I'm a foreigner in Malaysia. The Chinese & Indians tell me that it's better not to speak about politics, because you may end up having riots again. The Malay tell me that the policies are fair because they were the first inhabitants (which is not true, on the peninsula it was orang asli and in sarawak it was iban & bidayu). And also that it's because the Chinese are rich anyway (which is also not always true). The Iban tell me that it's not fair, but they accept it as long as the country remains peaceful.
Criticism comes from abroad, but what about criticism within the country. Are Malaysians afraid to speak out? Thanks a lot for all the advice!
Azayi1; I am a foreigner, indeed from Holland and I am just using my own name here. I hope that asking questions is not against the law.
The argument about who was first, is used by people to justify it; but indeed - you can say it's strange because then you can continue forever. In the end, it comes to equality. I heard that criticism comes from Western countries - behind closed doors. I wonder if Malaysia can continue with this forever, because it's rather unusual for a modern country. From abroad - you mean Singapore? There isn't enough criticism from abroad (other than Singapore), honestly. Most of the criticism comes from within Malaysia, from Chinese and Indians. I wouldn't count on Ibans in this matter, they are priviliged and they won't say a word against it. It's just that Chinese wish that Ibans were on their side but they aren't. I live in Sarawak and I haven't met a single Iban who said it's unfair.
Malaysians aren't afraid to speak out, and they are speaking out. Of course they can't speak it out in mass media but complaining voices can be heared all over the country.
I'm a foreigner too. But you should understand that Singapore also practises racism, although it is not constitutionalised, but Chinese Malaysians never mention anything about it because it's Chinese racism against Malays.
Honestly, Chinese here are much better off than Chinese in some other Asian countries where Chinese aren't officially deprived. In Indonesia people killed and raped Chinese and burht their houses and businesses and they got away with it. Those who are really deprived and victimised by racism are foreigners, especially blacks and Bangladeshis.
When police mistreats an immigrant worker from China it will be on covers of all newspapers, but they do it to Bangladeshis, Africans and Pakistanis without any objection from any Malaysian. When they mistreat Chinese, DAP, Gerakan and MCA will speak out, but they torture and mistreat Malays far more often yet nobody speaks out for them.
I do think that Bumi thing should be abolished and that who was here first doesn't legitimise Malays to marginalise others. Huh, so the Chinese told you Orang Asli were in peninsula before Malays, huh? Well, I don't know if that is true, but even if it is, Malays were the first established civilisation in the area. Regarding Ibans and Bidayuh, they migrated to Malaysian Borneo from 17th to 18th century, and Malays established Brunei state in Borneo at leat 300 years earlier. Even in USA there were inhabitants before whites came, remember? And there were laws that privileged whites which were only lifted in 1960s. So Malaysia is a few decades behind...
Simply it doesn't matter that much who was here first. All citizens should be given equal rights.
I have experience Malaysian racism on my own skin, and it wasn't only from Malays, from Chinese and Indians also, especially those who believe in "boleh" spirit and buttkiss Malays. They like to make Malaysian vs. non-Malaysian racism. But in general I think Chinese and Indians are less racist than Malays, and most of my closer friends who aren't foreigners, are Chinese and Indians. Not that I'm racially biased against Bumis but simply I can't befriend people who think I'm inferior to them.
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Hehe, Jedi, get your facts right, 1675 is in 17th century, and that was only the first wave. I'm talking about Brunei sultanate, not Parameswara. Parameswara was just a king, but Malays had lived there long before him.
Funny thing is that probably first Chinese traders came to Sarawak before Ibans, but Ibans are considered natives, Chinese aren't.
Hushpuppy, racism towards foreigners in Malaysia is a domestic issue. Yes, Chinese and Indians are discriminated, but foreigners are worse off. But if you complain against racism towards your group, you shouldn't support other forms of racism. You misunderstood me, I'm not telling to shut up, I'm pointing out that constitutionalised racism isn't the only form of racism, and not necessarily the worst.
