pywong
22nd November 2008, 05:17 PM
One speech by Raja Nazrin... and three reports... or is it spins. How to interpret – see who controls the paper and what is their agenda.
1. Bernama:
Immigrant Communities Should Demonstrate Respect For Local Traditions, Says Raja Nazrin
2. The Malaysianinsider:
Raja Nazrin: We must embrace multiculturalism
3. The Star:
Multi-cultural societies no longer the exception: Raja Nazrin
______________________________________________
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=372796
Immigrant Communities Should Demonstrate Respect For Local Traditions, Says Raja Nazrin
November 19, 2008 17:31 PM
PETALING JAYA, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Immigrant communities living in recipient countries should demonstrate the spirit of respect for and acceptance of local traditions, local history and their system of government, the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, said Wednesday.
"A spirit as reflected in the Malay saying of 'Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung'," he said when opening the fifth Diversity Matters Forum on "Diasporas in the Commonwealth" at Monash University in Bandar Sunway, here.
As such, he said, the notion that the burden of responsibility rested solely with the receiving countries was perhaps misplaced when asking where would the line be drawn between the individual's right to live the life he or she chose and the need to forge a cohesive society.
Raja Dr Nazrin said that in receiving countries, public debate about immigration had driven national politics, with the recent electoral campaigns in Australia and the United States each devoting substantial attention to the topic.
Immigrants, he said, were often blamed for disrupting civil society, draining public coffers and lowering wages. At the same time, skilled immigrants receive credit for spurring innovation and the growth of technology sectors.
"To the extent that immigrants pay taxes and have the right to benefit from public services, they change the net tax burden on native residents. Once they become citizens, immigrants generally obtain the right to vote, altering domestic politics," he said.
He said there were also sizeable effects on the sending countries when emigration brought about financial windfall in the form of remittances but they were also drained of their most educated workers.
Raja Dr Nazrin said the economic gains on the receiving countries were enormous in that migrants formed a willing and energetic workforce, a thriving pool of taxpayers and a growing domestic market for goods and services.
They also take an active part in the social life and governance of their adopted countries and many emerge as top government officials, brilliant academics and business personalities, he said.
"Malaysia is a prime example of how a diaspora of Chinese, Indians and other races have led to the creation of a more heterogeneous and prosperous state. Today, all are integral to the Malaysian landscape; all belong. At the same time, Malaysians from all walks of life can be found all over the world and many have distinguished themselves in various fields."
Raja Dr Nazrin said diasporas can only be consistent with pluralistic societies, which not only tolerated but appreciated and encouraged the active participation of people of different races, cultures and lifestyles.
Fundamental to the creation of truly pluralistic societies, he said, were two fundamental principles - equality and fairness.
He said the principles of equality and fairness suggested a preferred policy of integration rather than assimilation.
"Integration accepts and enlists; it does not coerce. It respects and values differences as legitimate. Integration seeks a confederation of peoples and cultures unified by common values and voluntarily cooperating towards the common good.
"Assimilation on the other hand, seeks to change language, customs, religions and even worldviews. Nation-building was once thought to be impossible unless differences were subsumed into the dominant norm. Most of the time this has been achieved through relentless and merciless force."
"In the name of unity, immigrants have been forced to change their names, banned from using their mother tongue and prevented from holding certain jobs."
Raja Dr Nazrin said the integrationist path to nation-building was a difficult one to pursue and in many ways it was even more difficult than attempts at forced assimilation.
In all of human history, he said, wars had been waged over attempts to compel dissimilar communities either to fit into a uniform mould or else forcibly exclude them.
Sadly, he said, even today there were those whose primary response to diversity is to pound those who were dissimilar into submission.
"They often react to diversity by insisting on socio-cultural uniformity rather than adaptability," he said.
He, however, admitted that integrationist approaches were beset by their own problems and some countries that practiced multiculturalism ended up having significant enclaves of isolated and alienated communities.
"Each community stays in its own little box without contact with other communities. These communities are not bound by common ties or interests with mainstream society. Rather, they regard their adopted country in a purely utilitarian way, as places to eke out a living rather than a
cherished homeland."
Saying that integration was a gradual process consisting of many acts overt many generations, Raja Dr Nazrin said that immigrants, by and large, had common needs and wants like food on the table, money to spend, education for their children and to be able to lead useful lives.
