Can we not be just Malay, Chinese, Indian, but just Malaysian with a big, fat full stop right at the back?
Today, a lecturer came in to talk about ethnicity, race and health. He was a British Indian. Give that talk in Malaysia when you are not a Malay, and I do not know what will become of you.
Because it seems like we are programmed to be racists. And chances of you being fine if you are racists in a multi-racial country would be better if the numbers side you.
But why create numbers instead of unity? I'm not wanting uniformity. No, i can't imagine waking up one day knowing that everybody is speaking in perfect Bahasa Baku without foreign accents. I can't imagine if all of us eat nasi lemak and rendang and exclude good stuff like kolo mee just because it's not something everybody can eat. But unity in the midst of difference. Why not?
Let me write a short excerpt of the lecture. Not extremely accurate, but something in it struck me so badly i needed to share this.
Prof was asking students to self reflect upon their ethnicity. Prof then asked students to volunteer to talk about their ethnicity.
Aqtar raises hand in the air.
Prof: yes?
A: I'm Malaysian. My mum's Pakistani, my dad's Indian. I don't know what I am.
*lecture theatre filled with laughter*
P: But you were born in Malaysia?
A: Yes
P: Were your parents born here.
A: Yes.
P *looks towards main audience*: Malaysia is made up of 3 main ethnic groups. Chinese, Malay and Indians. (Charis in shock. He knew! who knew.)
P: So do you consider yourself Indian Muslim?
A: Because I'm a Muslim so i mixed more with the muslims who are mainly Malay. So i consider myself Malay.... I'm closer to my Mum side and she's a muslim.... Malaysia's mainly muslim country...
P: What do other Malaysian Malays perceive you as?
A: *turns to farah and redhuan sitting next to him*
R: Malay
F: Malay (ok, i can't remember too much here...something about Islam again)
P: So, as i've mentioned earlier, religion does define ethnicity...So are there any malaysian chinese here?
*a show of fingers immediately point to THE malaysian chinese row*
P: So, what do you think of him?
Sam: Malay.
P: So are you more comfortable with the tag 'Malay then indian muslim?
A: Yes
P: How about Malaysian?
A: yes.
P:.............. anybody else?
Amalina raises hand
A: I'm Malaysian, Malay dad chinese mom (not sure whether i got this right, but it's half malay, half chinese lah)
P: So do you feel more malay or chinese?
A: Malay
P: Are you more comfortable with people calling you malay or malay chinese?
A: Malay.
P: Do your Malaysian friends see you as Malay or Chinesse, or Malay chinese?
A: Malay
P: Are you comfortable with the tag Malaysian Malay?
A: Yes
P: Are you comfortable with the tag Malaysian, full stop?
A: Yes.
Won't it be great? To recognise your differences and be proud of it? And even laugh over our ethnic difference together? But for now, ethnic or to Malaysians, the racial issue is still there. And to make things worse, it's a taboo. Both to the people and to the government. Of course, racial issues can be sensitive, but why can't we be open about it? I'm not demanding stuff like the majority shouldn't be taken care of, I just hope that the welfare of the people will be taken care of according to need, and not according to skin colour or race. It only make sense for the people's representative to take care of those who really need it. Why treat the healthy?
But then again, I can't really be in a position to talk much about this, before anybody gets paranoid enough to think that i'm talking about special privileges of the malays. Yes, i resolved that it's a done deal, and we shouldn't go against a done deal and break our promises.
For an analogy, let's say, a very rich person has 10 sons and 2 extremely poor neighbours. The rich person was about to passed away when he talks to his 10 sons. He told his eldest son that he will inherit whatever he has. But he also has to take care of all 9 other brothers because they own a tenth each of the possesions, just that the eldest will manage it. He also instructs the eldest to take care of the 2 poor neighbours. They don't own any share in the possessions, but this father made a deal with these neighbours that as long as his family is prosperous, he will not forsake them. The father tells the son that he has to make sure that he gives the neighbours food when they need it.
After the father passed away, the sons agreed to let the eldest one manage the properties, but all of them know they each own a tenth of the father's properties. A year later, a drought happened. The 2 neighbours came to the family, and talked about the deal they had with the father. They just wanted enough food for themselves as the bad weather has dried up the land. All the other sons who didn't know about the deal were outraged. Why should an outsider demand a part in our possesions?
In this case, it would be futile for the neighbours to explain any thing, unless the eldest steps in to talk about his father's will. Or it could turn into a sad sad story.
How does the story continue? It's up to you Malaysia.
2 comments:
Excellent analogy, Charis! If Malaysians continue to label themselves by their own ethnicity, I wonder WHEN our country could ever break out of this paradigm. However, it's almost impossible to change things overnight. Give Malaysia some more time~ ;)
thanks. ya, we need time but we need effort too! it's been 50 long years! and have we even started the first step? ok, maybe introducing BM was a good thing, but making it compulsory for certain things were a bit dodgy. I think it's time we really started the looooong journey, stay committed to it and don't give up. But, heck, some parts of the lecture was very very inspiring for me.
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