1 Malaysia, A Cultural View

1 Malaysia, a concept lauded by the 6th Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Razak since the days when he was still the Deputy Prime Minister. The concept was officiated when he took on the position as the new Prime Minister of Malaysia. So, what is the 1 Malaysia concepts? 1 Malaysia is a concept to foster unity among Malaysians of all races, based on several
important values that should be the practice of every citizen Malaysia. My ccurrent article will look into the chances of success of the 1 Malaysia Concepts based on cross-cultural theories. The fundamental approaches are for strengthening unity, ensuring stability, to progress and ensuring a higher development of the citizens and Malaysia. In other words, 1 Malaysia founded as a formula that will help ensure the aspirations of the country. This concept also emphasizes on the acceptance and understanding between races to enable co-existence within our multi-cultural society, which ultimately lead to a developed nation status. The 1 Malaysia concepts revolves around 8 Core values which are;

1. Acceptance
2. Perseverance
3. Culture of Excellence
4. Loyalty
5. Humility
6. Meritocracy
7. Integrity
8. Education

This 8 core values is complemented with 6 National Key Results Areas (NKRA) which is to ensure competency within the government delivery system and serves as a benchmark for improving itself. The 6 NKRAs are as follows;
1. Reducing crimes.
2. War against corruption
3. Widening the access to affordable and quality of education
4. Raising living standard of the low income earners
5. Upgrading infrastructure in the rural areas and the interior region
6. Improving public transportation in a moderate period of time

Under this 6 NKRAs several initiatives from the government is seen such as in the implementation of 1 Malaysia clinic in rural areas, improvement in the urban public transport sector, increase in police patrolling, protection of whistle blowers in battling corruption, and the introduction of grants in the education sector for private pre-schools catering to the affordability of general public.

However, despite the government efforts in implementing the 1 Malaysia concepts, there are still issues and problems that hang in the balance in the success of 1 Malaysia concepts. According to Geert Hofstede’s cultural dimensions study, Malaysian society is measured at a high rate in the Power Distance Index (PDI) which shows that we are a society that accepts and expect that power is distributed unequally. This endorsement not only comes from that top level but is also endorsed by the followers in this society. Our society is also combined with a high Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI) which puts us as a society that are highly rule-oriented with laws, rules and regulations, and controls in order to reduce the amount of uncertainty. Some of the problems that have arise over the past decade was dissatisfaction and dissident between political parties, namely the Barisan Nasional Component Parties and the Opposition coalition which was formed after the last general election which saw several state majorities were voted in their favour and now known as Pakatan Rakyat. In a society where PDI is high, the citizens will tend to just look by as political struggle exist between both parties. Also, racial issues have been drastically raised in the past 10 years, with the formation of HINDRAF and the latest controversial book named Interlok. Despite such controversies, there is no significant movement from the general citizens but rather a small minority voice and a political battle between two coalition parties. More often than not, we often hear “coffee shop” talks of disapproval but such talks stays there. This proves though that in a society that scores highly on the UAI allows the leaders in the opposition or the ruling parties have the ultimate power and authority. In order for the success of 1 Malaysia concept, a nation which has over 10 ethnicity should dissipate racial tension by writing off racial segregation and acknowledge every citizen as a Malaysian. Moreover, under the 8 core values, Acceptance is crucial in the success of 1 Malaysia concept. Understanding between each cultural group’s customs and beliefs, will create harmony and mutual respect. Without the willpower resolve this racial differences, it will slowly tear in to the very fabric of our independence and 1 Malaysia will just be a rhetorical slogan and idealistic views.

Another area which requires a lot attention is integrity, as this is the cornerstone of success in1 Malaysia. If the government performs honourably and undertakes all task and projects with integrity as its core, we will see trust and confidence within the people. As our collectivistic culture slowly shifting to individualistic, the future generations will slowly reduce the PDI. In order to preserve the Constitutions set by our forefathers, the government must abide by the subtlety of the slogan “People First, Performance Now”. High scores in UAI shows that people do not like to face conflicts and ambiguities but as the nation progresses and more people with higher education, a paradigm shift will eventually take place. As the border of information thins, we see an enculturation process takes place which is influence by socialization with different cultures all over the world. With the reduction in UAI, PDI will have to eventually drop in tandem. Opportunities should be equally given to all and not according to race but meritocracy. In addition, integrity is crucial for foreign investors. No investors would invest in country that government has low integrity for it is a recipe for political disaster in the long run. In Schwartz’s Values, Embeddedness is a value which cultures emphasizes the maintenance of status quo, propriety and restraint that might disrupt the solidarity of the group or traditional order (Juang & Matsumoto, 2007) . This is the depiction of protectionism that under the 1 Malaysia concepts should no longer exist. This does not mean we ignore the social contract set forth in the Constitution but rather a look into how competency can be achieved. This requires Integrity and Meritocracy, such as awards of tenders to companies that are Bumiputra Status rather than 100% Bumiputra owned and how the wealth of a nation can be shared among every citizen of Malaysia.

In conclusion, I believe that the 1 Malaysia concepts is achievable but it requisites leaders with the passion and commitment to see the materialization of this concept. In the past, our racial unity was the backbone of our independence; we are 1 Malaysia that shaped the country’s socio-economic, cultural appreciation and harmony. To ensure our polycultural society continue to flourish, every Malaysian must play their role in uplifting the core values of 1 Malaysia. The government serious in the success of the 1 Malaysia concepts, will also play an active role in creating racial harmony and respect the importance each customs and beliefs that every ethnic group in Malaysia. Realising that customs and beliefs is irrelevant to the responsibility, well being and success of each citizen of Malaysia. There is no time more crucial as now for the government to ascribe and subscribe to 1 Malaysia as failing will cause the people’s confidence to drop and will further causes distrust and will only sow seed of dissidence which is not beneficial.


Reference:
Hofstede, G. (1967-2009). Cultural Dimension. Retrieved from www.geert-hofstede.com
Joshua Foong, M. F. (2010). Many believe NKRA is a positive step forward. The Star.
Juang, L., & Matsumoto, D. (2007). Culture & Psychology(4th Ed). Belmont,CA: Wadsworth.
Razak, D. S. (2009). 1 Malaysia Booklet. Retrieved from 1 Malaysia: http://www.1malaysia.com.my
Salleh, I. D. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.jba.gov.my/files/