Changes in Chinese's political involvement in Malaysia

Malaysian Chinese is the second largest group in the country’s population and has been actively involved in politics since their mass immigration during the middle of the 19th century. The main objective of this article is to examine the political involvement of the Chinese, their voting behaviour, bureaucratic participation and reaction to Malay dominance in the country in different periods, i.e. pre- and post-1970, and post-2008 General Elections. This writing is greatly contingent upon a content analysis on secondary data collected from reports, journal articles, book chapters, and newspaper articles. In short, Chinese’s involvement and reaction in politics in Malaysia significantly depend on the discourse of Malay dominance. Malaysian Chinese’s political participation in the period from 1970 to 1990 indicated both continuity and change. Chinese electorate’s voting patterns seem to demonstrate a swing to the opposition candidates, while the parties in the Barisan Nasional government continue to enjoy the confidence of the Malay communities as well as the elites. Meanwhile, the so-called politic tsunami on 8 March 2008 has opened a new phase in the Malaysian political development. The nature of politics is said to have shifted from communal-based politic to multiethnic-based

Socialization of ethnic identity and its consequence in the form of polarization among youth in Malaysia.

Proses pembentukan identiti mempengaruhi hubungan etnik. Dalam konteks hubungan etnik di kalangan belia yang menuntut di universiti awam Malaysia, pembentukan identiti etnik telah menyebabkan berlakunya polarisasi. Kajian-kajian menunjukkan belia tersebut memilih rakan sebilik, rakan tugasan dan teman untuk duduk bersama ketika kuliah dengan berpandukan factor etnik. Bagi memahami permasalahan ini, kertas kerja ini menganalisis peranan sosialisasi dalam pembentukan identiti social dan kaitannya dengan polarisasi kaum di kalangan belia di university. Tahap intensity polarisasi dibincangkan dengan mendalami kajian-kajian lepas yang mengkaji fenomena polarisasi kaum di kalangan penuntut universiti awam. Selain itu, peranan biologi dalam pembentukan identiti akan juga dianalisis. Hubungan dialektik antara peranan struktur social (structural) dan tindakan individu (action) dalam pembentukan identiti etnik juga dihuraikan bagi menerangkan bagaimana perkaitan antara mereka boleh menghasilkan polarisasi etnik di kalangan belia universiti awam Malaysia

Rukun Negara teras pembinaan modal insan: satu komentar

In the process of achieving the status of a developed nation physically as well as spiritually by 2020, Malaysia is confronted by various complex issues. The issues come in various aspects, forms and levels like the moral issues, crime, ethnic relations, family, and the impact of globalization amongst others. In all the endeavours made by the government, the effort of human capital development can be considered spiritually and morally important. This agenda is significant in the formation of human capital with high quality and a first class mentality in the competitive era of globalization. Therefore, it is important to examine the effectiveness of all the human capital development efforts. The effectiveness of a policy very much relies upon the foundation that supports the policy to ensure its continuity. In line with this, this paper proposes that the national ideology, the Rukun Negara become the foundation of human capital development. It is expected that there will be problems in the integrated effort to inculcate the national ideology amongst Malaysians. Therefore, some challenges like the lack of monitoring system and the negative political influences will be discussed. Finally, several moderate proposals will be provided to strengthen the implementation of Rukun Negara towards the formation of human capital with a first class mentality and vision

Chinese education and Chinese identity in Malaysia

In general, research and discourse on the concept of identity has been naturally evolved as the changes of social structures in social processes, such as industrial affairs, modernization, and globalization, are expanding as well. The concept of identity, meanwhile, has also changed by following the development of social thoughts, i.e. the formation and change in the philosophy of knowledge paradigm, such as the development of structural theoretical perspective to post-structural and post-modernism (Bendle, 2002; Lee, 2007)

Chambers of commerce and Chinese business enterprise in Malaysia

The paper deals with the role of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industries of Malaysia (ACCCIM) that represents 17 constituent members located separately in the 13 states of the nation. It will examine how ACCCIM attempts constantly to enhance and create a favourable environment for enterprise development for the Chinese business community. The paper will analyse the intensity of ACCCIM in fostering better domestic business opportunities through joint ventures that involve other ethnic groups in the multiracial and multicultural context of Malaysia and to exert its influence on state economic policies. Its role in assisting the Chinese business community to expand their markets by various means and in weathering the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis and the current global financial crisis will be discussed

