Identity: Lost and Found
Malaysians are an anal lot, when it comes to identity.
Most don't have the slightest clue of what it entails, but are usually busy preaching to others, to "strengthen their identity".
But you can see that identity matters to Malaysians. Race matters, religion matters, language matters, national pride matters and that people see you conforming to those identity traits, matter.
If you're a Malay, you're said to be doing a great disservice to Malayness, if you prefer to speak in English. Forget the fact that at least half of all communications involved in everyday life in Malaysia, is actually done in Malay, broken or otherwise. (Probably because the effectiveness of the communication, would be halved and twice as long, if you tried to bulldoze your way, in English)
And if you question the implementation of the NEP, you are said to be betraying your own race. Ironically, almost always, you will be accused by those who have done the most to rob, deprive and be unfair to fellow Malays and they will supported by the underprivileged Malays, whom you are trying to protect. The corrupt leading the poor fools.
If you have an English or an American accent, you are said to be "mengada-ngada". If you love watching Malaysian Idol or Akademi Fantasia - your mind is said to be "colonized".
If you're a Malaysian, you're said doing a great disservice to the country, if you even consider the assessment of international or foreign press, on your country. More so, if you agree with their criticisms. You will be accused of lacking patriotism, of being an Uncle Tom, of being a banana - yellow on the outside and white on the inside.
If you're a Muslim, you're said to be doing a great disservice to the religion, if you don't cover your hair, you condone free mixing between the genders, you approve of more house of worships being built for other religions or when you question the fairness of the application of Syariah laws on women on this country.
If you're a Chinese in Malaysia and you can't speak Cantonese or Mandarin anymore, you are said to be losing your Chineseness. Even though you can't possibly be anything else (unless you convert to Islam, then suddenly you and the next generation can be called Malay).
And if you're not interested in making money, they'll accuse you of not being much of a Chinese and that you're becoming more like a Malayu everyday.
If you complain that many Malaysians are migrating because we have failed in our process of nationhood - they will tell you that those who left were never loyal to the country, in the first place. You will be told that it's good that they left - that they were thorns in the flesh and they never really loved this country, anyway.
We let the ones who can think and make a difference leave our shores. And then, a few years later, we start pursuing a "brain gain" program. Only to lose them again, after we mistreat them, upon their return.
To most Malaysians, it is important to conform. To be seen to be doing the right things in each identity category - as a Malay, as a Muslim, as a woman, as Chinese, as an Indian, as a Malaysian, etc.
***********************************************************************************
Identity means a lot to a Malaysian - affirmation of public expectations, is an everyday act.
There is so much to conform to - reinforced by people who usually do not have any context of what they're reinforcing.
They defend Malayness and the Malay language as a tool of defending economic rights - but they've sacrificed/ignored all other aspects of Malay culture - writing, reading, thinking, music, literature, the performing arts, fashion, movies, games, etc.
It is important to them, that the Malay can speak fluent Malay, regardless of whether he can communicate with others from the outside world, effectively. Or whether he has a job or can stand up on his own 2 feet as an entrepreneur, without begging the Government to be their competitive crutch.
They talk about having a Bumiputra Commercial and Industrial Community - and then they give the contracts to politicians with no domain expertise, who in turn sell their rights and entitlements to non-Bumiputras, in return for instant gratification of posh bungalows, BMWs and holidays in Europe.
We promote people who sell out on their own people - but it's okay, they can speak Malay. That's what's important, kan?
They preach Islam to the masses but they divide amongst the Muslims - between people of different political factions, between men and women, between life and afterlife, the seemingly devout and the so-called abhorrently lost.
Never mind if our ustazs from Al-Azhar speak Malay with an Arabic accent, intonation and dressing - that is depicted to be a Muslim-like behaviour. Never mind that they can't tell apart what's Arabic and what's Islamic. Never mind that they declare everything to be haram except for cigarettes, simply because a large segment of religious teachers, smoke.
They speak about being Malaysian and national unity and yet within the racial confines of their mono-racial political parties and organizations, they plan and plot to defeat the other. They never learn that mono-racial agendas, in today's world - will regress and banish Malaysia to the leagues and likes of laggard South American nations, one day.
They speak about being competitive internationally and let the Malaysian SMEs battle it out on their own, while they mollycoddle Proton for 22 years, at the taxpayers' expense and the quality of the local cars. They talk about exporting but they have their blinkers on - because the Malaysian middle-class does not have much of a choice, other than to buy a Proton.
Yes, it has created jobs for 300,000 Malaysians but almost all Malaysians on average, spend a quarter or up to one-third of their monthly income on car installments. They're saddled with high debts, they're short on savings and investments and the only way that most are going to sustain all this, is to be employed for a lifetime.