"They desire good homes, a physically secure environment, good healthcare and protection in their golden years. But many, especially those of subsequent generations, will also yearn for a deep sense of belonging and identity. To be incorporated into the wider community and not be treated as
strangers."
In this regard, Raja Dr Nazrin said the fact that some Commonwealth governments had introduced deliberate diversity policies in their public services was timely and responsive, which could have manifold consequences down the line.
"Diversity needs to be promoted at every level, down to local governments and communities. The idea behind multiculturalism is that countries with people of different cultural backgrounds should allow them to live a free life without being forced to do things they don't want to," he said.
Multicultural societies, he said, were fast becoming the rule rather than the exception.
But he said that contrary to the rhetoric, multiculturalism was not becoming a source of strength as mankind was failing badly towards the creation of a sense of community as race, culture and religion had now become the dominant discourse.
"When we think of social fragmentation as good rather than bad, something is awfully wrong. Our moral gyroscope has gone completely awry. If we continue on the present path, great dangers lie ahead.
"We must avoid falling into a new and destructive form of modern day tribalism. Nothing is inevitable. Cultures can cooperate as much as clash."
Raja Dr Nazrin stressed that "we need to reclaim religion from those who would distort its truths" and "reject radicalism and extremism of all types".
The two-day conference is being organised by the Australian Multicultural Foundation in partnership with the Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements, the Commonwealth Foundation, Monash University, The Statesman of India, and the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute.
The conference will deliberate several topics, including the role of diasporas in helping to achieve the Commonwealth's vision and mandates and the part diasporas can play in shaping and implementing Commonwealth programmes. -- BERNAMA
____
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/12720-raja-nazrin-we-must-embrace-multiculturalism
Raja Nazrin: We must embrace multiculturalism
By Debra Chong
PETALING JAYA, Nov 19 - Perak Raja Muda Raja Nazrin Shah said today Malaysians must embrace multiculturalism and reclaim reclaim religion from those who distort the truth.
He pointed out that people of different cultural backgrounds should be allowed to live their lives freely without being forced to do things they do not want to do.
The crown prince also warned against the dangers of modern day tribalism, and pointed out that great dangers lie ahead "if we continue on our present path."
"What characterises democratic life is that it is the person who decides whether he or she wants to adjust and be absorbed or remain aloof.
"At the same time, the need to forge a community of people with shared values and interests remains paramount," he said.
Raja Nazrin said this in his keynote address when launching the fifth "Diversity Matters" conference, a Commonwealth forum on cultural diversity, held at the local branch of Monash University here today.
The crown prince also touched on religious radicalism in his speech.
"We need to reclaim religion from those who would distort its truths. We must reject radicalism and extremism of all types.
"If there is someone in my society who is hungry, or unemployed or sick and cannot afford treatment, then it diminishes me even if he is of a different race or religion," he elaborated.
Multiculturalism, he said, is fast becoming the rule rather than the exception
Raja Nazrin observed how people of different ethnicities and religion had settled down in Malaysia and helped create a "more heterogeneous and prosperous state".
"Today, all are integral to the Malaysian landscape," he added, emphasizing that "all belong."
He also noted that at the same time, Malaysians in their national identity, had ventured all over the world and carved a name for themselves in various industries.
Raja Nazrin pointed out, however, that many pluralistic societies failed to take advantage of the inherent ethnic and religious differences in their people and turn them into a source of strength.
"If we continue on the present path, great dangers lie ahead.
"We must avoid falling into a new and destructive form of modern day tribalism."
He also called for a serious study of diversity and multiculturalism.
Raja Nazrin stressed that diversity is "essential" to the development of a strong, progressive and united nation. As such, it needed to be promoted at every level of society, from the government down to the grassroots.
"A pluralistic society is one that not only tolerates but appreciates and encourages the active participation of those of different races, cultures and lifestyles," he said.
He explained that principles of equality and fairness were necessary to the creation of a "truly pluralistic society."
____
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/11/19/nation/20081119150132&sec=nation
Multi-cultural societies no longer the exception: Raja Nazrin
By SHAHANAAZ HABIB Wed Nov 19, 2008 MYT 3:36:10 PM
PETALING JAYA: Mankind is failing badly at creating a sense of community in multi-cultural societies and great dangers lie ahead if it continues on this path, said Raja Nazrin Shah.
