Rebuilding the Malay

15th February 2013.

I've got a rather clear picture with regard to the nature and behaviour of the Chinese.  The prevailing unrest in mainland China during the Japanese-China war and the British liberal policy that encouraged the entry of Chinese immigrants to countries with sources of tin mines had caused many to assume that the decision to emigrate was the best reserves.  The route became easier when the British recruited many of the Chinese to serve in the tin mines in Malaya at that time.  Thousands of people from mainland China had come to Malaya to work, searching for sustenance and a better life by leaving the warfare homeland which was in a state of riot and chaos.  Even though they felt sad to leave some family members, however, in the far corners of their hearts, embedded a principle that they will never forget their birth land, culture and genealogy. 

The Chinese contended that they were not the weak people in East Asia (with reference to some infinite defeat with Japanese troops), instead they will continue to rise at every defeat with high spirit.  Their efforts to travel thousands of miles away was a sacrifice when they left their beloved homeland.

 

These Chinese, being sinocentrism (China is the cultural centre of the world) and filial piety (obedience to parents) has a high fighting spirit with the exquisite mindset who is ready to face all the challenges that lie ahead.  In comparison, the Malays with their deep rooted Islamic principles are naturally hospitable to gracefully welcome foreigners, easy to feel compassion and love to help and because of these outstanding traits, these Chinese immigrants were accepted wholeheartedly. However, most Chinese immigrants came with mining skills, which gradually they were allowed to operate a mining tin by leasing from the Malay chiefs. It was the Chinese during that time who introduced the gravel pump and trough system, while the Malays still traditionally panned off the sand and dirt hoping to get some tins.

The Chinese presence undeniably enlivened the mining activities.  Until the end of the 19^th century, the Chinese had dominated the mining activities. This situation has laid a great impact on the economy and it was the beginning when the Malayan economy was monopolized by the Chinese and the disparity in economic pie has instigated anxiety among the Malays.  Hardship and deprivation during the early days of the Chinese in Malaya has taught them to become industrious and conscientious in carrying out duties.  However, it is argued, do we blame the Chinese, just because they are hardworking and skilful?  Prime Minister Najib also said that the economic pie will still be given equally between Malays and non-Malays but to those who qualify.  It would be in vain to grant aid solely to Malays who are not serious and lack of determination as later they would eventually fail.  Najib’s concern is very true when there are many indecent conducts among Malays who sell licenses, projects and land reserves to non-Malays. Whose faults here if not the Malay?

Although I have not found any empirical studies or reviews of any reports (except the newspaper) in respect of the Malays who want to get rich quick-and-easy, bigoted, covetous, swayable and disparaging others, however, I believe the non-Malays see these degrading manners as an opportunity.  I strongly say that the Malays are easy to follow anything, blindly believe, diluted with pleas and outstanding capability to emulate dialects of any ethnics in Malaysia of which these advantages are arguably available in any races in the world.

In the mainstream of Malay empowerment agenda, most themes are looking to external threats against the position of the Malays such as the economic imbalance, the Bumiputera (son of the soil) privileges, Malay supremacy and the sovereignty of the Malay land while rarely questioning about the negative attitude that is so apparent in the Malays, for instance, they are very easy to believe in something and susceptible.  By embracing the principles of Islam, it is ironic that many Malays still cheat each other, as in the case of ‘get rich quick’ schemes and any misleading product promotion that sounds confuse (but they are easy to believe).  In politics, we see that the Malays fight and accuse each other -- the members in the parties also get carried away.  However, what happens in reality is that Malay always considers Chinese as a threat following to the May 13 riot.  I believe that many Malays were swayed by the myth that the Chinese who caused the riots whereas according to Tunku Abdul Rahman's report, it was the Communist Chinese who triggered the riot, not the then Chinese who settled in Malaysia. The Communist prefers Malay and Chinese clawing each other so that easy for them to pursue their agenda.

Up to present, the concept of open house and respect the traditions of other ethnics is just pretending because some myths that Malays still suspicious towards Chinese that they shouldn't be given the opportunity to lead the country because later will abolish Malay rights and privileges.  On the other hand, Chinese think that the Malays would want to eliminate Chineseness in Malaysia through the education system.  In the education system, integration based school could not be established because all Chinese associations and Chinese political parties either pro-government or opposition unanimously pronounce such move will destroy Chinese identity. Despite the good relations and tolerance among Malay-Chinese, but still behind it, there is still prejudice.

