CMIWS Professors in the news

Bernama: Nation State Concept Will Never Threaten Malay Rights
By Soraya Jamal

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- The nation state concept will never water down or dispute the Malay supremacy as the rights of the Malays is well entrenched in the Constitution.

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM)s senior fellow for the Centre for Media and Information Warfare Studies (CMIWS), Prof Madya Munis Paran told this to Bernama, here, recently.

"The position of the Malay rulers, Bahasa Melayu as the national language, Islam as the official religion and the special rights of the Bumiputera is well enshrined in the Constitution. The concept of the nation state integration can never dispute whatever is written in the Constitution", he said.

Munis Paran said in the nation state concept, the 'state' is an organisation created by the people and should exhibit four features - the sovereignty, territory, population and the government.

As for the 'nation', it refers to a group of people united regardless ethnicity, race, culture, language, religious belief and so for.

'SOFT POWER' APPROACH

In the creation of the state, 'hard' power like the military and security are needed but in the creation of the nation, a 'soft' power approach is used like the public diplomacy.

Munis Paran said, only when a nation is strong that a formidable state will take shape.

But some times, a state can be fragmented if there are hitches in the building up of the nation.

"If the nation is fragmented, then the nation would face chaos. A state that fails to construct racial integration is a country that is shaky and threatened with annihilation and obliteration.

For example, the Soviet Union, which was formerly, a nation state, but became fragmented due to problems in creating the nation", he said.

SEMINAR ON RACIAL INTEGRATION

Based on this point, CMIWS will organise a national-level seminar to look into the latest issues related to racial integration.

Themed the "National Integration and United Nation-State of Malaysia", the seminar delved into, among else the effective way to bridge racial divides as well as new proposals that can be submitted to the government.

Other issues like globalisation and foreign policies effects on the development of a nation state would also be discussed.

Director for CMIWS, Prof Madya Rajib Ghani, said the seminars main objective is for the building of a strong nation.

"The accord that has been in existence is getting wobbly. To remind Malaysians, that our life in a state and as an international community is a life of integration, hence the need for us to maintain harmony", said Rajib.

SOLUTION OF INTEGRATION ISSUES

Rajib said each of the world's communities is always confronted by conflicts since being only human, they have many differences.

"Hence, we have to look for ways towards finding solutions for issues related to racial integration without sacrificing each of the respective special features. The methods used should be also be calm and peaceful", he said.

The seminar, to be held in Shah Alam from June 23 until 25, would have participants, among others, from government departments, non-governmental organisations, students and social activists.

The event is opened to all.

Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim, Prof Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, Dr Mohd Azam Adil, Dr Muhammad Othman El-Muhamady, Prof Dr Jayum Jawan, Prof Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi, Steven C.M Wong and Datuk Seri Prof Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah would be tabling their working papers.