The Perak Raja Muda said multi-cultural societies were fast becoming the rule rather than the exception.
"Contrary to the rhetoric, however, it is not becoming a source of strength. Instead race, culture and religion have become the dominant discourse.
"When we think of social fragmentation as good rather than bad, something is awfully wrong. Our moral gyroscopes have gone completely awry. If we continue on the present path great dangers lie ahead," he said Wednesday in his address at the Diversity Matters Forum on Diaspora in the Commonwealth at Monash University's Sunway campus.
Raja Nazrin warned that society must avoid falling into a new and destructive form of "modern day tribalism."
"Nothing is inevitable. Cultures can co-operate as much as clash," he said.
He added that people need to reclaim religion from those who distort its truths and reject radicalism and extremism of all types.
"If there is someone in my society who is hungry, or unemployed or sick and cannot afford treatment, then it diminishes me even if he is of a different race or religion," he added.
Malaysia, he said, is a prime example of how a diaspora of Chinese, Indian and other races have led to the creation of a more heterogeneous and prosperous state.
He noted that a pluralistic society is one that not only tolerates but appreciates and encourages the active participation of those of different races, cultures and lifestyles.
Fundamental to this, he said, is the principle of equality and fairness particularly in the application of the rule of law.
Touching on Britain's Scarman Report which pointed out how minorities often had difficulty getting good behaviour from the police and felt discriminated against, Raja Nazrin said, while he did not want to reduce the problem of managing diversity to a matter of law, this, however was a "most basic building block underpinning pluralism".
Raja Nazrin also said that the principles of equality and fairness suggest a preferred policy of integration rather than assimilation.
"Integration accepts and enlists; it does not coerce. It respects and values differences as legitimate. Assimilation, on the other hand, seeks to change language, customs, religions and even world views," he said.
Even so, he said, integration is in many ways more difficult than "forced assimilation" as it ends up at times with countries having enclaves of isolated and alienated communities - each staying in its own little box - without contact with the others.
Raja Nazrin believed that integration should be a gradual process consisting of many acts over many generations.
He said people with different cultural backgrounds should be allowed to live a free life without being forced to do things they did not want to do but at the same time forging a community of people with shared values and interests should be paramount.
1. Bernama:
Immigrant Communities Should Demonstrate Respect For Local Traditions, Says Raja Nazrin
2. The Malaysianinsider:
Raja Nazrin: We must embrace multiculturalism
3. The Star:
Multi-cultural societies no longer the exception: Raja Nazrin
______________________________________________
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=372796
Immigrant Communities Should Demonstrate Respect For Local Traditions, Says Raja Nazrin
November 19, 2008 17:31 PM
PETALING JAYA, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Immigrant communities living in recipient countries should demonstrate the spirit of respect for and acceptance of local traditions, local history and their system of government, the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, said Wednesday.
"A spirit as reflected in the Malay saying of 'Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung'," he said when opening the fifth Diversity Matters Forum on "Diasporas in the Commonwealth" at Monash University in Bandar Sunway, here.
As such, he said, the notion that the burden of responsibility rested solely with the receiving countries was perhaps misplaced when asking where would the line be drawn between the individual's right to live the life he or she chose and the need to forge a cohesive society.
Raja Dr Nazrin said that in receiving countries, public debate about immigration had driven national politics, with the recent electoral campaigns in Australia and the United States each devoting substantial attention to the topic.
Immigrants, he said, were often blamed for disrupting civil society, draining public coffers and lowering wages. At the same time, skilled immigrants receive credit for spurring innovation and the growth of technology sectors.
"To the extent that immigrants pay taxes and have the right to benefit from public services, they change the net tax burden on native residents. Once they become citizens, immigrants generally obtain the right to vote, altering domestic politics," he said.
He said there were also sizeable effects on the sending countries when emigration brought about financial windfall in the form of remittances but they were also drained of their most educated workers.
Raja Dr Nazrin said the economic gains on the receiving countries were enormous in that migrants formed a willing and energetic workforce, a thriving pool of taxpayers and a growing domestic market for goods and services.
They also take an active part in the social life and governance of their adopted countries and many emerge as top government officials, brilliant academics and business personalities, he said.
