To label certain ethnic group as unpatriotic just because the number of Indian and Chinese Malaysians recruits in the army is low is unfair and unjust.
There are many social, economic, cultural and historical factors why the proportion of Chinese and Indian Malaysians in the army is small, but lack of patriotism is definitely not one of reasons.
The role of the army is very important but so are other areas of nation building. The Chinese and Indian Malaysians, by being hardworking, diligent and actively contributing to socio-economic, education, and many other sectors are showing patriotism in a different but equally necessary and important way.
By deducing that a person is unpatriotic just because that person has not joined the army is laughable and would immediately place all civilian Malaysians, including the Yang Berhormat, into the same category .
The Minister of Defence who made such simplistic statement should not question the patriotism of Chinese and Indian Malaysians. The Minister would do well to delve deeper into the reasons rather than making this type of unnecessary statemen
Dr. Hsu's forum 
Nov 10, 2010 @ 18:26:21
Agree 100%!
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Nov 10, 2010 @ 18:47:16
It is an insult to both my parents who had been government primary school teachers for more than 30+ years before retiring.
Is’nt teaching our kids more patriotic than be no-brainer soldier ?
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Nov 10, 2010 @ 19:17:43
I’m 4th generation Malaysian and my family had been paying huge taxes to maintain and pay for education of people like Zahid on crutches. How dare he insult us!
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Nov 10, 2010 @ 20:26:52
50 years ago there were many chinese in the army and were very professional in their job. However over the period of time they became disgruntled, reason they were bypassed for promotion. Unhappiness set in when their students or juniors overtook them in rank.
Favouritism affected them badly.
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Nov 10, 2010 @ 21:08:29
Zahid, you must understand this nut. Look into his personal history in UMNO and perhaps, you won’t get so mad.
Another useless brainless so-called leader.
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Nov 10, 2010 @ 21:33:16
The problem is that we have nuts running the country.
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Nov 10, 2010 @ 22:19:37
Dr
when Sukarno was very against malaysia, he run the indon confrontation against malaysia. The bulk of the fighting such as hunting down the indon paratroopers and marines who landed in pontian were done by the bristish, aussies and kiwis. The butterworth base were there.
The non – bumi were required to report to manpoer Mindef and ready for military training if Indo launch the attack.
Can older ones provide more info on the confrontation?
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Nov 10, 2010 @ 22:49:27
I AGREE WITH DR AND MENG. EVEN FOR THE FEW NON MALAYS TO GET PROMOTED THEY OF COURSE NEED TO CONVERT FIRST!
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Nov 11, 2010 @ 01:55:51
The racially targeted recruitment quota and various legal official discrimination policy practices within the arms forces had been the main reason since 50 years ago as the root cause of low number of non-Malay Malaysians opted army out as future career path. It had been the official policy of the defense department since independence to discourage minority Malaysian from entering the military service base on warped political views.
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Nov 11, 2010 @ 09:28:17
It is pure racism by the minister of defense to claim low number of non Malay want to enroll in the army is because they are unpatriotic, apart from laughable. All Chinese and Indian Malaysians that work in other professions and occupation in Malaysia are as patriotic as any Malaysian in the army, it is an undisputed fact. lol!!
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Nov 11, 2010 @ 09:50:21
I should say the main reason now are racial and religious sentiment in the army. In those days there were atleast 30% of non malays in the army’s Cadet wing in RMC and there were no racial feelings at all. It was a pleasant place to be in and interaction was at the highest.
Many would recall how they have enjoyed their years there. Even the Boys Wing of RMC had a high percentage of chinese.
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Nov 11, 2010 @ 09:54:28
To go off topic the army looks more of a garbage dump and many lack the professional outlook. The reason being politician controlled the army’s decision on matters affecting their professionalism. Weapons not suited were purchased and lump on to the army to use. The army cannot tell the poilitician what they want and need interms of an effective fighting force.
The reason is also on the ‘st*******” of the (editor: deleted since i do not encourage stereotyping any group) army generals who are/were slaves to the politician and the cari makan type looking for promotion. These idiots with the politicain resulted in inferior weapons being purchased.
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Nov 11, 2010 @ 10:04:40
Another point worth mentioning, 50 years ago there were british and malaysian officers from RMC going round the country especially to schools to give talk on recruitment. This attracted alot of chinese into the Boys and Cadet Wing of RMC.
In the fighting units on the ground there were british officers commanding the units and sub units and across the board there were fairness in terms of promotion. Even our malaysian generals never had the racial feelings etc etc.
