BBL 3206 Malaysian Literature in English The (Malay) Malaysian Writer’s Dilemma & The Modern Malay Dilemma

The (Malay) Malaysian Writer’s Dilemma by Salleh Ben Joned The Bumi Dilemma - To be or not to be a part of a “protected species” as stated in the New Economic Policy (INEP)

The (Malay) Malaysian Writer’s Dilemma by Salleh Ben Joned Separated into two principal groups Malay writer - Writes only for Malay audience Malaysian writer of Malay origin Writes for everyone – the world - Fidelity or loyalty towards his or her ethnicity and religion is thus questioned - “ as a writer I recognise only one loyalty: loyalty to truth and beauty, just and freedom” - “..for Malays, this betrayal is a form of apostasy, apostasy from the religion of race, which can be a worse charge than apostasy from the religion of the race.”

The Modern Malay Dilemma by Karim Raslan The predicaments of the Malay community Religious conversation * “Malaysians and especially the Malay community are in danger of becoming obsessed with microscopic issues of ritual and doctrine. Piety is all important.” * Excessive attention is given on insignificant issues such as public flogging, the appropriate garb for women etc.

The Modern Malay Dilemma by Karim Raslan Under-performing Malay males due to the frail education system “They are less well-educated and therefore more likely end up unemployed and frustrated.” - “Why are we failing to create a cadre of globalised Malays that matches our own economic aspirations? Could it be that their inability to speak English and or Mandarin makes them unprofitable and less attractive workers?”

The Modern Malay Dilemma by Karim Raslan The solution? Openness: “We cannot address the country’s weaknesses unless and until we try to create a truly global agenda for the Malay community.” * Religious conservatism should be abolished - The learning of contemporary knowledge should be strongly promoted * The system should be revised thoroughly - Malay students must be exposed to other culture and language - Malay students must become trilingual - Creativity, independent thinking and risk taking must be instilled in them

The Modern Malay Dilemma by Karim Raslan The NEP should be modified so that the Malay community could come out of its comfy cocoon and metamorphose into a more dynamic, competitive community * “Openness then also refers to the need to ‘open’ the community up to the harsh realities of globalization. Only exposure to greater competition will make the Malays more resilient and competitive. Continuing the present policies encourages mediocrity, laziness and stupidity.”