I believe that nowadays, the Chinese could be considered as the king in the field of business (although the recent ranking is Ananda Krishnan, Malaysia's top billionaires).  This situation could not be changed in the blink of an eye.  The Malays would still be left behind even how fast they are chasing.  I realize that although Malay is known as the people with dignity and united in defending the sanctity of religion, race and sovereignty of the Kings, but that has not been witnessed since the days of the Malayan Union.  Malays now have too many strange elements that might violate the Malay socio-culture such as deceit, smugness, swayed, impressionable, fantasizing and ostentation. 

When Anwar Omar Din says Malaysia's culture is a jumbled culture because the existence of too many multi-ethnic cultures that none can be highlighted as Malaysia’s sole cultural identity because every ethnic is contesting each culture’s superiority.  At this juncture, I also would like to express, in spite of the tapestry of Malay cultural life, there are also Malay indecorous behaviours that could be part of the culture.  These indecent manners are so conspicuous that it is incongruous from the Islamic belief which is embraced by the majority Malays.  In academia, it can be found some articles pertaining to Chinese writing with regard to the Malay world, and even English scholars have long written about it. However, it is hardly found any Malays who slammed Chinese misunderstanding on the Malay world.  I might wonder, do the Chinese views and writings express the truth? Yet, isn’t it ironic that the Malays gradually have lost their power in their own land because on the basis of harmony, they had to listen to all criticisms and suggestions of other races? 

In another situation, the hypocrisy of the Chinese against Malays in maintaining good and harmonious relationship is unfold when the Chinese persistently demand to strengthen the Chinese education to prolong their Chineseness.  I do not know to what extend that the Malay firmness always tolerate with the Chinese chauvinist with their ethnocentric nature.  Again, the soft-hearted Malay surrenders to the demand and change their mind (this is the nature of the Malays positive traits which these ultra kiasu Chinese observe as an opportunity).  But, is it the Chinese fault to defend their identity? National Cultural Policy which crowned the Malay identity as national identity in 1971, up to this day, is not strong enough to prevail any resistance and whenever there is Chinese refusal to go along with the Malay dominated government, the Malays surely will conform as reflected in their traditional positive traits, i.e. magnanimous.  Whereas, the Chinese will not even tolerate about any recommendations which they sense that there is an attempt to Malayized the Chinese.

In the context of tourism in Malaysia, although multiculturalism is considered a strong factor in the promotion of tourism, there is no mutual agreement between the multi-ethnic societies to decide whose culture should be put forefront as the country's cultural icons. Apparently, it turns out that each of this multi-ethnic community elevates and performs their own culture in their own ethnicised landscape. 

Ironically, they are said to share one common place and feel the vibrancy and excitement of celebrating culture of the Others, but that is just as much hypocrisy when they begin to think that their culture is the superior one?  Even in a certain ethnic dominated landscape in Malaysia, we could clearly observe the way of life of that ethnic so much so that there is no chance for other cultural elements from other ethnic could infiltrate such as the Chinatown and Little India while the Malays, who is the lord of the land do not require such landscape. But, is it necessary for the Malay to set up a place like that in Malaysia?

I certainly blame Malays than the Chinese because it is the Malay who has exposed many of their weaknesses that the Chinese observes it as an opportunity.  The national outbreak on the use word of Allah in the bible is to test the degree of Malay’s credibility how far they are united in their views. But, some Malays are still now having differences of opinion on the subject.  Political standing is not an issue here but the factious spirit is the marked issue in creating conflict, which derived from the clannish attitude in Malay.  Such factionalism could also gives rise to the endless sense of prejudice towards the Other.   For the Chinese, they could voice any issue that come across their mind, while waiting for reaction and seeing those Malays start to accuse each other, disagree and argue.  Whereas, the Chinese never shaky in their views even if they are of different political belief. 

Malay could be considered a unique ethnic group.  In one case, they are supremely united, but in everyday life, they behave strangely that others are laughing at them over disputable matters without the Malay realizes that such issues are just teasing them, not much than a ludicrous comedy.  Over the matter that there is no consistency of opinion among Malays, do they really believe they have been ridiculed? Or even if they know, why is this strange supercilious manner dominates them?  Thus, the nature of this kind of trait needs to be eliminated beforehand so that there would be chances (despite their passionate enthusiasm) to reinforce the Malay itself.