Basically they consider anyone of Austronesian race to be a native, even those born abroad to non-Malaysian parents, like some Indonesians and Chams from Cambodia. The whole Bumi thing is a joke. Abolish it and give citizenship to those who have been living here for long time. there are chinese immigrants from right after Merdeka who are not citizens although Malaysia marked its 50th anniversary of independence, but I met Indonesians who came here in 10970s and 1980s and they got citizenship AND the bumi status. Lovely, isn't it?
Lastly, Malaysians aren't afraid to speak out but the media are controled by the government, and Freedomhouse didn't really give high marks to Malaysia in terms of press freedom (Singapore is even lower though).
No, other countries don't really care about it, because Malaysia is their partner in some issues and they don't want to interfere that much. If Bumi rights are abolished Malays will take to the streets and starts rioting (because only government incited riots are allowed), it's enough to know that a politician threatened anyone who question Malay supremacy with a keris, and another prominent politician said: "soak your keris in Chinese blood". I don't think these racial politics will be ever changed, but Malaysia will see its isolation by the international comunity one day if they continue being noob in the UN.
Racial harmony in Malaysia doesn't work after all, does it? There was a European envoy sent to Malaysia to see the well-advertised racial harmony in Malaysia in 1990's to use the model on solving the crisis in Bosnia. The delegation went back saying "forget it"...
Jedi, the stone from Terengganu proves that Malays inhabited the peninsula at least by 10th century AD. Parameswara was just one of many Malays. You know what? I do have history book, and it opposes your stance. I don't buy the Indonesian theory because there is no logic in it. There are Malayic people elsewhere in the region, that includes Mokens and Chams, and some native tribes in Taiwan. I believe Malays have been in the region for a few millenia. But still it doesn't give them the right to discriminate others. Brunei kingdom and Pattani kingdom existed long before Parameswara and his Malacca.
I don't know what Arab descent are you talking about. If you mean because there are a few Malays who have an Arab anceastor a few hundred years ago, let me tell you that those kind of mixed breed with Chinese also have the same rights; many Malays are mixed with Chinese, including your PM. But both Arab and Chinese identity have been lost in them. AQ - Good speech...i like it... Report It
I'm not afraid of speaking my mind that's is why many of YAM user here hate me, i don't care. Those UMNO putra living in a Harry Potter world they think that there are the native people of Malaya , although the fact is there are not, they came from Kalimantan, Bugis, Java,Bandung and nearby Nusantara islands. The real native people of Malaya is Orang Asli. And when someone talk about this thing they would be arrested under ISA. I give you one example i live in Borneo and the native people of Sabah are Kedazan. Murut and etc but the most annoying thing is that the Malay has more right than the native Sabah them self just because there are M.We are consider a third class Bumiputra or (son of the soil).Would you believe this the Malay can buy native land in Sabah and Sarawak while we (Sabah & Sarawak Bumiputra) can't buy Tanah Rizab Melayu such an obvious double standard This happened when UMNO invaded Sabah i don't blame the Malay people but those brat who welcome UMNO to my state.
To know more about this country i suggest you to go to this website
http://www.malaysia-today.net/index.shtm...
To AQ the Iban migrated to Sarawak in 1675, get your fact rights Sabah & Sarawak is not a Malay state and never a Muslim state .
The Malay exist in Malaya when Parameswara migrate to Temasik after his kingdom somewhere in Indonesia was attack by Majapahit
To AQ rumors has it that the Malay are descendant of prince and princess of Parameswra . Buy form 4 and 5 history book.
Do you find it funny that the Arab descendant has more right than the Chinese and Indian even though they are the one who migrate to Malaya first and contribute to the Economy of Malaya. And the Chinese Emperor was the one who give protection to Sultan Melaka from being attack by King of Siam
Hei Budak Flamingo Malaysia Today is not the only source i obtain Aliran, Daily Express. History Book, Google Search Engine and etc.
Comprehende,Mingpai, Wankanu,
Edit
Aq
I ask you one simple question
Is there really a race called the "Malays"?
Malays" who live on the West Coast of Johor.