We talk about encouraging people to be in national schools - but we have towns like Shah Alam, Putrajaya, Gombak, Puchong and Cheras that are almost purely mono-racial and where the Sekolah Kebangsaan, may as well be called Sekolah Melayu or Sekolah Cina.
But it doesn't matter to them that things don't work in this country. That it has failed for the most part, to build a nation. That the implementation of policies by the civil service are hurting the long-term interest and competitiveness of the country.
That its politics has crippled the people, corrupted their values, muffled their voices and turned them into superficial automatons, who need to assert their identity, by form.
No - what matters to all these fools, is identity. Tell me - when was the last time the world saluted a Nigerian, for retaining his identity?
What good is a language if it is underlined by a weak culture and set of values, that is corrosive to its people? Where form prevails over substance? Where the only abundance is poverty and backwardness, exacerbated by corruption?
What good is a religion when its teachers only know how to brand people into those going to heaven and going to hell? Where it is not used as a tool of progress and tolerance and instead, as a tool of justified bigotry, massive Arabization and repression to women?
What good is trying to foster a nationhood, when there is no dialogue and we call any bright person who tries to add to the debate, a traitor? And we make circumstances difficult for them, until they decide to leave and apply for PR in another country? And we undermine each other, because of mono-racial agendas?
What good is talking about a having a world-class education system, when you're forced to pass students that don't make the grade to chase after some ill-researched national manpower target requirements (which is usually off the mark, resulting in massive unemployment)? And for graduates who are half a deck shorter, than what they're supposed to be?
************************************************************************************
There is no value to identity, if all our values only reflect the worst form of regressive action/behaviour in a peaceful country. Divided, bigoted, insular, corrupt, bureaucratic, petty and indecisive?
There is no value to identity, if we are poor and trampled on. I mean who cares that the Thais and Indonesians are speaking their own language, when they have to sell their children into teenage prostitution, (in Bangkok and Batam) to make a living? What sort of silly pride is that?
There is no value to conformity, if we've created a people that's afraid to speak up and fight for their rights, as citizens. To question rightfully, as taxpayers. To shape the future as Malaysians, not as any particular race. To think of religion as more of a guiding philosophy, rather than shackles which determine heaven or hell membership. Heaven and hell is a matter for the Creator, not us.
The truth is, no one can take away your race, your religion, your nationhood. It's YOURS, no matter what you do - until and unless, you've decided to renounce it. And don't let anyone tell you any differently.
An eclectic mix of values and abilities that builds the strength of your people, is better than a pure mix of conformity, that is built from the whim of narrow minds and interpretations.
This is a new globalized world we live in. The respect accorded to your culture, will only be as strong as the respect accorded to the abilities of your people, to move forward and progress, in substance.
THAT'S the actual lesson from the Japanese and the Koreans. The language and identity is only a side story, to their work ethic and values. Malaysians, and in particular, Malays, always misread this.
Most don't have the slightest clue of what it entails, but are usually busy preaching to others, to "strengthen their identity".
But you can see that identity matters to Malaysians. Race matters, religion matters, language matters, national pride matters and that people see you conforming to those identity traits, matter.
If you're a Malay, you're said to be doing a great disservice to Malayness, if you prefer to speak in English. Forget the fact that at least half of all communications involved in everyday life in Malaysia, is actually done in Malay, broken or otherwise. (Probably because the effectiveness of the communication, would be halved and twice as long, if you tried to bulldoze your way, in English)
And if you question the implementation of the NEP, you are said to be betraying your own race. Ironically, almost always, you will be accused by those who have done the most to rob, deprive and be unfair to fellow Malays and they will supported by the underprivileged Malays, whom you are trying to protect. The corrupt leading the poor fools.
If you have an English or an American accent, you are said to be "mengada-ngada". If you love watching Malaysian Idol or Akademi Fantasia - your mind is said to be "colonized".
If you're a Malaysian, you're said doing a great disservice to the country, if you even consider the assessment of international or foreign press, on your country. More so, if you agree with their criticisms. You will be accused of lacking patriotism, of being an Uncle Tom, of being a banana - yellow on the outside and white on the inside.
If you're a Muslim, you're said to be doing a great disservice to the religion, if you don't cover your hair, you condone free mixing between the genders, you approve of more house of worships being built for other religions or when you question the fairness of the application of Syariah laws on women on this country.
If you're a Chinese in Malaysia and you can't speak Cantonese or Mandarin anymore, you are said to be losing your Chineseness. Even though you can't possibly be anything else (unless you convert to Islam, then suddenly you and the next generation can be called Malay).
And if you're not interested in making money, they'll accuse you of not being much of a Chinese and that you're becoming more like a Malayu everyday.
If you complain that many Malaysians are migrating because we have failed in our process of nationhood - they will tell you that those who left were never loyal to the country, in the first place. You will be told that it's good that they left - that they were thorns in the flesh and they never really loved this country, anyway.