"Malaysia is a prime example of how a diaspora of Chinese, Indians and other races have led to the creation of a more heterogeneous and prosperous state. Today, all are integral to the Malaysian landscape; all belong. At the same time, Malaysians from all walks of life can be found all over the world and many have distinguished themselves in various fields."
Raja Dr Nazrin said diasporas can only be consistent with pluralistic societies, which not only tolerated but appreciated and encouraged the active participation of people of different races, cultures and lifestyles.
Fundamental to the creation of truly pluralistic societies, he said, were two fundamental principles - equality and fairness.
He said the principles of equality and fairness suggested a preferred policy of integration rather than assimilation.
"Integration accepts and enlists; it does not coerce. It respects and values differences as legitimate. Integration seeks a confederation of peoples and cultures unified by common values and voluntarily cooperating towards the common good.
"Assimilation on the other hand, seeks to change language, customs, religions and even worldviews. Nation-building was once thought to be impossible unless differences were subsumed into the dominant norm. Most of the time this has been achieved through relentless and merciless force."
"In the name of unity, immigrants have been forced to change their names, banned from using their mother tongue and prevented from holding certain jobs."
Raja Dr Nazrin said the integrationist path to nation-building was a difficult one to pursue and in many ways it was even more difficult than attempts at forced assimilation.
In all of human history, he said, wars had been waged over attempts to compel dissimilar communities either to fit into a uniform mould or else forcibly exclude them.
Sadly, he said, even today there were those whose primary response to diversity is to pound those who were dissimilar into submission.
"They often react to diversity by insisting on socio-cultural uniformity rather than adaptability," he said.
He, however, admitted that integrationist approaches were beset by their own problems and some countries that practiced multiculturalism ended up having significant enclaves of isolated and alienated communities.
"Each community stays in its own little box without contact with other communities. These communities are not bound by common ties or interests with mainstream society. Rather, they regard their adopted country in a purely utilitarian way, as places to eke out a living rather than a
cherished homeland."
Saying that integration was a gradual process consisting of many acts overt many generations, Raja Dr Nazrin said that immigrants, by and large, had common needs and wants like food on the table, money to spend, education for their children and to be able to lead useful lives.
"They desire good homes, a physically secure environment, good healthcare and protection in their golden years. But many, especially those of subsequent generations, will also yearn for a deep sense of belonging and identity. To be incorporated into the wider community and not be treated as
strangers."
In this regard, Raja Dr Nazrin said the fact that some Commonwealth governments had introduced deliberate diversity policies in their public services was timely and responsive, which could have manifold consequences down the line.
"Diversity needs to be promoted at every level, down to local governments and communities. The idea behind multiculturalism is that countries with people of different cultural backgrounds should allow them to live a free life without being forced to do things they don't want to," he said.
Multicultural societies, he said, were fast becoming the rule rather than the exception.
But he said that contrary to the rhetoric, multiculturalism was not becoming a source of strength as mankind was failing badly towards the creation of a sense of community as race, culture and religion had now become the dominant discourse.
"When we think of social fragmentation as good rather than bad, something is awfully wrong. Our moral gyroscope has gone completely awry. If we continue on the present path, great dangers lie ahead.
"We must avoid falling into a new and destructive form of modern day tribalism. Nothing is inevitable. Cultures can cooperate as much as clash."
Raja Dr Nazrin stressed that "we need to reclaim religion from those who would distort its truths" and "reject radicalism and extremism of all types".
The two-day conference is being organised by the Australian Multicultural Foundation in partnership with the Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements, the Commonwealth Foundation, Monash University, The Statesman of India, and the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute.
The conference will deliberate several topics, including the role of diasporas in helping to achieve the Commonwealth's vision and mandates and the part diasporas can play in shaping and implementing Commonwealth programmes. -- BERNAMA
____
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/12720-raja-nazrin-we-must-embrace-multiculturalism
Raja Nazrin: We must embrace multiculturalism
By Debra Chong
PETALING JAYA, Nov 19 - Perak Raja Muda Raja Nazrin Shah said today Malaysians must embrace multiculturalism and reclaim reclaim religion from those who distort the truth.
He pointed out that people of different cultural backgrounds should be allowed to live their lives freely without being forced to do things they do not want to do.
The crown prince also warned against the dangers of modern day tribalism, and pointed out that great dangers lie ahead "if we continue on our present path."