They'd rather be called Javanese.While the inhabitants on the west coast of Kedah prefer to be known as "Achenese"
The Malays 鈥?taken as an aggregation of people of different ethnic backgrounds but who speak the same language or family of languages and share common cultural and traditional ties 鈥?are essentially a new race, compared to the Chinese, Indians and the Arabs with their long histories of quests and conquests.
The definition of "Malay" is therefore simply a collection of peoples who speak a similar type language. With what is meant by a similar type language does not mean that the words are similar. Linguists call this the "Lego-type" language, where words are added on to the root word to make meaning and give tenses and such. Somehow, the Indonesians disagree with this classification and insist on being called "Indonesians" even though the majority of "Malays" have their roots in parts of Indonesia. They refuse to be called "Malay"鈥? Any way you may define it.
The Star newspaper writer failed to identify (probably didn't know), that the "Malay" definition also includes, the Champa, Dong Song, Hoa Binhian, The Taiwanese Alisan and the Filipino Aetas. He also did not identify that the "Orang Asli" are (for lack of a better term) ex-Africans.
Malay" should also include the Taiwanese singer "Ah Mei" who is Alisan as her tribe are the ancestors of the "Malays". And finally, you will need to define the Southern Chinese (Southern Province) as Malay also, since they are from the same stock 6,000yrs ago.
Try calling the Bugis a "Malay". Interestingly, the Bugis, who predominantly live on Sulawesi are not even Indonesians. Neither do they fall into the same group as the migrating Southern Chinese of 6,000yrs ago nor the Australo Melanesian group from Africa.
The Bugis are the cross-breed between the Mongolian Chinese and the wandering Arab Pirates. (FYI, a runaway Ming Dynasty official whom Cheng Ho was sent to hunt down) Interestingly, the Bugis were career Pirates in the Johor-Riau Island areas. Now the nephew of Daeng Kemboja was appointed the First Sultan of Selangor. That makes the entire Selangor Sultanate part Arab, part Chinese! Try talking to the Bugis Museum curator near Kukup in Johor. Kukup is located near the most south-western tip of Johor. (Due south of Pontian Kechil) hi there, im really glad someone (not among ourselves) is concerned about this phenomenon in malaysia, regardless of what you think about the policies. im from the minority (chinese) and do have very strong feelings against maintaining the status quo. i have yet to talk to any natives = bumiputra from east malaysia (iban, bidayuh, melanau, dusun, kadazan etc etc) about this issue so i dont know what they really feel about it. but here is my view:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
and yes, criticisms come alot from within malaysia, but there is only so much we can do because we dont have the many votes. not to forget also the corrupted polling system in malaysia. anyone who tells you true election occurs in malaysia, is simply turning a blind eye towards the defects.
i am keeping very close eyes at other online forums that discusses about malaysian politics (not necessarily racial in essence) i can email one to you if you like.
there are also alot of blogs that are trying to make a change. and try reading malaysiakini.com. it is probably the only media that is not "controlled" by the government. so scared the government that our police raided it, and took away computers from it.
i have yet to see many or serious criticisms from overseas that are really persistent or in anyway showing genuine interest in the topics. i mean i understand.. why would they... since malaysian politicians are so apt to telling others to mind their own business.
as to your question - are we malaysians afraid to speak out... no, we are not. but we are pretty much restricted because unlike western countries where you are guaranteed a freedom to speech, we have Internal Security Act that allows imprisonment of up to two years without trial, IF "someone" thinks that you are causing a racial uproar. but most of the times, it is just a weapon the government uses to lock up anybody who is against IT. well in some cases, our politicians were in fact detained for much longer than that. this is what i am referring to.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
try to google "NameWee" or "Negarakuku" and you will see how a malaysian student was treated because he rapped about the current situation in malaysia. some idiots in the government threatened to remove his citizenship.
believe me or not, someone who is reading my answer is going to report me to Uncle YA, and i am sure to receive many thumbs down because "I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT MY COUNTRY TO OUTSIDER=YOU"
sigh...
edits-
AQ- suppose if the question was asking about internal racist policies, then you seem to have diverted the attention on malaysians vs foreigners. good try.
