Patriotism and military service

Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had listed four reasons why non-Malays were not interested in military service. One of the reasons was that non-Malays were “not patriotic”. He made the statement in Dewan Rakyat on 9-11-2010.

Being a non-politician, non-minister, non-academician, and non-lawyer. The statement made me ponder am I patriotic?

According to wikipedia's defination, "Patriotism is a love and devotion to one's country. It has had different meanings over time and its meaning is highly dependent upon context, geography, and philosophy. It is a related sentiment to nationalism, but nationalism is not necessarily an inherent part of patriotism. The English term patriot is first attested in the Elizabethan era, via Middle French from Late Latin (6th century) patriota "fellow countryman", ultimately from Greek patriōtēs "fellow countryman".

As an ordinary citizen, patriotism to me, is to love the country, to love the fellow countryman. It is simple as that. The level of patriotism is subjective, patriotism can be developed from small, in school, at home. Patriotism can come out at the emotional outburst or gradually developed with time. In short term it is loyalty to the state or nation.

Patriotism was at time referred to loyalty to religion , when the religion or nation was one entity. Patriotism may be strengthened by adherence to a national religion,especially when there is no separation of church and state. This patriotism may resulted in abuse of power by religion institution, and religion fanatic, and even religion militarism. In a religion country, patriotism is loyalty to religion, which is identify with nationalism.

Some people referred patriotism to the ruling party of the nation, especially the communist country, one-party ruled country. Patriotism is loyalty to the ruling party, which identified with nationalism. This may happen when one party had been ruling the country for too long or when the opposition is weak, the arrogant of the ruling party has developed into the perception that the ruling party is the nation, a support of opposition is perceived as not patriotic or low patriotism.

Patriotism in a military country is loyalty to the military regime, joined the military forces or support the military rule.

What is patriotism in a democracy country? Democracy is a political form of government in which governing power is derived from the people, either by direct referendum (direct democracy) or by means of elected representatives of the people (representative democracy). The term comes from the Greek: δημοκρατία – (dēmokratía) "rule of the people". A democratic nation is the nation that is ruled by the people, for the people. But today democracy has become a majority ruled democracy, when the minority's view was seen as irrelevant. Democracy is not only representative of the people, the majority; but also the respect of the minority views. Socrates said , "Democracy, which is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequaled alike.".

Democracy should be for respect of diversity and differences; but not absolute democracy where the liberty to do anything even allow for extreme which will destroy a fellow human being. A Chinese scholar trained in the western philosophy once said "Democracy is demon go crazy". That may be true for absolute democracy....So patriotism in democracy is a respect of diversity, even the opposition views....

Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft (conscription). Some nations (e.g. Mexico & Singapore) require a specific amount of military service from each and every one of its citizens (except for special cases such as physical or mental disorders or religious beliefs). A nation with a fully volunteer military does not normally require mandatory military service from its citizens, unless it is faced with a recruitment crisis during a time of war.(source: wikipedia). In Malaysia, there is no national military service, military service is a chosen job.

If military service is a chosen job; under a democratic country there is no compulsive to force the citizen to become a soldier; the nation will through education or provide incentives to attract the citizen to the job. Some country provide scholarship to attract the best brains to the military service; provide better remuneration package e.g accommodation and other incentives, allowances or privileges for the military men. Unless in war, where a democratic country may activate some national law to require the service of able man as soldiers to defense the country. Unlike some western countries, they also called for their young citizen to the military service for wars in other countries, like American in Vietnamese War, Iraq; which may be legal requirement of the nation. Not to enroll as soldier for job is not an act of non-patriotism or low patriotism, but running from the compulsory national military service or a commissioned soldier deserted from the army is an act of military offense and may subject to court martial(military court) , and ultimately punishment. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.

As a Defence Minister, En Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should be careful on his words; not only Non Malay, Malay with tertiary education and good job prospect may not opted for military or police job. The choice of military service or police as career, is the democratic choice of the citizen, it is their basic human right. Unless they are interested in uniform, otherwise many will not enter the military service. There are many reasons why the Non-Malay has no interest to be soldiers, some is due to religion, some religion prohibit military service, even national service. Some is due to culture, military service or any uniform service may not be consider the choice of some community, as they have priority on other alternatives. Some due to their physical condition, as they will not meet the requirement physically. Looking at some countries, the military service will attract young people from the rural areas or the less educated, especially for lower rank military services. As Malaysian are becoming more educated, their choice of careers have increased, they have other better choices, the numbers left for the military service will be limited. This is the trends for many countries.

So what is it to do with patriotism or races?.....

I still remember there are still many non-Malay military men or policemen before the independence, during the colonial days. The Sikh people even have their regiment in the police force. But why there is less Indian now in the military service?. The government should seek for the reasons, and not simply put a remark that is unfounded.

"low patriotism”; Non-Malays are not patriotic enough. All these statement are irresponsible and racist remarks. As a national leader, and especially under the spirit of One Malaysian, the remark is hurting not only to non-Malay, but also to all citizen who are not in military service, as they are now considered as less patriotic by their national leader, or considered as not patriotic enough, or with low patriotism...... what a sad comment from a national leader. Then, please tell us how to be patriotic?.... should we all join the military forces and turn Malaysia into a military country like Burma?....

It is an insult to other patriotic people, who have contributed to the nation, one way or another. Patriotism can be in many forms, not necessary only in uniform. Is the Minister of Defense less patriotic for not in the military service, but become a politician?....

I have the right to speak as I am from the military/police family. My father was a policeman, my uncle were military men during the Emergency and Confrontation, now their children are not in the military service, do you considered the family members of the early military men less patriotic than their fathers?.....Their father are fighting for the nation, and their children are considered as less patriotic? how about the contribution of their children in the economic development of the nation? and their contribution by faithfully paying taxes to support the civil services and national budget(which included the military forces)...please tell us how the country defined Patriotism?

Is the act of corruption and wastage of national fund and people's money, more patriotic to the nation? or an act of inequality more patriotic to the nation? Is there double standard in patriotism, or a nation within a nation in policy? A "patriot's nation" within a Malaysian nation....Tell me who are the patriot?....

Patriotism is from the heart, from the act; not from the mouth; especially from a government servants who can't even know how to fly a national flag properly or keep the national flag clean.....

It is also sad that some even do not admit they are Malaysian, they still cherish the old days of Malayan, or specific religion, or specific race; but not Malaysia as nation, not Malaysian as fellow citizen. They cannot accept the diversity in Malaysia. If they cannot identify with Malaysia, are they patriotic?....

It will be better if the national leaders will be less racist, playing less politic, and talk less bureaucratic language, all these remarks are the "less patriotic remarks" to the people,as it creates more confusion, and chaos in the mind of the people. The act of the national leader is not patriotic if they are only serving a specific community, a specific political party when they are voted by people as federal leader, as leader of the nation. If they did that, they failed as Malaysian, and failed their duty as a leader, a Malaysian leader....

Ask what you have done for the nation, and not other have done for the nation....A Malaysian leader is for all Malaysian, one Malaysia, and for multi-racial, multi religion Malaysia, and for Malaysia in diversity.....and that is patriotism....and a patriotic leader....he truly represented all Malaysian, served all Malaysian... regardless of skin color, religion and political inclination, that is the role and duty of patriotic leader to the nation.

When you are elected as a leader, and appointed as federal minister, you lost the identity of individual, community, political party in the official capacity. You represented Malaysia, a nation of multi-racial and multi-religion country. It is high time the national leader re-visited the history lesson of nation formation, and know their role as national leader, and understand the meaning of a country , Malaysia as a nation....not as a community or as political party.....