"What characterises democratic life is that it is the person who decides whether he or she wants to adjust and be absorbed or remain aloof.
"At the same time, the need to forge a community of people with shared values and interests remains paramount," he said.
Raja Nazrin said this in his keynote address when launching the fifth "Diversity Matters" conference, a Commonwealth forum on cultural diversity, held at the local branch of Monash University here today.
The crown prince also touched on religious radicalism in his speech.
"We need to reclaim religion from those who would distort its truths. We must reject radicalism and extremism of all types.
"If there is someone in my society who is hungry, or unemployed or sick and cannot afford treatment, then it diminishes me even if he is of a different race or religion," he elaborated.
Multiculturalism, he said, is fast becoming the rule rather than the exception
Raja Nazrin observed how people of different ethnicities and religion had settled down in Malaysia and helped create a "more heterogeneous and prosperous state".
"Today, all are integral to the Malaysian landscape," he added, emphasizing that "all belong."
He also noted that at the same time, Malaysians in their national identity, had ventured all over the world and carved a name for themselves in various industries.
Raja Nazrin pointed out, however, that many pluralistic societies failed to take advantage of the inherent ethnic and religious differences in their people and turn them into a source of strength.
"If we continue on the present path, great dangers lie ahead.
"We must avoid falling into a new and destructive form of modern day tribalism."
He also called for a serious study of diversity and multiculturalism.
Raja Nazrin stressed that diversity is "essential" to the development of a strong, progressive and united nation. As such, it needed to be promoted at every level of society, from the government down to the grassroots.
"A pluralistic society is one that not only tolerates but appreciates and encourages the active participation of those of different races, cultures and lifestyles," he said.
He explained that principles of equality and fairness were necessary to the creation of a "truly pluralistic society."
____
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/11/19/nation/20081119150132&sec=nation
Multi-cultural societies no longer the exception: Raja Nazrin
By SHAHANAAZ HABIB Wed Nov 19, 2008 MYT 3:36:10 PM
PETALING JAYA: Mankind is failing badly at creating a sense of community in multi-cultural societies and great dangers lie ahead if it continues on this path, said Raja Nazrin Shah.
The Perak Raja Muda said multi-cultural societies were fast becoming the rule rather than the exception.
"Contrary to the rhetoric, however, it is not becoming a source of strength. Instead race, culture and religion have become the dominant discourse.
"When we think of social fragmentation as good rather than bad, something is awfully wrong. Our moral gyroscopes have gone completely awry. If we continue on the present path great dangers lie ahead," he said Wednesday in his address at the Diversity Matters Forum on Diaspora in the Commonwealth at Monash University's Sunway campus.
Raja Nazrin warned that society must avoid falling into a new and destructive form of "modern day tribalism."
"Nothing is inevitable. Cultures can co-operate as much as clash," he said.
He added that people need to reclaim religion from those who distort its truths and reject radicalism and extremism of all types.
"If there is someone in my society who is hungry, or unemployed or sick and cannot afford treatment, then it diminishes me even if he is of a different race or religion," he added.
Malaysia, he said, is a prime example of how a diaspora of Chinese, Indian and other races have led to the creation of a more heterogeneous and prosperous state.
He noted that a pluralistic society is one that not only tolerates but appreciates and encourages the active participation of those of different races, cultures and lifestyles.
Fundamental to this, he said, is the principle of equality and fairness particularly in the application of the rule of law.
Touching on Britain's Scarman Report which pointed out how minorities often had difficulty getting good behaviour from the police and felt discriminated against, Raja Nazrin said, while he did not want to reduce the problem of managing diversity to a matter of law, this, however was a "most basic building block underpinning pluralism".
Raja Nazrin also said that the principles of equality and fairness suggest a preferred policy of integration rather than assimilation.
"Integration accepts and enlists; it does not coerce. It respects and values differences as legitimate. Assimilation, on the other hand, seeks to change language, customs, religions and even world views," he said.
Even so, he said, integration is in many ways more difficult than "forced assimilation" as it ends up at times with countries having enclaves of isolated and alienated communities - each staying in its own little box - without contact with the others.
Raja Nazrin believed that integration should be a gradual process consisting of many acts over many generations.
He said people with different cultural backgrounds should be allowed to live a free life without being forced to do things they did not want to do but at the same time forging a community of people with shared values and interests should be paramount.