you may be right, chinese malaysians seem to only care about themselves and dont give a damn about "unconstitulianalised racism against malays" in singapore. why should we, when we cant even take care of ourselves? whether such thing does exist is not even within my knowledge.
if comparing chinese in malaysia with indonesia makes you feel head over the heels because it shows that chinese malaysians are way better off and should just shut up then you truly do not understand the issue in malaysia.
more edits-
AQ - Yes, i agree that foreigners are discriminated unduly in malaysia, and i also see your point (and agree with you) that those who seek remedy should come with clean hands. tell me an example where we are actively supporting discrimination against foreigners. half of my father's employees are skilled foreign workers, who receive higher wages and some, better living conditions than my own uncles.
isnt it obvious that the asker was referring to the bumiputra system? since when are we supposed to mingle foreigners' interest in the system? i do not condone any ill treatments towards foreigners, by the government nor by private employers but if you mean poor working conditions in malaysia, then perhaps do realise that labour law in malaysia is never that developed anyway. i do appreciate your insights.
littleboy - you are right, there isnt much we can do now, until the bumiputras themselves wake up and see how this system is really pulling the country backwards. but some are so full of themselves, other educated fair minded ones just prefer to stay away from the country - no news is good news kinda attitude. you can help by open up your mind abit. privileges r given more to malays.. chinese r gud in business.. genting is main tax contributor to malaysian govt, genting owned by chinese.. indians r helpless.. indian majority are less compare to malays, chinese & BANGLADESHI... and they have nobody to voice out their prob.. some indians have too much of bad record in society such as crimes, gangsterism and all those thing.. bcoz of this small 'stupid' group, whole indian community in malaysia is being look down by others.. believe me bcoz i'm an INDIAN.. eventhough you're top student in your school it doesn't mean you'll get local University bcoz of Quota!! i was frm very poor family, my studies was good but donno .... skvladlicvgwdilcsgavsaucvgidsachjvsxjva;... gywpdiqgcsaduyc FRUSTRATED!!!!!!!!!
even some malays & chinese do understand our prob.. politics sucks i knew it... jedi sapien get his facts from the malaysia-today website... no wonder his facts are so confusing and weird...
DONT EVER READ AND GO TO THE malaysia-today website... everything in it are false and untrue and racist... Lot of them.. in Malaysia, if you speaking in public about this matter, you may end up in jail under the ISA because, for them, you are trying to confuse other to start a riot or something..
it is always not unfair, in Sabah there is law about 20 Perkara, where bumi can have more priorities than Malay there but, the government suc%s!
not only racism but also religion affair!
in Parliament, most of the UMNO leader is Malay so, the government is cleary handle by the Malay 98%!
now they are trying to make Malaysia as Islam Country, stupid for non-malay that stay under UMNO leadership..
POLITICS SUC#S!! Of course we Malaysians talk and bicker about it, and as much as we all wished things could be different and better, we wouldn't want to ruin what our forefathers has fought so hard to build. Malaysia couldn't achieve independence without the unison of the Malays, Chinese, Indians and Iban Bidayuh etc. Malaysians are not afraid to speak out but rather we don't want to create any fuss for the sake of our children. I am a Malay and I couldn't imagine this country without the Chinese and Indians. And I've stayed in Sabah and they are beautiful people at heart. Yes I do complain hard about it but then again, give me one people who doesn't critic their own country? All in all, when Malaysian unite (and we do), we ROCK! I guess you are from Holland, and my opinion is this government sucks. We need Ruud Gullit to lead us. Sure, there are criticisms about racist policies within Malaysia among Malaysians....and one would get into trouble for voicing out.
I know only too well....get my drift?
I am NOT allowed to speak out on such issues and matters...the other answerers have said it all, or almost all....thankyou.
Other than that, I need to be sooooooooo.......
---**zipped**---
p.s. I hope you do get your answer to your question.... :~)
. Ello Fren, you all don't write long-long lah, I read halfway, eyelid close already lah. Hello All
I know many of you are frustrated and confuse. But...
That is the fact about Malaysia. And...
There is nothing you can do about it.
You can complain and you can voice your disagreement about the Bumiputra policies, but one thing is certain. You can't change it.