We let the ones who can think and make a difference leave our shores. And then, a few years later, we start pursuing a "brain gain" program. Only to lose them again, after we mistreat them, upon their return.
To most Malaysians, it is important to conform. To be seen to be doing the right things in each identity category - as a Malay, as a Muslim, as a woman, as Chinese, as an Indian, as a Malaysian, etc.
***********************************************************************************
Identity means a lot to a Malaysian - affirmation of public expectations, is an everyday act.
There is so much to conform to - reinforced by people who usually do not have any context of what they're reinforcing.
They defend Malayness and the Malay language as a tool of defending economic rights - but they've sacrificed/ignored all other aspects of Malay culture - writing, reading, thinking, music, literature, the performing arts, fashion, movies, games, etc.
It is important to them, that the Malay can speak fluent Malay, regardless of whether he can communicate with others from the outside world, effectively. Or whether he has a job or can stand up on his own 2 feet as an entrepreneur, without begging the Government to be their competitive crutch.
They talk about having a Bumiputra Commercial and Industrial Community - and then they give the contracts to politicians with no domain expertise, who in turn sell their rights and entitlements to non-Bumiputras, in return for instant gratification of posh bungalows, BMWs and holidays in Europe.
We promote people who sell out on their own people - but it's okay, they can speak Malay. That's what's important, kan?
They preach Islam to the masses but they divide amongst the Muslims - between people of different political factions, between men and women, between life and afterlife, the seemingly devout and the so-called abhorrently lost.
Never mind if our ustazs from Al-Azhar speak Malay with an Arabic accent, intonation and dressing - that is depicted to be a Muslim-like behaviour. Never mind that they can't tell apart what's Arabic and what's Islamic. Never mind that they declare everything to be haram except for cigarettes, simply because a large segment of religious teachers, smoke.
They speak about being Malaysian and national unity and yet within the racial confines of their mono-racial political parties and organizations, they plan and plot to defeat the other. They never learn that mono-racial agendas, in today's world - will regress and banish Malaysia to the leagues and likes of laggard South American nations, one day.
They speak about being competitive internationally and let the Malaysian SMEs battle it out on their own, while they mollycoddle Proton for 22 years, at the taxpayers' expense and the quality of the local cars. They talk about exporting but they have their blinkers on - because the Malaysian middle-class does not have much of a choice, other than to buy a Proton.
Yes, it has created jobs for 300,000 Malaysians but almost all Malaysians on average, spend a quarter or up to one-third of their monthly income on car installments. They're saddled with high debts, they're short on savings and investments and the only way that most are going to sustain all this, is to be employed for a lifetime.
We talk about encouraging people to be in national schools - but we have towns like Shah Alam, Putrajaya, Gombak, Puchong and Cheras that are almost purely mono-racial and where the Sekolah Kebangsaan, may as well be called Sekolah Melayu or Sekolah Cina.
But it doesn't matter to them that things don't work in this country. That it has failed for the most part, to build a nation. That the implementation of policies by the civil service are hurting the long-term interest and competitiveness of the country.
That its politics has crippled the people, corrupted their values, muffled their voices and turned them into superficial automatons, who need to assert their identity, by form.
No - what matters to all these fools, is identity. Tell me - when was the last time the world saluted a Nigerian, for retaining his identity?
What good is a language if it is underlined by a weak culture and set of values, that is corrosive to its people? Where form prevails over substance? Where the only abundance is poverty and backwardness, exacerbated by corruption?
What good is a religion when its teachers only know how to brand people into those going to heaven and going to hell? Where it is not used as a tool of progress and tolerance and instead, as a tool of justified bigotry, massive Arabization and repression to women?
What good is trying to foster a nationhood, when there is no dialogue and we call any bright person who tries to add to the debate, a traitor? And we make circumstances difficult for them, until they decide to leave and apply for PR in another country? And we undermine each other, because of mono-racial agendas?
What good is talking about a having a world-class education system, when you're forced to pass students that don't make the grade to chase after some ill-researched national manpower target requirements (which is usually off the mark, resulting in massive unemployment)? And for graduates who are half a deck shorter, than what they're supposed to be?
************************************************************************************
There is no value to identity, if all our values only reflect the worst form of regressive action/behaviour in a peaceful country. Divided, bigoted, insular, corrupt, bureaucratic, petty and indecisive?
There is no value to identity, if we are poor and trampled on. I mean who cares that the Thais and Indonesians are speaking their own language, when they have to sell their children into teenage prostitution, (in Bangkok and Batam) to make a living? What sort of silly pride is that?
There is no value to conformity, if we've created a people that's afraid to speak up and fight for their rights, as citizens. To question rightfully, as taxpayers. To shape the future as Malaysians, not as any particular race. To think of religion as more of a guiding philosophy, rather than shackles which determine heaven or hell membership. Heaven and hell is a matter for the Creator, not us.
