Vol. 16, No.2 (1-15), ISSN: 1823-884x 1 MULTIKULTURALISME DALAM NARATIF SEJARAH NASIONAL MALAYSIA (Multiculturalism in Narrative of Malaysian National History) Mohd Adib Akmal Ahmad Shatir, Zubaidah Hamzah ABSTRAK Di Malaysia, politik identiti telah menjadi salah satu fenomena yang melatar perhubungan etnik masyarakatnya. Masyarakat Malaysia masih belum menemui formula yang konklusif untuk membina perpaduan tuntas. Identiti nasional yang menjadi instrumen perpaduan masih berhadapan kemelut penerimaan kolektif masyarakat ekoran orientasinya dilihat agak eksklusif. Dalam merungkai eksklusiviti itu, sesetengah pihak mengharapkan idea multikulturalisme dipegang sebagai tunggak identiti Malaysia. Saranan ini bagaimanapun sukar diterima. Natijahnya, berlaku polemik identiti yang berterusan di Malaysia, terutama seputar kedudukan bahasa dan kebudayaan dalam kerangka identiti nasional. Artikel ini cuba menganalisis polemik sejarah nasional Malaysia dalam skema politik identiti itu tadi. Perbincangan menghujahkan, walaupun polemik sejarah nasional berjalan di atas keprihatinan pelbagai, namun, multikulturalisme telah menjadi salah satu paradigma yang paling rancak dipertentangkan. Keadaan ini dihujahkan mempunyai kaitan rapat dengan bentuk ‘Bangsa- Idaman’ berbeza yang dipegang oleh masyarakat Malaysia. Kata kunci: multikulturalisme; masyarakat; identiti nasional; bangsa-idaman, polemik sejarah nasional. ABSTRACT In Malaysia, identity politics has become one of the phenomena behind its ethnic relations that shadowing its society’s ethnic relations. The Malaysian society has yet to find a conclusive formula for building a complete unity. The national identity, which is the instrument of unity, is still facing the collective consent of society as its orientation is rather exclusive. In order to dissolve that element, some advocated the multiculturalism idea to be held as the backbone of Malaysia's identity. However, this idea became problematic. As a result, there is ongoing debate on an identity in Malaysia, especially in terms of language and cultural position within the framework of national identity. This article attempts to analyze Malaysia's national history polemic in the setting of identity politics. We argued, although the polemic of national history was running on various issues, however, multiculturalism has become one of the most contested paradigms. We also argued that there is a close correlation with the different 'Nations of Intent' held by the Malaysian community. Keywords: multiculturalism; society; national identity; nation of intent, polemic of national history.