There are 3 solution to overcome your agony.
1. Stay on and suffer in silence.
2. Voice up and end up in jail.
3. Pack your bags and leave the country.
Made up your mind and stop complaining!!! hahaha typical question from an unhappy Malaysian Is there any criticism about Malaysian racist policies within Malaysia?
yes.
Are Malaysians afraid to speak out?
.....yes.....
The closed minds don't allow the opened minds to shine ... Hi there.
I will just answer based on your question.
Just an example on Iraq case. America says that Saddam Hussein are dictator without having to see that the country is a peaceful country & harmony all these years. When they remove saddan now Iraq is in turmoil. Civil war erupts between relics. Think about think.. which once is better.. Is it for the ppl to decide or outsiders to decide which policies is best for the country. Some countries cannot employ full democracy some country can. China cannot adapts democracy till know. Malaysia in other hand have certain policies applies for the good & harmony of the ppl.
Same as malaysia. The british granted us independence because of certian things.
-When the malays / bumi's agreed to give other foreigners staying here before 1957 being as citizens not as foreign workers.
-when the non-malays agreed on special previlages to certain races such as malays, bumi's & etc2.
without this two main thing malaysia will never have its independence. eleminating or questioning this two issues are seen as threathening with the based of the constituition of Malaya which is not a good move. Its not a question of fair or not fair. Its what all the races agreed when independence took place.
If you are questioning about the first inhabitants. well its a long outstanding issues where nobody knows. We can say chinese is not the first inhabitants in china or hong kong as well. Or indian are not the first inhabitants in India as well. Some says they from ancestors of Khans's blood. you need to trace out to the very root then.. maybe from the ice age world or something.
that's why sometimes i think its funny when ppl start questioning malays not the first inhabitants in malaysia. from batu bersurat terengganu 'written history' yes, the first written inhabitan shows malays dominates these lands LONG before Others races such as Chinese & Indian. And they have to swallow the facts because its true. they dont want to face the fact because its not contribute to their purpose.
criticism comes from abroad. :) I wonder where.. Americans ? well were better then them if you know history of how they discriminate red indians. British? well if you see the story of King Author how the Brit's came from.
Singapore? this is less interesting on how they now discrimates the local malays untill now. where non of the high ranking positions were hold by malays (where there's considered as the inhabitants of the lands).. all being discriminate in structured wat... not to say singapore now ranks Press Freedom lesser than the Malaysia. :)..
To conclude it. As a malay, as long as i live. I will uphold the status for generations to come. I will not give up the status on WHATEVER condition is.
=={~~~
By the way. i dont think you're some foreigners to ask a question with such a good knowledge on certain things. dont ask behind the shadows, ask it yourself using your real nicknames & yourself.. Dont PRETEND to be someone or foreigners or something.. This reminds me of the OLD days/ users.. mmm.. fascinating answers from u guys.. especially the long ones.. cant believe I actually read that LONG ANSWERS .. haha
:) well, Im studying form 6 right now..according to my pengajian Am book.. or general knowledge book.. IN malaysia law or constitutional..
menurut perkara 160(2), melayu ertinya seseorang yang
(according to perkara 160(2), Malay means someone who is)
1. menganut agama islam ( he/she is a muslim)
2. lazim bercakap melayu ( always speak malay language)
3. mengamalkan adat istiadat Melayu ( practise malay customs and traditions)
and that person must also fulfill one of the conditions below
1. he was born in Federal or Singapore before merdeka day or the parents was born in Federal or singapore or on the merdeka day, the person already live in Federal or singapore
2. he is the descendant of someone who fulfills the above conditions.
mm.. sorry for the translation. from malay language to english. What to do. My MUET not band 6 :) hahaha
PEACE GUYS! Which lead to my question. If it is not your country ,What is it a business of yours?
Of course we critic our own country it is only because we care. I take my fellow Malaysian words for it. We live in unity and peace. We don't practice racism. I love my fellow Malaysian , Chinese, Malay , Indian and all other races. I'm sure I'm with everyone when I say this... Now Shoo~ |
