Effects of government policy toward inter ethnic relations in Malaysia in context of creation of 'Bangsa Malaysia'

Abstract

Inter ethnic relations in Malaysia has its shown an unstable patterns over the years. In most multiethnic society integration is an important issue. Most ends up with violence and even worst civil wars. It's considered as a natural process of nation building in multi ethnic society like Malaysia. The result or patterns of ethnic relations that developed in Malaysia for the past 50 years, believed to be a product of government policy in their effort in nurturing integration and achieving socioeconomic equality among races in the early years of nation building process. This paper intent to study how depth government policy such as NEP has affected inter ethnic relations in Malaysia after 50 years. With the emergence of new issues among component parties in BN that affected recent election result, it seems important to tackle the problem from the root causes. Somehow the root causes of such phenomenon lies in very shaky and loose ties between ethnics in Malaysia. How far the existing pattern of ethnic relations in Malaysia is a result of government policy and how far it would affect the human security and later the creation of Bangsa Malaysia as visioned in 2020.