Something Malaysian

I came across a good read by a friend, and I think stuff like this should be incorporated into our textbooks and made compulsory reading. Here it is:

我是华人，而不是中国人。Saya orang Cina, bukan orang China


这场灾难，见证了日本人的精神，也让我有种冲动，想学习他们的精神，再和大马的同胞们分享，一同进步。尤其是马来同胞，不管其他华人同胞怎么看不起你们，我，依然相信，你们是能的。也许这样说，我会被讨厌，可是这是我的真心话。无可否认，一般华人都比马来人聪明勤劳，相反地，马来人都比华人来得友善，不斤斤计较。我一直想说，马来同胞，让我们一起了解对方好吗？一同打造一个像被世界各国称赞的日本民族一样的民族好吗？当我看到比我们国家还要小的新加坡在科技及经济方面超越我们，甚至把我们甩得远远时，真的很不甘心。为什么我们还在争争打打，无法并肩作战？为什么华人不肯接受马来人，马来人不肯接受华人？我们有过丑陋的历史，但这些已经是往事。最总要的是，未来，原谅我们，接受我们，一同进步好吗？


Bencana di Jepun telah memperlihatkan semangat orang Jepun dan mendorong saya untuk mempelajari semangat mereka, malah berkongsi dengan warga-warga Malaysia dan memajukan sesama kita. Terutamanya orang Melayu, tidak kira anda dipandang rendah oleh orang Cina yang lain, saya, masih percaya, anda Boleh. Mungkin saya akan dibenci atas kata-kata saya, tetapi ini adalah kata ikhlas dari hati saya. Tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa kebanyakan orang Cina memang lebih cerdik dan ringan tulang berbanding dengan orang Melayu, tetapi Orang Melayu memiliki sifat-sifat yang murlia yang tidak dimiliki oleh orang Cina, ramah-tamah, sederhana dan tidak mengira atas perkara remeh-temeh. Kita harus saling memahami dan mempelajari. Berganding bahu, membina bangsa Malaysia yang dikagumi oleh penduduk asing seperti orang Jepun. Saya berasa sangat sedih dan tidak rela hati melihat singapore menjadi lebih maju dari segi ekonomi dan teknologi, malahan tidak menjadikan kita sebagai persaing mereka. Mengapa kita masih bergaduh sesama sendiri dan tidak dapat berganding bahu? Mengapa orang Cina masih gagah menerima orang Melayu, dan mengapa orang Melayu masih tidak rela menerima orang Cina? Biarlah kita melupai sejarah yang hodoh, memaafkan orang Cina, menerimalah orang Cina, berganding bahu kita membina Malaysia yang kondusif.


source: http://darrentlz007.blogspot.com/2011/03/saya-orang-cina-bukan-orang-china.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FelGBe+%28%E4%BC%91%E6%81%AF%E7%89%87%E5%88%BB%29

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Most young Malaysians could, I think, identify with the sentiments within the lines without much difficulty, whether they be implied or express. It is part of Malaysian life, the Malaysian experience, inevitable if one took the trouble to look at this country with objectivity and without racial lens.

He is currently a student in Japan, back home because of the unfortunate tragedies the country is facing. I'm happy for him, seeing that his time in the developed nation has not gone wasted. It is also apparent his love for Malaysia has not jaded, and very much wish her the best.

Racism is a two-way thing, and everyone its victim. None could claim to be immune to its colouring. Deep down inside we're a racist, make no mistake. The difference is to how much we are so, and the steps we take to avert it from rearing its ugly head.

Notice when he says that he believes they could make it, he is also aware of the possibility of suffering a backslash from his own race. An objective observation is not everyone's favourite, for it favours no one. He goes on to mention our respective strengths, and hopes for the day when we would reconcile and work together, by understanding each other.

It is quite obvious, it seems to me, that his hope is an earnest one. He is not naive. He is aware of our country's racial predicament. He knows that it is not an easy task, perhaps not supported by even his own race.

Yet, his stay in Japan opened his eyes to see how a nation is united and faces tragedy hand in hand. Japan has been praised in various media streams for their unity, their standing together, and now my friend wants this for Malaysia.

I wonder if it is possible for Malaysia to achieve this. Our country took another dip when the steaming hot sex video issue stemmed up. It is a sign of wanting to cling onto power, I think. A tenacious cling, not to let go, no matter how high the cost may grow.

If that is the case, the real problem, then, is not racism. Most think that racism is the end of Malaysia. A closer observation reveals the contrary, that is, racism is only one of the means to the end. Race is only one of the many heads of the hydra. Do not forget that apart from race, religion is also a frequently used means to the end. The end is to remain, to quote RPK, in the corridors of power. The means are endless and most choose the convenient and effective weapon, not realising it is destructive to our nation.

In the midst of all those thrashing and infighting, we cannot be oblivious to the fact that the rest of the world, or even region, is waiting for us to get our act together. Reading blogs of those who have left Malaysia and working elsewhere, it is an obvious truth, one that our Ministers - with all their children and investment overseas - deny vehemently, while reminding citizens to be 'grateful' and that we need 'political continuation'.

God save Malaysia. Or maybe, Malaysians should wake up from their comfortable rut and see, for once, the bleak future their sons and daughters will soon inherit. Maybe it's time for Malaysians to save Malaysia.

Lest it be too late, and we're exporting maids to Indonesia.