DISCUSS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RECRUITING THE VARIOUS INDIGENOUS GROUPS INTO THE MALAYSIAN ARMED FORCES AS PART OF NATIONAL AND RACIAL INTEGRATION
(BY LT COL MOHD RADZI BIN ABD HAMID)
INTRODUCTION
The key to national peace, stability and progress of nation development is depending on national integration. To achieve national integration is not an easy process because of the various ethnicities, difference in religious, races, cultures, and economics level among the citizens. The intention to unite the peoples toward achievement of national integration has always encountered the obstacles and problems. According to Ghazali Shafie (1985), “…the road to a cohesive and progressive society is a long and arduous one which to use the Malay phrase, is full of ‘onak dan duri…” However, this is not the end of the process or to picture that national integration is unachievable matters. Even difficult, we must always try to achieve it through better understanding among the societies and following serious steps given by the government and the support from the community is greatly required.
Among the process to gain national integration is by involving various ethnicities in government services such as public services and military duties. The military force is the most important public services in the country because of the ability to use force and controlling of massive weapons. Therefore it is important for the various ethnicities in the country to join the military services. The incident of 13th May 1969 was the most related cases which shown the balanced military force which were very important. The Rangers Regiments were accused did not react fairly during the incident. Therefore, the Rangers Regiments automatically have been replaced by the Royal Military Regiment. After the incident, the issues on the involvement of various ethnicities into the military services especially from Chinese ethnic were discussed actively.
Therefore, this paper will discuss the effectiveness of recruiting the various indigenous groups into the Malaysian Armed Forces as part of the national and racial integration. Firstly the paper will begin with the definition on the two important elements which are indigenous groups and national integration. Secondly, the paper will discuss on the current recruiting system in the services. And thirdly is on the issues of effective or ineffective of the current recruiting programme. Due to words limitation, the paper will only look on the promotion factors.
DISCUSSION
Definition
a. Indigenous Groups. The United Nation had devoted more than thirty-year involvement in considerable thinking and debating to the question of the definition of “indigenous peoples”, but no such definition has ever been adopted by any UN system body. One of the most cited descriptions of the concept of the indigenous was given by Martinez, the Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in his famous study on the problem of discrimination against indigenous populations. Martinez (United Nation,2004) stated that “Indigenous communities, peoples and nations are those which, having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of the societies now prevailing on those territories, or parts of them. They form at present non-dominant sectors of society and are determined to preserve, develop and transmit to future generations, their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal system” (United Nation, 2004).
According to Malaysia Constitutions, Article 160, Clause (1) and (2) for Peninsular Malaysia and 161a, Clause (1), (2) and (3) (Repealed) for Sabah and Sarawak; the citizens of Malaysia are divided into three categories. They are obriginal, native and immigrants. The obriginal and native peoples are considered as the origin of the Malaysian citizen which given a ‘bumiputera’ status which consist of obriginal peoples, native group from Sabah and Sarawak and the Malays. This group is categorized as ‘indigenous peoples’ as stated in Article 161a Clause 3; “The races to be treated for the purposes of the definition of "native" in Clause (6) as indigenous to Sarawak which are the Bukitans, Bisayahs, Dusuns, Sea Dayaks, Land Dayaks, Kadayans, Kalabit, Kayans, Kenyags (Including Sabups and Sipengs), Kajangs (including Sekapans,. Kejamans, Lahanans, Punans, Tanjongs dan Kanowits), Lugats, Lisums, Malays, Melanos, Muruts, Penans, Sians, Tagals, Tabuns and Ukits”. In summary, the overall indigenous peoples to Malaysia which comprises of three sub-subgroups according to the areas and refer as follows (see Graph 1).
a. Peninsular Malaysia: There are three groups of ethnics; Semang Negrito groups where live in the northern areas (Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan), Senoi groups where lives in the central region (South of Perak, Terengganu, Pahang, and Negeri Sembilan) and the Malay Proto groups (Pahang and Johor).
b. Sabah: Sabah indigenous peoples consist of various ethnicities. The main ethnicities are Dusun/Kadazan, Murut, Bajau, Sulu, Iranun, Kedayan, Melayu Brunei, Lun Dayeh, Orang Sungai and some minority ethnic peoples.
c. Sarawak: Sarawak indigenous peoples stated it is from Kalimantan area and migrate to Sarawak. The groups are Iban, Bidayuh, Melayu, Melanau, Murut/Lun bawang, Kenyah, Kelabit, Kayan, Kedayan, Bisaya, Punan, Penan and some minority ethnic groups.
