on August 12, 2009 11:17 AM Assalamualaikum,
Yang Berbahagia Tun Dr. Mahathir,
and my fellow bloggers.
Allow me to tell my story... it is a tale of two Asean cities.
I was born a Chinese. And I was born in Singapore. But since my biological parents (in Singapore) were very poor, they gave me away when I was a baby to a Malay family (in Johor Bahru) whom themselves were also poor (not much better than the Chinese one), except they have fewer children. I grew up in a Malay village, and I felt being differentiated (not completely alienated) because of my look. I am fair skin, but my nickname is "Black" (Si Hitam).Although we were poor, life was not difficult; I have enough to eat, but no luxury. Because I did well in school and I qualified to be Malay (by Malaysian Constitution), I earned a Government scholarship. This opportunity has enabled me to improve my life more than 100 fold. But what sadden me, my other Malay family members (uncles, aunties and cousins) remain mostly uneducated and poor. Some of them, I am supporting now. On the other hand, my family members in Singapore, who were also poor in those days, are now very rich due to the abundant opportunities and their hard work. They all live in Singapore and I have a close tie with them.
What I would like to demonstrate here, given the same original baseline economically, the Chinese people have a better capacity to improve themselves, while the Malays have less capacity to improve despite the NEP. I know after 52 years, it should have been stopped and I agree NEP will weaken the Malay, but without it, will be no help for the Malays also. This is the Malay Dilemma as Tun M said in his famous book. Some non-Malays accuse the continuous implementation of NEP will enrich further a certain rich Malay quarter. I cannot deny this. But what is the alternative? I am all for a just society, but my own experience (in work place) to be under a Malaysian Chinese controlled proves them (the Chinese) capable of being equally unjust. Malaysia has about 25 Millions in population. Out of this, let say 4 millions are employed. The Government sector consist of about 1 million workers (this number is quite accurate). 3 millions (75%) are privately employed and their employers are mostly non-Malays and mostly Chinese. I have many unjust stories from this section of the society controlled by the Chinese that I tend to support for the continuation of NEP. The Malays were being discriminated by the non-Malays employers in the private sector. This is another fact. To equate the NEP bias practice to that experience by the Jews in Western countries is not correct. Firstly, the Chinese came to Malaya for opportunities leaving their homeland. My biological parents were the first generation of this group. If they had found Malaya at that time to be discriminating them so badly, they could choose to go back to China. They have a homeland. But they found prosperity and tolerance here. The Malays are generally gentle, polite people and generally not very clever. There are some hooligans like those villagers who discriminated me and called me "Black". But this is the mentality of uneducated and bad people. It has nothing to do with race. Bad people exist everywhere. There are now many Malays who are clever and these mostly the result of inter-marriages. This is another important fact. To achieve one Malaysia, we must encourage inter-marriages between the races. I have not experience war all my life. God forbids. Hence I tend to be more forgiving. Those who experience war and violence must live with some bitterness, anxious and suspicion.My biological parents in Singapore have both passed away; my mother died about two years ago, while my father more than 20 years ago. Both were devoted Christians. I wrote about my biological mother since her story is very interesting. My biological sister also wrote a book about her more elaborately in Chinese. It is an account of a survival but without bitterness. She was a wonderful woman, courages and honest, despite poverty and all her disadvantages, including having to give away 3 children. When she died, all her wealth and belongings (what little she has) were given back to the society and her church. Even though she was a good Christian, she never had attempted to convert me to become one. She never interfered with her children’s (including me) faith and believe system. Some of my Chinese siblings (11 of us altogether) are Christians, Buddhists and even atheists. I really appreciate her wisdom and tolerant nature, otherwise, may be I will be another “Maria Hertogh or Nadrah”. Both my Malay Muslim Malaysian family members were and are on good term and understanding with their Chinese Singaporean counter part. We accept and respected our different nationalities, races and religions.
To complete my story, my adopted father has passed away more than 10 years ago. He was also a Chinese who converted to become a Muslim. He was also amongst the first generation Chinese who travelled to Malaya because of the poverty in China. In the new Malaysia, he earned a Malay status also by the constitution. My adopted mother was also biologically Chinese. She was given away to a Malay family to be raised as Malay. Unfortunately, she never know her Chinese family.I am a Malay and Muslim by my attachment and upbringing of my grandfather and grandmother (on my mother's side). I love my grandmother especially, since she gave me my name, an Arabic name and taught me how to become a good Muslim. I still missed her. She died more than 30 years ago.
I am indebted to the Malay family who cultivated the Malayness in me. The Malayness features include,* beradab dan bersopan santun, (biar mati anak jangan mati adab)
* mengormati orang lain lebih (kera dihutan diberi makan, anak dirumah mati kelaparan)
I do not think Chinese (in Malaysia and Singapore)possess enough of these qualities. This is because, they are mostly "oversea Chinese" who live forever in transient and waiting for opportunity to migrate. I am not saying the Chinese are rude and opportunistic, but they are generally less polite and less respecting for other people. This is understandable if you are thinking forever of moving (normad).
Above all I am thankful to God who make me a Muslim (Alhamdullilah). Even though I have been brought up as a Muslim, but on my faith, I gave a serious thought. I could easily been persuaded to become Christian and many others (not my Chinese mother) have tried. But I could not agree with the concept of trinity and this is so much against the tauhid of one God. Islam is the most complete religion and a way of life. But I am not forgetting my root.It pains me to see Malaysia and Singapore, Chinese and Malaya "fight" each other. This "fighting" tore apart my own existence.
For the future, I subscribe to globalization. It is inevitable. My 5 children are everywhere in the world, trying new challenges and experiencing different cultures. Of course, I want them to come home to serve our beloved country Malaysia; because for me who have had the experience of living abroad in foreign land for 10 years, I know what it is like to be a foreigner. Nothing is like home. I understand the predicament of those people longing for a homeland. I call for all Malaysians to have a greater understanding of the opposite sides. Try to simulate yourself to be a Chinese, if you are a Malay and vice-versa. Finally, we should encourage more inter-marriages. Both sides have their good qualities. Wassalam and Selamat Sejahtera.
Posts
