The definition of racism according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary is "a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities, and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race."
By O. YOUNG/MySinchew
A COLUMNIST of a Malay-medium newspaper was accusing prime Chinese-medium newspapers of racism in a recent article. Sin Chew Daily was singled out in particular.
The article criticised Chinese news journalists of having deviated from the national mainstream thinking to instigate the narrow-minded view of racism. Granted, I agree that Chinese newspapers do support Chinese-medium education. But can this be seen as racism?
The definition of racism according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary is "a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities, and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race."
Australia's popular Macquarie Dictionary Online further defines racism as the belief "that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule or dominate others."
The UN does not define "racism," however it does define "racial discrimination." According to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), "the term 'racial discrimination' shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life."
So, judging by the way racism is officially defined, to what extent are the Chinese press journalists, particularly those of Sin Chew Daily, guilty of instigating racism? Who among the top leadership of Sin Chew are holding the belief that the Chinese race is the most superior and must therefore rule the other racial groups? Who among the writers of Sin Chew think that Chinese is more important than other languages, even to the extent that it should replace Bahasa Melayu as the official language for the country?
According to Utusan's ghost writer Awang Selamat, if an independent probe were to be carried out, the Chinese newspapers would be found to be the real racist. I am not interested in finding out who the real racist is. What I am more interested in is the question of whether or not the Chinese newspapers in Malaysia are spreading racist sentiments.
Why would the promotion of Chinese-medium education be considered racist when there has been no attempt to negate the official language of the nation? Is this because Awang Selamat has his own definition of racism, or is it because he does not understand the position and principles of the Chinese newspapers towards Chinese education in the first place?
With all due respect to the objector and before proving his thesis wrong, I can't help being curious as to how he actually defines racism. Granted that if he believes in the superiority of the Malay race over all other racial groups, that they have the absolute right to rule others who are inferior, that all who challenge that belief and who believe in human rights for all or who struggle for social equality are racists, then by this "special" definition, I'm afraid he is right. After all, the Chinese newspapers in Malaysia do indeed believe in human rights and social equality for all people.
This is so reminiscent of the days of pre-Emancipation America when the mainstream white society did not view slavery and the ban on black people's right to vote, participate in government or intermarry as an infringement of human rights. It happened because slaves were counted as only three-fifths instead of 100% of as a human being. For this very reason, their policy against blacks did not infringe on "human rights" as slaves were not considered "fully" human.
Naturally the infringement of human rights for African-Americans was never an issue to be debated. Then came the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who struggled for the equality of civil rights by organising protest marches and peaceful demonstrations, only to be accused of breaking the social order, going against the Bible and betraying Christian doctrine.
Are the Chinese newspapers in Malaysia spreading racist sentiments? If Awang Selamat would sit down and talk rationally with a view to seeking a common understanding, we might very well carry on this discussion.
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