Whereby the immigrants are Chinese, Indian, Siam, etc which have been brought by the British Colonial during their tenure as a ‘labours’ which are not qualified for ‘bumiputra’ status. They only received the citizen’s status. According to the United Nation (2004) definition and Malaysian Constitutions Article 160 and 161a, the immigrants’ roots ethnics are not categorized as indigenous. However, to make the discussion fruitful, the paper will also look on the minority ethnic such as Chinese, Indian, Sikh and Siam regardless indigenous or not.
Graph 1: Malaysia Indigenous Citizens
Sumber: Mohd Radzi (2009)
b. National/Racial Integration. According to Ruslan, Mahadee & Zaini (2005), integration is a process to create national identity among the separated groups of citizens for the aspect of cultures, social and place within the political unit. Therefore, national integration is the integration among the peoples whom they stay in those particular areas known as state or nation. National integration comprises of six elements; states, economic, political, education, culture and social. By creating national identity, the ethnic’s relation will be strong and created the feeling of togetherness. The societies will feel that to develop the country is their responsibility (Malaysia Kita, 1991).
CURRENT RECRUITING SYSTEM AND ACHIEVEMENT
Current Recruiting Regulation
Malaysian Armed Forces have practiced an open entry which all Malaysian have equally right to enter the service regardless any ethnics or races. However this open entry is not including an entry into Royal Malay Regiments where according to the Malaysian Constitution, only Malays and Islam can enter the Malay Regiments. However, the races and religious are not an obligation to join other services in the army, the air force and the navy. The responsible for recruiting personnel in the MAF is the services responsibility and every service has own recruiting branch. The entry for officers are centralized and controlled by MAF HQ and it is managed by ‘Tenaga Kerja C’. In order to make sure the Malaysian armed forces personnel quality is equivalent with other public services, therefore there are some special requirements need to be fulfilled by every candidates. For example, the candidates must have MCE qualification to enter as an army recruits, physically fit and fulfill various disciplines. The fact is not even a single requirement to enter both service is dictate by the religious of races differences. Every Malaysian has equal right to enter the service either as lower rank or officers.
Current Indigenous Personnel in MAF
According to Dewan Rakyat (Bil 26), the current strength of MAF based on the races groups as shown by Graph 2. It shows that the participation is according to the races which are 87% by Malays, 0.4% by Chinese, 1.5% by Indian and 10.9% by others races (Indigenous from Sabah and Sarawak and Siam). Chinese ethnic is the lowest participating which is only 0.4% and the Malays is the majority for 87%. However the percentage difference between Sabah and Sarawak is 10.9% and Peninsular Malaysia is only 1.9%. It shows that the indigenous groups from Sabah and Sarawak did not have a problem to join the MAF. Therefore, the mixture of races in the MAF is shown a serious gap.
Graph 2: Strength of the MAF (not included reserve)
Source: Dewan Rakyat, Bil.26.
However, the result by comparing the numbers by races in the Malaysian Armed Forces with total overall of Malaysian population is showing much difference. The Malay races in the Malaysian Armed Forces is at 0.62% from the total of Malays citizens, the Chinese races is at 0.007%, the Indian races is at 0.08% and others is at 0.325%. The percentage has clearly shown that the Chinese and Indian are the lowest races joining the Malaysian Armed Forces. See Table 1.
Table 1: The Involvement Percentage Compare to Population
Races Population % Strength in the Armed Forces %
Malays 14,749,378 51.4% 92,085 0.62%
Chinese 6,520,559 22.5% 478 0.007%
Indian/Sikh 1,969,343 6.8% 1601 0.082%
Others 3,545,685 13.3% 11536 0.325%
Total 28,908,795 105,700
Source: www.epu.gov.my
The recruiting data from 2006 till 2009 did not show much increase for the indigenous groups and other minority ethnics especially the Chinese. The percentage for Chinese to enter MAF has decreased and Indian has an increased of 24 personnel in 2006 to 65 personnel in 2007 and 97 personnel in 2008. However, the data shows a positive increase for the indigenous peoples from Sabah and Sarawak which is from 1186 personnel in 2006 to 1189 personnel in 2007. Even though on 2008 and 2009 show the decrease on the entry for the indigenous peoples from Sabah and Sarawak but...
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INTRODUCTION
The key to national peace, stability and progress of nation development is depending on national integration. To achieve national integration is not an easy process because of the various ethnicities, difference in religious, races, cultures, and economics level among the citizens. The intention to unite the peoples toward achievement of national integration has always encountered the obstacles and problems. According to Ghazali Shafie (1985), “…the road to a cohesive and progressive society is a long and arduous one which to use the Malay phrase, is full of ‘onak dan duri…” However, this is not the end of the process or to picture that national integration is unachievable matters. Even difficult, we must always try to achieve it through better understanding among the societies and following serious steps given by the government and the support from the community is greatly required.
