IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES SHOULD DEMONSTRATE RESPECT FOR LOCAL TRADITIONS, SAYS REGENT

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Immigrant communities living in recipient countries should demonstrate the spirit of respect for and acceptance of local traditions, local history and their system of government, the Regent of northern state of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, said Wednesday.

"A spirit as reflected in the Malay saying of 'Di mana bumi dipijak, di
situ langit dijunjung' (people should adhere to the local's rules, customs and
culture)," he said when opening the fifth Diversity Matters Forum on
"Diasporas in the Commonwealth" at Monash University in Bandar Sunway,
here.

As such, he said, the notion that the burden of responsibility rested
solely with the receiving countries was perhaps misplaced when asking where
would the
line be drawn between the individual's right to live the life he or she chose
and the need to forge a cohesive society.

Raja Dr Nazrin said that in receiving countries, public debate about
immigration had driven national politics, with the recent electoral campaigns in
Australia and the United States each devoting substantial attention to the
topic.

Immigrants, he said, were often blamed for disrupting civil society,
draining public coffers and lowering wages. At the same time, skilled immigrants
receive credit for spurring innovation and the growth of technology
sectors.

"To the extent that immigrants pay taxes and have the right to benefit from
public services, they change the net tax burden on native residents. Once they
become citizens, immigrants generally obtain the right to vote, altering
domestic politics," he said.

He said there were also sizeable effects on the sending countries when
emigration brought about financial windfall in the form of remittances but they
were also drained of their most educated workers.

Raja Dr Nazrin said the economic gains on the receiving countries were
enormous in that migrants formed a willing and energetic workforce, a thriving
pool of taxpayers and a growing domestic market for goods and services.

They also take an active part in the social life and governance of their
adopted countries and many emerge as top government officials, brilliant
academics and business personalities, he said.

"Malaysia is a prime example of how a diaspora of Chinese, Indians and
other
races have led to the creation of a more heterogeneous and prosperous state.
Today, all are integral to the Malaysian landscape; all belong. At the same
time, Malaysians from all walks of life can be found all over the world and many
have distinguished themselves in various fields."

Raja Dr Nazrin said diasporas can only be consistent with pluralistic
societies, which not only tolerated but appreciated and encouraged the active
participation of people of different races, cultures and lifestyles.

Fundamental to the creation of truly pluralistic societies, he said, were
two fundamental principles - equality and fairness.

He said the principles of equality and fairness suggested a preferred
policy of integration rather than assimilation.

"Integration accepts and enlists; it does not coerce. It respects and
values
differences as legitimate. Integration seeks a confederation of peoples and
cultures unified by common values and voluntarily cooperating towards the common
good.

"Assimilation on the other hand, seeks to change language, customs,
religions and even worldviews. Nation-building was once thought to be impossible
unless differences were subsumed into the dominant norm. Most of the time this
has been achieved through relentless and merciless force."

"In the name of unity, immigrants have been forced to change their names,
banned from using their mother tongue and prevented from holding certain jobs."

Raja Dr Nazrin said the integrationist path to nation-building was a
difficult one to pursue and in many ways it was even more difficult than
attempts at forced assimilation.

In all of human history, he said, wars had been waged over attempts to
compel dissimilar communities either to fit into a uniform mould or else
forcibly exclude them.

Sadly, he said, even today there were those whose primary response to
diversity is to pound those who were dissimilar into submission.

"They often react to diversity by insisting on socio-cultural uniformity
rather than adaptability," he said.

He, however, admitted that integrationist approaches were beset by their
own
problems and some countries that practiced multiculturalism ended up having
significant enclaves of isolated and alienated communities.

"Each community stays in its own little box without contact with other
communities. These communities are not bound by common ties or interests with
mainstream society. Rather, they regard their adopted country in a purely
utilitarian way, as places to eke out a living rather than a cherished
homeland," he said.

Saying that integration was a gradual process consisting of many acts overt
many generations, Raja Dr Nazrin said that immigrants, by and large, had common
needs and wants like food on the table, money to spend, education for their
children and to be able to lead useful lives.

"They desire good homes, a physically secure environment, good healthcare
and protection in their golden years. But many, especially those of subsequent
generations, will also yearn for a deep sense of belonging and identity. To be
incorporated into the wider community and not be treated as strangers."

In this regard, Raja Dr Nazrin said the fact that some Commonwealth
governments had introduced deliberate diversity policies in their public
services was timely and responsive, which could have manifold consequences down
the line.

"Diversity needs to be promoted at every level, down to local governments
and communities. The idea behind multiculturalism is that countries with people
of different cultural backgrounds should allow them to live a free life without
being forced to do things they don't want to," he said.

Multicultural societies, he said, were fast becoming the rule rather than
the exception.

But he said that contrary to the rhetoric, multiculturalism was not
becoming a source of strength as mankind was failing badly towards the creation
of a sense of community as race, culture and religion had now become the
dominant
discourse.

"When we think of social fragmentation as good rather than bad, something
is
awfully wrong. Our moral gyroscope has gone completely awry. If we continue on
the present path, great dangers lie ahead.

"We must avoid falling into a new and destructive form of modern day
tribalism. Nothing is inevitable. Cultures can cooperate as much as clash."

Raja Dr Nazrin stressed that "we need to reclaim religion from those who
would distort its truths" and "reject radicalism and extremism of all
types".

The two-day conference is being organised by the Australian Multicultural
Foundation in partnership with the Monash Institute for the Study of Global
Movements, the Commonwealth Foundation, Monash University, The Statesman of
India, and the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute.

The conference will deliberate several topics, including the role of
diasporas in helping to achieve the Commonwealth's vision and mandates and the
part diasporas can play in shaping and implementing Commonwealth programmes.