Original Post by Zulfikar Shariff:
"When the PAP government implemented the undeclared policy of banning Malays from National Service between 1967-1977 and partially until 1984… it led to Malay youths not being able to gain employment or enroll in educational courses for about 10 years each.
This racist undeclared policy caused terrible damage to the Malay community that still affect us today.
The ban did not just affect these youth’s economic mobility. Because they were not able to study or work due to the ban, these youths were left in limbo and took up destructive habits.
While today drugs addiction is a major problem for the community, research shows that this habit started only during the period when these youths were forced to be idle.
Prior to the 1970s, the Malays did not have a problem with drugs. Instead, drugs (especially opium) were mainly the Chinese community’s problem.
According to Count-van Manen,
"In 1968, the Singapore Commissioner of Police reported 8,000 opium addicts. In addition, there are 2,000 addicts on morphine and 1,500 on ganja.
The habit of opium smoking once reached that of 'almost a social custom' of hospitality, ritual, and elaborate equipment associated with wealth and status of the Chinese male...
Indian hemp (akin to marijuana) is reported to be used primarily by the Indian (often of low socioeconomic status) segment of the population and, to a lesser degree, by the Malay. Officials report surprisingly little use of marijuana or heroin. Considering that other elements of Western culture have been imported, they are at a loss to explain this phenomenon. Possibly the association of opium use with high socioeconomic status of the Chinese and of marijuana with the relatively low status of many Indians helps to account for this lag."
The main drug abusers were Chinese (opium) and Indian (marijuana).
But when the PAP forced Malay youths into idleness and stopped them from work and study for 10 years, drug addiction began to grow in the community.
According to Tania Li,
"Since Malays were not officially exempted from National Service, Malay youths were unable to obtain apprenticeships or regular jobs, and many were forced into an extended limbo period of about ten years...
Malay organizations protested against this policy, as it was felt that the irregular life-style forced upon these youths was in part responsible for the high percentage of Malay youths who became involved in heroin drug abuse during the late 1970s."
While these youths and the community need to accept some responsibility for their addiction, the PAP should shoulder a major part of the blame too.
The PAP’s racism changed what was originally a problem for the Chinese and Indian communities to become a Malay community problem.
Their racism not only devastated the community’s economic standing but also caused terrible grief to these youths, their families and the community.
References:
Manen, Gloria Count-Van. "A Deviant Case of Deviance: Singapore." Law and Society Review (1971): 389-406.
Li, Tania M. Introduction to Malays in Singapore: Culture. Economy and Ideology. Oxford University Press, 1989."
Comments:
A: I'm more concerned if this post is done by an extremist to provoke social disharmony in Singapore we tried so hard to build, by trying to dig past history where difficult decisions have to be made to ensure our nation survival.
E: :'‑(
This racial subject is very sensitive and should not be discussed here.
A: E, agree but at least this is a closed group. Unlike the original post which is in the public and getting shared all over the internet to provoke social disharmony despite the author has already left Singapore. What's his objective I wonder.
Me: Why the assumption that someone who has criticisms has evil intent?
B: A, glad you agree. There are many mischief makers around and those who start trouble( like the author ) and runs away. Racial harmony is critical to Singapore's survival. We cannot risk our fragile race relationship by online discussion among people some of whom have little knowledge of our racial history but also ready to latch on to whatever snippets have been posted as the truth. There are more pressing and issues that can be fruitfully discussed that are beneficial to most and without the racial implication.
C: So we should just never talk about anyone's experiences eh. Even though they're still alive what they went through is irrelevant. Gotcha.
B: Did I make such a statement ?
Me: Basically you're condemning those who say inconvenient things
D: Agree with Gabriel. Whether it's snippets of information (or misinformation) or first hand experience of racism, to progress as a cohesive society - after 50 years of independence - we need to begin to discuss our past openly.
A: Food for thoughts: Government looking at new steps to protect social harmony: Shanmugam, Politics News & Top Stories - The Straits Times
Me: Yay. More repressive measures incoming.