A Study of “Ketuanan Melayu” in Malaysia

[[abstract]]「馬來至上」(Ketuanan Melayu)是馬來西亞族群政治中一項重要的論述。在這當中，前巫統領袖阿都拉阿末1986年於新加坡發表的演講普遍被視為這個論述的濫觴。近年來，這個字眼在馬來西亞政治裡再一次成為了許多爭議議題的中心，而幾成一種意涵複雜(a multiplicity of meanings)的政治符號。 本文認為，「馬來至上」論述的性質突顯了一種文化霸權的存在。本文首先將通過歷史脈絡的爬梳以瞭解「馬來至上」之演變及形成嘗試論證，「權力」(巫統)建構、操作此論述，藉以合理化其馬來中心的意識形態及實踐。本文希望通過剖析「馬來至上」論述的性質與權力關係，論證「權力」的目的實為欲藉由論述的建構， 以「道德領導」的方式，合理化其支配或宰制他者的結構與關係，並形成一種文化霸權。這種「單一族群至上」的主張不但不符、違反了現代民主政治所主張的平等概念，也對馬來西亞的族群關係造成不利的隔閡。[[abstract]]Ketuanan Melayu is an important discourse in Malaysian ethnic politics. The speech given in Singapore in 1986 by a former UMNO leader Dato’ Abdullah Ahmad marked the beginning of this discourse of Ketuanan Melayu. Recently, this phrase has become so popular in many controversial issues of Malaysian politics and appeared as a political symbol which carries a multiplicity of meanings. This study argues that the discourse of Ketuanan Melayu has proved the existence of cultural hegemony in Malaysia. This study first reviews the development and formation of this discourse, and then examines that the “Power” (UMNO) has been playing a key role that constructs and manipulates this discourse in order to rationalize the ideology and practice of Malay-centrism. By analyzing the discourse of Ketuanan Melayu and its relationship with power, this study attempts to demonstrate that the purposes of the “Power” are to rationalize their dominations and rules of “the other” with the construction of this discourse and the consolidation of the “Moral Leadership” and to eventually form one kind of cultural hegemony. The claim of “Mono-ethnic Supremacy” not only goes against the idea of equality in modern politics but also results in a serious gap in the ethnic relationship of Malaysia.[[note]]碩