A Country That Will Never See The Light Of Unity
The only option “we” have is to leave the country for good and see it rot
Cina babi! (Chinese pig!)
This is probably the most offensive word to call an ethnic Chinese in Malaysia. Malaysia, a Southeast Asian country, predominantly consists of three distinct races — Malay (69.8%), Chinese (22.4%), and Indian (6.8%).
Living in a multicultural society for more than 20 years, I enjoy the foods and festivals of each race. However, misunderstandings, stereotyping, and conflicts are socially and politically inevitable on the way to reach real solidarity.
Logically, a person who was born and raised in Malaysia would address themselves as Malaysian. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case in Malaysia. Using myself as an example, I refused to introduce myself as a Malaysian. In fact, I tended to address myself as a Malaysian-Chinese.
Weird, right? There’s a reason for that.
In Malaysia, only a Bumiputera (indigenous, aka Malay in this case) is categorized as a first-class citizen. In other words, ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indians are unfairly treated as second-class citizens. Therefore, it is emotionally justifiable to say that the ethnic Chinese in Malaysia is more attached to China than Malaysia.
Throughout the election history of Malaysia, there wouldn’t be a surprise when the candidates used a Malay-centric-rhetoric strategy during their speech. In a better scenario, candidates may carry out a slogan or propaganda such as “Satu Malaysia” (“One Malaysia”) that aims to unite the society. However, the reality has demonstrated that this ambition is unlikely to be achieved.
“Go back to China!” “Go back to India!”
There is nothing more disempowering than a major racial group telling others they do not belong here.
In Malaysia, ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indians are sometimes retorted to go back where they came from.
For decades, the debate of who came to Malaysia first has always been a sensitive topic. Although the Malay often claims that they are the master of this country, the history proved otherwise. The presence of the Chinese and the Indians in Malaysia can be traced back as early as the first century AD! And to be fair, Malaysia is economically impossible to achieve what they have today if the contributions from the Chinese and the Indians were absent.
Malaysia is economically impossible to achieve what they have today if the contributions from the Chinese and the Indians were absent.
During World War II, the Chinese and the Indians were also patriotically fighting against British colonization and the Japanese occupation. In this sense, the ethnic Chinese and the ethnic Indian holding a valid Malaysian passport shouldn’t be excluded from enjoying the privileges as the Malays.
The “Go back to China/India” narrative may be a joke, but the hostile sentiment delivered through this line can definitely cause racial tension. Apart from that, the narrative downplays all of the efforts that minorities made for the country.
Recently, a poll has revealed over 60% of Malaysians want to leave the country for good. Racial discrimination is one of the reasons causing this result. Oftentimes, the minorities were treated as a threat to the Malay community. In Malaysia, structural racism is ubiquitous. Thus, the minorities have never truly had a sense of belonging in this country.
Yes, racism is everywhere! As an ethnic Chinese myself, I can responsibly say that we face racism anywhere we go! Personally, I desperately want to leave the country and never come back.
Since I will encounter discrimination anywhere I stay, why don’t I move to a country that has a better economy?
The race-based quota system in education
In Malaysia, students who want to enroll in a government-funded university will experience the unfairness ignited by the 90:10 quota system favoring the majority race.
The racial quota system in education has been implemented in Malaysia for decades. Every year, we witness many excellent Chinese and Indian students failed to enroll in public universities or the courses they were interested in.
Although the Malaysian government has claimed that they have abolished the 90:10 admission rate in public universities, the truth is 90% of the seats are still reserved for Bumiputera students. Simultaneously, non-Bumiputera students still struggle with that 10% admission rate!
The Malaysian government constantly justifies this policy by assuming that Chinese and Indian families are richer to afford private university fees. Therefore, it’s the right thing to support Bumiputera students who traditionally lack educational resources.
The assumption is complete nonsense! The truth is many Chinese and Indian families face financial difficulties to afford private university fees as well. As the 10% quota system makes the non-Bumiputera students’ chances slim, these households are forced to apply for study loans which are undeniable a burden for the non-Bumiputera students.
Imagine this:
If poor non-Bumiputeras are still paying off their student loans, who will pay for their future children’s education?
Yes, we understand that the government is just trying to support some underprivileged Bumiputera families, but that’s not fair to sacrifice other marginalized non-Bumiputera students’ welfares! Also, this 90:10 racial exclusion system will further fragment the country as a truly diverse and heterogeneous environment facilitating cultural understanding is absent. Eventually, a sense of grievances and hatred are the only two things left in society.
A regressive nation, is it “our” fault?!
Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore, used to beautifully and accurately expressed the political dilemma in Malaysia:
“If you chose the easy way to Muslim/Malay votes and switch to racial politics, the society is finished.”
Since Malaysia’s first election, many Malay candidates for Prime Minister have always given an implicit or explicit Malay-centric speech during their campaigns. As for the local Chinese and Indian communities, there’s nothing they can do about it.
This is an open secret that only Malay can succeed as a Prime Minister in Malaysia. Therefore, there’s minimum need for those Malay candidates to mobilize the Chinese and Indian communities. In other words, Malay’s welfare is the priority instead of the welfare for every Malaysian.
Abdul Hadi Awang, the 7th President of the Malaysian Islamic Party, argued that:
“In Malaysia’s politics, it should be taken into account that the Bumiputera Malay of the Islamic faith is the dominant race that is appointed as the leadership pillars of the country with the strengthening of the position of Islam in the country’s Constitution and the constitutional ruler made up of Malay Muslims.”
Those Malay politicians are just so afraid of other races competing with their political interests. But honestly, this perception is absolutely illogical. Looking at the proportions of each race, the Malay community has more than 65% in Malaysia! How can other ethnic groups suddenly be a threat to them?!
Sadly, Malaysia is a country that only cherishes Malays, not talented Malaysians. As said before, the Malaysian government has penetrated their racial supremacy in education by implementing the quote system. Nowadays, the disproportionate distribution of educational resources has caused a destructive impact in Malaysia — brain drain.
For many young local Chinese and Indians, they have lost faith in their country. They studied hard not because they want to contribute their intelligence to the country. On the contrary, they want to get out of the country!
Didn’t the government know it?
They know it! Perfectly!
Still, those Malay leaders stick to racial-oriented policies rather than retaining the talents who are highly qualified and crucial for the development of Malaysia.
Is there any proof showing that the effect of brain drain emerges?
Yes! Malaysia has failed to achieve Vision 2020 — a vision that Malaysia aimed to become a developed nation.
Final note
My objective in writing this post is simple — To let the world know “our” story.
I’m not sure whether Malaysia is a famous country or not, but it’s my responsibility as an ethnic Chinese in Malaysia to really voice out our voice.
We are done being classified as second-class citizens!
We are done being portrayed as a threat!
We are done being discriminated!
We are done being stigmatized!
We never said that we refused to integrate with other communities. All we ask for is equal opportunities — economically, socially, and politically. Why is it so hard for the government to stop playing suicidal racial cards?
They said the minorities are unpatriotic, but who is the real culprit to make this happen?
John F. Kennedy once said:
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
The truth is that why does one even bother to do something for his country if the country itself principally fails to guarantee a citizen’s basic rights and equity?