Among the process to gain national integration is by involving various ethnicities in government services such as public services and military duties. The military force is the most important public services in the country because of the ability to use force and controlling of massive weapons. Therefore it is important for the various ethnicities in the country to join the military services. The incident of 13th May 1969 was the most related cases which shown the balanced military force which were very important. The Rangers Regiments were accused did not react fairly during the incident. Therefore, the Rangers Regiments automatically have been replaced by the Royal Military Regiment. After the incident, the issues on the involvement of various ethnicities into the military services especially from Chinese ethnic were discussed actively.
Therefore, this paper will discuss the effectiveness of recruiting the various indigenous groups into the Malaysian Armed Forces as part of the national and racial integration. Firstly the paper will begin with the definition on the two important elements which are indigenous groups and national integration. Secondly, the paper will discuss on the current recruiting system in the services. And thirdly is on the issues of effective or ineffective of the current recruiting programme. Due to words limitation, the paper will only look on the promotion factors.
DISCUSSION
Definition
a. Indigenous Groups. The United Nation had devoted more than thirty-year involvement in considerable thinking and debating to the question of the definition of “indigenous peoples”, but no such definition has ever been adopted by any UN system body. One of the most cited descriptions of the concept of the indigenous was given by Martinez, the Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in his famous study on the problem of discrimination against indigenous populations. Martinez (United Nation,2004) stated that “Indigenous communities, peoples and nations are those which, having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of the societies now prevailing on those territories, or parts of them. They form at present non-dominant sectors of society and are determined to preserve, develop and transmit to future generations, their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal system” (United Nation, 2004).
According to Malaysia Constitutions, Article 160, Clause (1) and (2) for Peninsular Malaysia and 161a, Clause (1), (2) and (3) (Repealed) for Sabah and Sarawak; the citizens of Malaysia are divided into three categories. They are obriginal, native and immigrants. The obriginal and native peoples are considered as the origin of the Malaysian citizen which given a ‘bumiputera’ status which consist of obriginal peoples, native group from Sabah and Sarawak and the Malays. This group is categorized as ‘indigenous peoples’ as stated in Article 161a Clause 3; “The races to be treated for the purposes of the definition of "native" in Clause (6) as indigenous to Sarawak which are the Bukitans, Bisayahs, Dusuns, Sea Dayaks, Land Dayaks, Kadayans, Kalabit, Kayans, Kenyags (Including Sabups and Sipengs), Kajangs (including Sekapans,. Kejamans, Lahanans, Punans, Tanjongs dan Kanowits), Lugats, Lisums, Malays, Melanos, Muruts, Penans, Sians, Tagals, Tabuns and Ukits”. In summary, the overall indigenous peoples to Malaysia which comprises of three sub-subgroups according to the areas and refer as follows (see Graph 1).
a. Peninsular Malaysia: There are three groups of ethnics; Semang Negrito groups where live in the northern areas (Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan), Senoi groups where lives in the central region (South of Perak, Terengganu, Pahang, and Negeri Sembilan) and the Malay Proto groups (Pahang and Johor).
b. Sabah: Sabah indigenous peoples consist of various ethnicities. The main ethnicities are Dusun/Kadazan, Murut, Bajau, Sulu, Iranun, Kedayan, Melayu Brunei, Lun Dayeh, Orang Sungai and some minority ethnic peoples.
c. Sarawak: Sarawak indigenous peoples stated it is from Kalimantan area and migrate to Sarawak. The groups are Iban, Bidayuh, Melayu, Melanau, Murut/Lun bawang, Kenyah, Kelabit, Kayan, Kedayan, Bisaya, Punan, Penan and some minority ethnic groups.
Whereby the immigrants are Chinese, Indian, Siam, etc which have been brought by the British Colonial during their tenure as a ‘labours’ which are not qualified for ‘bumiputra’ status. They only received the citizen’s status. According to the United Nation (2004) definition and Malaysian Constitutions Article 160 and 161a, the immigrants’ roots ethnics are not categorized as indigenous. However, to make the discussion fruitful, the paper will also look on the minority ethnic such as Chinese, Indian, Sikh and Siam regardless indigenous or not.
