do we want a majority of Malaysians to be competitive and strong?

The basic systems like education and upbringing lay the foundation for the strength of a generation, be it Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazans, and other tribals and aborigines. So it is up to us all, want any easy handout and suffer the long term deterioration or do we want to struggle now for long term success, improved standards of living and enhanced livelihood?

It is our choice, let’s make it!

]]> By: Su http://www.thenutgraph.com/reformasi-changed-everything/#comment-6242 Su Thu, 21 May 2009 06:47:28 +0000 #comment-6242 New vision for new Malaysians particularly Malays! New vision for new Malaysians particularly Malays!

]]> By: Salak http://www.thenutgraph.com/reformasi-changed-everything/#comment-6232 Salak Thu, 21 May 2009 04:01:55 +0000 #comment-6232 "...Not necessarily everything Pakatan Rakyat has done is right. But at least the process has begun, and that's how you begin to find out what's good for, and what's bad for you. ..." About time the young speaks the bare truth ... instead of losing generations in fruitless space trips! “…Not necessarily everything Pakatan Rakyat has done is right. But at least the process has begun, and that’s how you begin to find out what’s good for, and what’s bad for you. …”

About time the young speaks the bare truth … instead of losing generations in fruitless space trips!

]]> By: Alvin Lee Chow Hui http://www.thenutgraph.com/reformasi-changed-everything/#comment-6228 Alvin Lee Chow Hui Thu, 21 May 2009 03:04:54 +0000 #comment-6228 Keep up the good work to serve the rakyat and communities regardless of race, religion and ethnic group. Thanks. Keep up the good work to serve the rakyat and communities regardless of race, religion and ethnic group. Thanks.

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