CHANDRA Muzaffar’s letter titled “Make Malaysian sovereignty the goal” (May 15) is an about-turn from his earlier position when he came out publicly in the media to promote the Barisan Nasional in the run-up to the 12th general election.

His view on and of the nation is very muddled and this comes through in his opinion letter.

The nation has existed from day one as anyone with the most basic knowledge on the subject will point out. To indicate otherwise is an insult to Malaysia’s standing as an nationally independent state.

Nation-building is not about building the nation; it is about strengthening and uniting the nation. His assumption that the nation has only just emerged is therefore mistaken and wrong and politically a very pro-establishment take on the subject.

Now that he is suggesting the Malaysian nation has come to exist, he is obviously seeking to dissociate himself from what he had assiduously stood for.

He must have his nose very close to the ground lest politics make him soon irrelevant!


Dr Vejai Balasubramaniam
Centre for Policy Research and International Studies
Universiti Sains Malaysia

Source: The Sun – May 20, 2008