The truth is, no one can take away your race, your religion, your nationhood. It's YOURS, no matter what you do - until and unless, you've decided to renounce it. And don't let anyone tell you any differently.
An eclectic mix of values and abilities that builds the strength of your people, is better than a pure mix of conformity, that is built from the whim of narrow minds and interpretations.
This is a new globalized world we live in. The respect accorded to your culture, will only be as strong as the respect accorded to the abilities of your people, to move forward and progress, in substance.
THAT'S the actual lesson from the Japanese and the Koreans. The language and identity is only a side story, to their work ethic and values. Malaysians, and in particular, Malays, always misread this.
posted by Stingrayz | 7:58 AM
10 Comments:
stingray,
excellent piece. once many, many years ago, I said to a group of colleagues, :religion cripple our minds if we follow blindly, if choose to listen rather than read, understand and ask questions. I was immediatly told to say shahadah.
me: why?
answer: because you don't believe in Islam.
me:Did I say anything about not believing in Islam?
answer: you talk like you're kafir.
me: wow........
wow thats a long rant.. who said something stupid yesterday?
bravo. somebody slept really late last night..
Anasalwa:
Welcome back! :)
Sometimes, there's a lot of pride, in a little knowledge. And they judge in ignorance and the bigger picture.
It should be like the Malay saying: "Ikut resam padi, semakin berisi, semakin tunduk".
Increased knowledge should teach you one thing - that as you become more certain of certain things and your understanding becomes more multi-dimensional - there are fewer things (in the larger picture) that you are certain about.
It should humble anyone, as to the amount of things, we don't know.
And that solutions to big issues are far more complex, (especially relating to society and nation) than you thought they were.
But most will take the easy way: Simplify, live in ignorance and certainty and judge others that don't agree with what you believe.
Regardless of whether you're certain or can truly defend, what you believe.
Closed minds, are the fertile breeding ground for fanatics.
Rizal:
Go visit the Free Food Club Circle. Lots of silly things being said everyday, by people who act in stupid ways.
Hope of the nation? More like insecure, blind conformists.
Lita:
Yes, quite late.:)
But it was good to get it out of my system. Slept like a log after that. :)
Cookie?
Ray, I don't know about this, but I have a feeling I'm being the proofreader again. Isn't the quoted para below supposed to sound like this (italic words changed) -
"Forget the fact that at least half of all communications involved in everyday life in Malaysia, is actually done in English, broken or otherwise. (Probably because the effectiveness of the communication, would be halved and twice as long, if you tried to bulldoze your way, in Malay." ?
That aside, it takes time to open up one's mind and bring the mind out of the box. And the environment must be encouraging for these minds to blossom. It's sad, about those whom you encountered at the Free Food Club who are content to be conformists to those identity issues and condemn those who doesn't conform. In actual fact, they should be the ones propogating and leading the change in mindset.
I suppose we know the depth of the problem already. There must be something that we can do to overcome this?
stingray: i dont go there anymore.. for obvious reasons... ;)
I just subscribe to the digest then skim through the topics.. more often than not it goes to the bin without any real serious reading
Pseudo:
Those are good, practical thoughts. :) Thoughts of identity are highly overrated - I don't remember God preferring any particular race or language.
Voice:
Read the sentence again, proofreader. It's correct. If you speak in English when buying cendol, you will take a longer time. ;)
What can we do to overcome this? Lots, that we can try.
Will it be effective? Only after Malaysia has faced a cold, hard economic crash, I feel.
People don't do any soul-searching when the Government puts the food on your plate.
If you tie your happiness to how well this country does in the future, you may be in line for a heartbreak.
Rizal:
Good for you.:) I can't stand the "let's see who is more Malay than Malay" grandstanding done in the Circle.
Mengabihkan bogheh!
Elina:
To a lot of people in this country, following the direction of the leader is far more important, than verifying whether the leader knows where he's going.
It's the need to put their unshakeable faith in someone or some politicians/ulamaks/corporate figure and entrust their entire future to these "anointed ones".
They've delegated their thinking and action, to improve the situation.
And God help us, when we're led by leaders who are weak, lost or even worse, corrupt.
Ah, now I get what you mean. I was a little bit confused, mentor, sorry ;)
Am I tying up my future on how well this country will perform in the future? I hear a really funny answer inside me. Hmm.
You should read Farish Noor's comments in this piece "Malaysians are robbed of their past: an interview with Dr. Farish A Noor" http://www.kakiseni.com/articles/people/MDA5Mg.html
Voice:
Don't call me mentor, sister. I'm more lost than you are. :)
Babu:
Welcome to the blog! Yes, will read the Farish Noor article. Thanks.
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