Free, Equal, One

Bumiputera. What is 'bumiputera'? Literally translated, the term, coming from the sanskrit word bhumiputra, of which bumi refers to land while putra refers to son, means 'sons of the land'. This is also a term synonymous with my country, in my opinion.

And what does 'sons of the land' means? Shouldn't it mean anyone who was born in that land is automatically considered a bumiputera? The land where you were borned in, you therefore are the son or the daughter of that land. Shouldn't it be that way?

In my country, this isn't the case. I am not a considered a bumiputera, nor are my parents, or their parents. Though we were all borned here, with the exception of my paternal grandparents, we are all considered non-bumiputera. The land where we took in our first breaths, where we first opened our eyes to, doesn't recognise us as its sons and daughters. Or more accurately, the rulers of the land doesn't recognise us, for the land accepts everything and everyone.

The importance of this status overrides that of citizenship. We are all citizens, but we are not bumiputeras. We enjoy the benefits of a citizen, but we do not get to enjoy the certain privileges accorded to those that come under this status. We are like the second class citizens. We need to adhere to all the rules and regulations, but we cannot enjoy its rewards fully.

Mine is not of a political blog. It's just my personal view on this matter, after coming across an article in the mainstream papers in this morning. In it, the prime minister of my country reiterated that a certain ethnic group in our country will continue to enjoy the benefits and privileges of holding the bumiputera status, as accorded to them by the first prime minister. This is the reward for their continuous loyalty and support towards the country and the ruling government, even after the political tsunami in almost 4 years back.

Now, reading the reason given, I'm totally despondent. Loyalty towards my country, I have. My parents have. This unquestionable. This is our country, where we were borned and where we live. We had never done anything to undermine our loyalty towards our country. I have never and will never. So why are we still going around with the tags non-bumiputera hung around our necks? Why cannot we too be considered bumiputeras, if that term is not to be abolished?

After all these years of independence, why cannot we all be considered citizens, free and equal, enjoying all the benefits and privileges, accepting all the penalisations. Why must we still be divided into different statuses, even though we are citizens, the rakyats, regardless of our political believes. And my naive-self truly believe we are ready for this kind of a country, free, equal, one.

I would like to stress that this is not a political blog. I am only expressing my view here on this subject, triggered after reading a report in the news this morning.