Not now…
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Nov 11, 2010 @ 10:06:38
it is always wrong to race profile any ethnic group. Chinese wisdom has advised that “never use one bamboo stick to hit all the people in a boat”, meaning that in any group, there will be good or bad people around, and you cannot stereotype any group.
Unfortunately, politicians are blinded by their own ambitions, and often those in high positions and surrounded days and nights with nothing but praises, often become out of touch with the ground. I have seen so many such cases.
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Nov 11, 2010 @ 12:44:27
Dr.Hsu, what do you expect? They are from Ministry of Defence. Luckily not Ministry Of Attack. Otherwise, it will be shoot to kill all and not just simply shoot(answer) to divert the problem raised.
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Nov 11, 2010 @ 16:15:42
Patriotism has to be nurtured, not to be asked or demanded by anyone.
Thailand is a good example for us to learn what ‘patriotism’ is. Its people are patriotic to their country and King even though political parties constantly fighting against each other.
But, can we see such patriotism like Thailand in Malaysia? We can claim we are patriotic but surely not to the same degree like Thailand, why? We all know the answer to this, it is apparent.
If Umno still naive with the reason why, please look at Thailand. Thailand has no Ketuanan Siam, they treat all people as equals even there are many races there like Chinese, Miao, Burmese, Vietnamese there. That kind of environment automatically nurtures patriotism and assimilation to major race, i.e. Siam.
If Malaysia can be like Thailand, only then we can talk about the real patriotism. If not, our patriotism look superficial.
Even Singaporean is better than us in Patriotism. We didn’t hear Chinese first, Malay first, Indian first, Singaporean Second respectively.
In Malaysia, we see DPM proclaimed himself as Malay first, Malaysian second while other Umno ministers dare not even commit themselves which first, which second. How about Zahid Hamidi? Which one first? Can we question them their patriotism if they say they are Malay first, Malaysian second?
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Nov 11, 2010 @ 17:18:42
What will Gerakan do to ensure the new History syllabus reflect the true spirit of Malaysia history ?
What will Gerakan do to ensure merger and acquisition of PLC is done with adherence to rule of law and not arm twisting by the hidden hand ?
What will Gerakan do to ensure appointment of Vice Chancellor of local public uni. is based on merits and needs but not race.
How do Gerakan explain the continue utterance of racist statement by BN’s senior minister ?
Lastly, do Gerakan reconciled its party philosophy of just and equitable and the deteriorating fairness between ethnic groups in Malaysia today.
Lee Kuan Yew once said : 漏气不会死，没气才会死。 So, Gerakan is in which position?
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Nov 11, 2010 @ 21:58:52
Defence with a pea brain? Wonder how safe the country is?
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Nov 11, 2010 @ 23:20:14
Joining the army does not in any way is a show of Patriotism. It is how one perform in the army, devoted to the job and executing the task or mission to the best of one’s ability. The highest patriotism is when you are face to face with the enemy and whether one would chicken out. Thought one may say this is a test of courage but if one has a guts to join the army he must have that guts to face to enemy. …??
How do you classify those who join the army as cari makan types..?
Serving in the army, providing substandard equipment, poor management and wastage of funds, false claims…do you call these officers patriotic. Yes of course by joining the army.
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Nov 11, 2010 @ 23:39:19
Is the defence minister patriotic..yes of course. He wants the generals to fan his bxxx and yes sir yes sir.
There are weapons and arms suppliers running around the corriders in mindef and these idiots will tell the minister your army requires this and that weapon and the minister would tell the army make a paper valuation on it and its effectiveness.
When the valuation indicate a negative report, the officers will be posted out…
The army cannot say what they want and how the battle is to be fought in line with the national defence strategy.
Just like you Doc, you know what medicine to prescribe to your patients. How do you feel when a pea brain comes up and tell you oh you must use this medicine and that. Same to the army…
Well this is patriotic.
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Nov 12, 2010 @ 10:43:38
Why do we even need a ministry of defence? The army never fought any war. It was done by the police. In any war, I dont believe our military can last even one day,
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Nov 12, 2010 @ 15:00:00
It is a wrong assumptiion that the army was never involved in the insurgency war. The army was heavily involved and the police were only on jungle fringe operation.
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Nov 13, 2010 @ 00:21:43
It is plain stupidity to equate ‘patriotic’ with the army, in other words, those in the army are patriotic but those who are not are unpatriotic. Both are mutually exclusive elements. haha…
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Nov 14, 2010 @ 11:09:18
he is as mata sepit as the chinese. and ask him where is his children studying. private or national school? typical of UMNO racial nonsense. as a chinese, how can you support such a racial party and by extension BN.
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