mamakk!!!

Jeffrey wrote:

On this particular day though, the conversation somehow shifted to the subject of “Malay rights”. Again, I can’t remember what brought that up or what conclusion we all came to, but I do remember someone saying something like, “Of course the Chinese and Indians aren’t happy about our rights and I don’t blame them. But I’ll fight to keep our rights.”

Let me first say that none of my cousins are racist bastards. They’re smart, streetwise, hardworking, good people with not a xenophobic bone in their body. Furthermore, this conversation took place many years ago, and minds can (hopefully) change as people become wiser. We’re not as close as we used to be, but I’d stand by them today.

I brought this up after reading the comments section of Haris Ibrahim’s blog (more on that later) to make a point about just how damaging the New Economic Policy has been to the Malay psyche.

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Farish Noor wrote:

There are times when our folk heroes need to be brought down a peg or two, particularly when they have overstepped the frontier of ideological correctness. I’ve always nursed a vendetta against Hang Tuah, that beloved ‘budak Raja’ so adored by amok-prone keris-waving nationalists and humbug patriots who can never chant the slogan ‘Tak kan Melayu hilang di dunia’ too many times. But of late the cult of Tuah and his keris antics have become too staid, too repetitive, too predictable for this academic; and so the time has come to take off the gloves and give the fella a good whuppin’.

Who hasn’t heard of Tuah and his gang? The trials and tribulations of our national hero have become part and parcel of our nation-building process, and since childhood we have been reminded time and again of his blood-soaked exploits and his valiant efforts to keep the status quo intact. Tuah was always an instrument of regime maintenance at best, and at worse comes under the category of Preman-mercenary types who, like the ever-so-loyal English yeoman, was cast as the salt of the earth.

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[pic source]

Malaysians increasingly view themselves as “us” versus “them.” The “us” could be Malays and the “them,” non-Malays. For Malays, the “us” could be those who subscribe to the “pure” form of Islam, and the “them,” the misled. For the Chinese, the “us” could be those who have adapted to the Malaysian reality and proudly display their Tan Sris and Datuks, while the “them” are those who feel that the very survival of the great Chinese culture and language rests on their shoulders. For the Indians, the “us” could be those who have forsaken their “anak lelaki” or “anak perempuan” of their birth certificates for a “bin” or “binte” respectively, acquire an affected Kedah accent, and voila, suddenly become ardent defenders of Malay special privileges!

What is surprising is the “elegant silence” of others. As I look at the roster of distinguished Malaysians now retired from academia, the professions, and public service, I am humbled by their integrity, intelligence, and contributions. I wonder how they feel seeing their fine legacies now being dismantled and in many cases defiled.

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Malaysian Housewife in London wrote:

It seems that to this man, without one’s husband, a woman is a non-entity. This is the type of man who takes it for granted that the woman of the house will provide the drinks and food – it’s her job (not unlike a maid’s) - and therefore it is not necessary to acknowledge the woman and say ‘thank you’ or at least, the malays like to say ‘susah susah je..’ (you needn’t trouble yourself) ..and then, without even blinking an eye, the man goes on to consume the food served.

My husband defended his conclusion by saying that, most Malay men, when confronted with a Malay woman will feel that way; they’re not completely at ease, they just feel like they need to keep their distance a bit so as to not be ‘over-doing it’ because most Malay women will not ‘welcome’ any extra attention. Basically, they just don’t feel ‘free’ enough to chat or speak to a Malay woman in fear of trampling on certain ‘barriers’. On top of that, he says that most Malay men find it easier to speak with women of the other races because that ‘barrier’ is not there.

What the heck?!

maybe he’s just shy?

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via Sophie’s World:

Singapore seems to be doing whatever it can to reduce its dependence on its traditional hinterland — Malaysia.

It’s quite obvious that Singapore leaders have been making a beeline to the Middle East lately to help develop better guangxi with the rich Arabs. Malaysia has not profiled as prominently in the Singapore agenda despite their closer geographical and historical links.

It sounds reasonable as Singapore forges closer links with the Middle East. But is it too much to ask Singaporeans to pick up Arabic when most of them can’t even speak basic Malay, which is the lingua franca of Southeast Asia? Malay is also a much simpler language compared to Arabic. Many Singaporeans don’t even know how to sing the national anthem Majullah Singapura, which is in Malay.

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