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KUALA LUMPUR, April 18: “Malaysians can no longer be duped by race based politics”, this was the conclusion reached by Edmund Bon Tai Soon, the immediate past Chairman of the National Young Lawyers Committee at the launching of the MINDA MUDA Research Study on Young Malaysians and National Unity at the Bar Council on the morning of 18 April 2008.

The MINDA MUDA, an acronym for “Menjana Integrasi Nasional Dalam Aspirasi Masyarakat Muda”, was a quantitative survey jointly carried out by The Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) of the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) and the National Young Lawyers Committee (NYLC) of the Bar Council in July and August 2007, covering Malaysians aged between 18 and 35 in Peninsula Malaysia. The study was funded mostly by the Jabatan Perpaduan Negara & Integrasi Nasional (JPNIN). The Press Statement of the launch can be found here.

The parameters of the MINDA MUDA study was based on the results of the CPPS’ qualitative study of national unity amongst young urban Malaysians in the Klang Valley, and the provisions of the Consensus Document which had been prepared pursuant to the 1st Young Malaysians Roundtable Discussion on National Unity & Development in Malaysia “Challenges & Prospects for Nation Building” held in Kuala Lumpur on 3 April 2007. The results of the study was a predictive National Unity Model, evaluating the variables significant to one’s perception of national unity, which gave indications that young Malaysians who have healthy interethnic relationships at the personal level gave lower ratings for unity at the national level.

Tricia Yeoh, Director of the CPPS, presented a powerpoint presentation of the executive summary of the study to an audience of approximately 50, consisting of representatives of NGOs, interested bodies, members of the Bar and Press. This was followed by a robust session of question & answers and opinion-giving from the floor.

The executive summary of the study showed firstly that there were significant differences in responses between urban and rural areas; wherein rural respondents were more optimistic about unity in the country, giving higher ratings to issues of harmony and peace; whereas urban respondents showed a greater level of dissatisfaction. Secondly, significant differences were seen from the responses of the different ethnic groups; with the Chinese being quite pessimistic about their future, followed by the Indians; whereas the Malay people were generally satisfied with their lives in the country. Thirdly, regional differences revealed that the respondents within the Central and Southern regions were less optimistic about national unity than did those in the East and West. Fourthly, those in the younger age group (18-24) responded that they were less likely to mix with others of different ethnicity relative to those in the older age groups (25-35), indicating increasing racial polarization amongst the young.

Tricia concluded that, although the MINDA MUDA had been conducted prior to various historical events culminating in the general change in voters mindset as shown in the recent 12th General Elections, the study is reflective of the disparity between what is experienced versus what is perceived reality; and should be taken as an opportunity for government policies to address unity at the national level, starting with a more open approach to discussing and addressing root causes followed by a bold examination and reassessment of the public policies which adversely affect the socio-economic and socio-political fabric particularly those related to equal opportunity and access to resources as well as those in the spheres of religion, economy and education.

The MINDA MUDA also showed that there exists underlying currents of inter-ethnic tension, made clear by the disparate and differential ratings across the survey. Edmund went further to state his opinion that existing unity campaigns that merely attack the surface of the problem must give way to policies that directly address the issue. He said that work by the JPNIN for example, while far reaching, cannot be continually negated by political led policies from other sectors of the government. Finally, Edmund concluded that although the results were very telling of the graveness of the perception of young Malaysians, it was not too late to be undone if all parties must be willing to work together to achieve this.

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