Graph 1: Malaysia Indigenous Citizens
Sumber: Mohd Radzi (2009)
b. National/Racial Integration. According to Ruslan, Mahadee & Zaini (2005), integration is a process to create national identity among the separated groups of citizens for the aspect of cultures, social and place within the political unit. Therefore, national integration is the integration among the peoples whom they stay in those particular areas known as state or nation. National integration comprises of six elements; states, economic, political, education, culture and social. By creating national identity, the ethnic’s relation will be strong and created the feeling of togetherness. The societies will feel that to develop the country is their responsibility (Malaysia Kita, 1991).
CURRENT RECRUITING SYSTEM AND ACHIEVEMENT
Current Recruiting Regulation
Malaysian Armed Forces have practiced an open entry which all Malaysian have equally right to enter the service regardless any ethnics or races. However this open entry is not including an entry into Royal Malay Regiments where according to the Malaysian Constitution, only Malays and Islam can enter the Malay Regiments. However, the races and religious are not an obligation to join other services in the army, the air force and the navy. The responsible for recruiting personnel in the MAF is the services responsibility and every service has own recruiting branch. The entry for officers are centralized and controlled by MAF HQ and it is managed by ‘Tenaga Kerja C’. In order to make sure the Malaysian armed forces personnel quality is equivalent with other public services, therefore there are some special requirements need to be fulfilled by every candidates. For example, the candidates must have MCE qualification to enter as an army recruits, physically fit and fulfill various disciplines. The fact is not even a single requirement to enter both service is dictate by the religious of races differences. Every Malaysian has equal right to enter the service either as lower rank or officers.
Current Indigenous Personnel in MAF
According to Dewan Rakyat (Bil 26), the current strength of MAF based on the races groups as shown by Graph 2. It shows that the participation is according to the races which are 87% by Malays, 0.4% by Chinese, 1.5% by Indian and 10.9% by others races (Indigenous from Sabah and Sarawak and Siam). Chinese ethnic is the lowest participating which is only 0.4% and the Malays is the majority for 87%. However the percentage difference between Sabah and Sarawak is 10.9% and Peninsular Malaysia is only 1.9%. It shows that the indigenous groups from Sabah and Sarawak did not have a problem to join the MAF. Therefore, the mixture of races in the MAF is shown a serious gap.
Graph 2: Strength of the MAF (not included reserve)
Source: Dewan Rakyat, Bil.26.
However, the result by comparing the numbers by races in the Malaysian Armed Forces with total overall of Malaysian population is showing much difference. The Malay races in the Malaysian Armed Forces is at 0.62% from the total of Malays citizens, the Chinese races is at 0.007%, the Indian races is at 0.08% and others is at 0.325%. The percentage has clearly shown that the Chinese and Indian are the lowest races joining the Malaysian Armed Forces. See Table 1.
Table 1: The Involvement Percentage Compare to Population
Races Population % Strength in the Armed Forces %
Malays 14,749,378 51.4% 92,085 0.62%
Chinese 6,520,559 22.5% 478 0.007%
Indian/Sikh 1,969,343 6.8% 1601 0.082%
Others 3,545,685 13.3% 11536 0.325%
Total 28,908,795 105,700
Source: www.epu.gov.my
The recruiting data from 2006 till 2009 did not show much increase for the indigenous groups and other minority ethnics especially the Chinese. The percentage for Chinese to enter MAF has decreased and Indian has an increased of 24 personnel in 2006 to 65 personnel in 2007 and 97 personnel in 2008. However, the data shows a positive increase for the indigenous peoples from Sabah and Sarawak which is from 1186 personnel in 2006 to 1189 personnel in 2007. Even though on 2008 and 2009 show the decrease on the entry for the indigenous peoples from Sabah and Sarawak but...
[To continue reading, please choose your order.
Purchasing Format
1. All prices are in Malaysia Ringgit, and do not include shipping and handling. Please choose your purchasing method.
a. Softcopy (send to your email)= RM 150.00
b. Hardcopy with soft cover send to your address)= RM 170.00
[RM 160.00 + RM 10.00 (shipping)]
c. Hardcopy with hardcover send to your address)= RM 200.00
[RM 170.00 + RM 30.00 (shipping)]
2. Please pay to Account Number: 1402-0184306528 (CIMB - Mohd Radzi bin Abd Hamid).
3. After completed the payment, please describe your order by written down the;
a. Title of the article:
b. Purchasing Method (A or B or C):
c. E-mail or address:
d. Date of payment:
e. Payment reference number:
and email to email: radzi_hamid@yahoo.com
Note:
a. Copyright in each Articles, Dissertation and Theses is retained by the author. All right reserved.
b. Please note that because I custom print copies when receiving orders, articles, dissertation and theses can only be returned in the unlikely event of a production defect.
c. The order will sent to the address or email after received the payment.
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