The Understanding of Women’s Movement Activists on the Necessity of Critical Analysis of Television Content in Iran

Iranian TV tries to legitimize and reinforce sexism and male domination with oppressive gender representation. The current study investigates how critical analysis of media is necessary for Iranian women from the viewpoints of Iranian feminist activists. Using a qualitative approach of semi-structured interviews with 15 Iranian feminist activists, this paper contends that critical reading of media messages is essential for Iranian women. The findings reveal that critical reading of media messages could empower Iranian women to understand how Iranian TV reinforces and naturalizes gender stereotypes and roles. In addition, the Iranian feminist activists believe that because media has a purpose, critical analysis of media texts helps to discern these goals. Besides, some of the Iranian feminist activists consider critical analysis of media messages as a kind of voice for Iranian women

Iranian feminist activits and critical media literacy

Considering the exponential growth of technology and media in Iranian society as well as the significant role of media culture in reproducing, reinforcing, and legitimizing dominant ideologies such as sexism, the central question posed by this paper is how Iranian feminist activists critically analyze media messages. Further, this paper explores the extent to which this analysis fits the critical media literacy framework. Using a critical media literacy framework underpinned by feminist standpoint theory, this paper presents results from qualitative interviews with 15 Iranian feminist activists. We find that Iranian feminist activists focus more on politics of representation and critique of gender ideology in the critical analysis of media products. Thus, critical analysis of media by Iranian feminist activists better fits the definition of critical media literacy than its core concepts. The findings also demonstrate that a transformative dimension of critical media literacy is ignored by the feminist activists despite using media in the struggle against dominant gender ideology

Settling down spiritually: Chinese Malaysian's worship of Datuk Gong

When the Chinese migrated to Malaya en masse in the 19th century, they brought along with them their religious belief. Many aspects of the Chinese Religion are still maintained and practiced by the Chinese in Malaysia today. However, after years of interaction with people from other ethnic origins in Malaysia, the Chinese has synthesized local elements into their belief system. Empirically, the worship of Datuk Gong is one of them. The worship originated from the Datuk Keramat cult, which was popular among the Malays in Malaysia. This paper attempts to explain why the Chinese in Malaysia accepted local elements such as the worship of Datuk Keramat into their religion and the meaning of such acceptance. When the Chinese Malaysian transfigured certain elements found in their religion to accept the concept of Datuk Keramat, it shows their long-term commitment to make Malaysia their home. In order to achieve these objectives, observations and interviews at ten Datuk Gong temples in Peninsular Malaysia were made to collect relevant data. Data gathered shows the Chinese have transfigured their religious practice to facilitate their adaptation to live in a country, which was once foreign to them

Sociological theory of race and ethnicity: contesting, substituting or complementing?

Issues, related to race and ethnicity, have always attracted attention from many. Throughout the development of sociology, many theories have been developed to explain these phenomena. Most of the time, however, the theories are read as contesting each other. Similarly, argument was laid out as though the theories are contesting to explain the truth of race and ethnicity. Readers have also contributed to the contest. In fact, it is the readers who, most of the time, categorize the theories they read into school of thought and consequently the theories are contesting at least from the readers’ perspective. The theories are also seen as trying to substitute each other, either from the theoreticians’ point of view or from the readers’ point of view. Maybe it is through these contests and the urge to substitute, more and more theories are constructed to explain race and ethnicity. However, instead of contesting and substituting, the theories should also be read as complementing. Sociology is a field that enables society to be understood. Theories related to race and ethnicity should be stitched together to provide the big picture which ultimately leads readers to understand race and ethnicity phenomena. Therefore, this paper focuses on the thoughts of three social analysts, viz., Banton, Geertz and Eriksen. Their contributions to the understanding of race and ethnicity are immense and have never failed to generate discussions and development relating to these areas. By studying and laying out their ideas in complimenting nature, the big picture of what is race and ethnicity could be developed. The big picture is vital and will give significant input to the understanding of issues related to race and ethnicity, particularly in the plural societies such as Malaysia