From: pehng@rainbow.ecn.purdue.edu (Peh Ng)
Subject: Re: MY: Think Malaysian, not Malay, Chinese, Indian.
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 23:36:34 GMT

In article <Bx99Fw.2qs@andy.bgsu.edu> subraman@andy.bgsu.edu (ANAND) writes:

>In article <9211050323.AA26350@news.cis.ohio-state.edu>, C587307@mizzou1.missouri.edu (Theresa McConnell) writes:

>> 
>> Hi, the following is a transcript from The Straits Times (10/17/92).
>> Permission has obtained for interested group circulation only.
>> 
>> Best wishes,
>> Theresa McConnell
>> Dept of Asia-Pacific Newsgroup
>> School of Journalism
>> University of Missouri
>> 
>> 
>> -- article 232:NST:10/17/92
>>  [all the article stuff deleted]
>> --- end of article
>
>I believe the above article relates what we have argued before and some of 
>us are still arguing about. Myself and all of us I hope has been identifying
>ourselves as a Malaysian. There is no doubt about it. There is something thta
>we need to concern here is how to not to confuse the foreigner in this case
                                      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>anyone who is from outside Malaysia. In my university here there are Malaysian
>Indian, Malaysian Chinese and there used to be bunch of Malays too. For the 
>new students in this university, when a Chinese introduce himself/herself
>as a Malaysian and then when an Indian introduce himself/herself as a
>Malaysian, for a moment they get confuse because of the skin color 
>differences. So, quite often I have to explain to them little bit about
>our country's nature and who lives there. So my point is, how can you just
>introduce yourself as a Malaysian and not specifically say who you are?
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 During my 11 years here in the US of A, I must say that I have 
 the same experience you had. I have always introduced myself as a 
 Malaysian whenever asked, and I will always add in a sentence that 
 Malaysia is a multiracial country consisting of 55% Malays, 35% with 
 Chinese ancestry, 10% with Indian ancestry, and 5% with Eurasian 
ancestry. 
Albeit, some of you may think that this is confusing, I choose to 
consider this as one of the means of educating anyone on this universe 
about what Malaysia's citizens are made up of.
So, may I be so bold as to suggest you do that the next time someone 
ignorant of this fact gives you one of those "strange looks" like 
you look Chinese(or Indian) but why the heck do you call yourself a 
Malaysian. :-)
>
>When we fill up any forms, we always state our nationality as a Malaysian.
>Some of you might say that, what Raja Ariffin trying to say is, not to 
>introduce yourself just as a Malay, Chinese or Indian. I know that but
>I think it is the uniqueness of our country being as a multiracial country
>and we should introduce ourselves as Malaysian Malays, Malaysian Chinese
>or as a Malaysian  Indian and still keeping the identity as an Malaysian
>and work towards the "Satu Bangsa" way.

 Personally, I prefer just simply "Malaysian"; that is how I have been 
 introducing myself.
>
>Here I would like to express my dissatisfaction against our government who
>is trying to show to rest of the world how peaceful we are and how integrated
>we are living as a Malaysia. For Chinese and Indians there is so much to go
>through in order to achieve anything in Malaysia. For example, my parents are
>born in Malaysia. I'm the second generation who was born in Malaysia. But,

 Well, if you are talking about the privileges of getting into local 
 universities and obtaining jobs, yes, I must admit that there is still 
 discrimination, or rather, to be politically correct, what is the term
 they are using -- "affirmative action - Malaysian style".
 Like it or not, this privilege is in the constitution. All we can hope 
 for is that one fine day, those "privileged" will see that Malaysia's future 
 rely on their best human resources regardless of race, creed etc...

 Okay, I understand some of you may be pessimistic about that kind of hope, 
 just by reading all the articles entitled "racial harmony in Msia-adream?"
 However, I can still hope, can't I?
>we are still not considered as the first clas citizen. This applies to any
>Chinese too. Maybe this explains why a lot of Chinese migrates to different
>country as well as Indians. If you take America, once you become a citizen
>of this country, there is a chance for you to be a President. I know is not
                                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 WRONG! To be a US President the constitution says you have to be BORN 
 in the USA. (And also the VP, I think).
 Members of Congress and other posts do not have that restriction. 

>that easy but atleast there is no law or constitution saying that you can't.
>What about Malaysia? There is so much that we as an Indian and Chinese can't
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 The only time that Malaysian's PM is a non-Malay was when there was 
 the hulabaloo and debacle over at UMNO between PM Mahathir and DTK Musa Hitam?
 That was when one of those MCA head honchos became PM momentarily.
 Please correct me if I am wrong here.
 That was short, I know. :-)

 Also, am I right to assume that non-Malays cannot be a PM under any other 
 circumstances? Or is it because UMNO has more seats in Barisan Nasional 
compared to  its other coalition parties?
 
>achieve eventhough we are the citizen of Malaysia. Maily because of the 
>special priveledges for the bumis. Well, how many our you think that we don't
                                         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>work hard for our country's growth and don't deserve the same priveledges?
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 I hope it is none, at least I thopught my family worked damn hard 
 to ensure their offsprings have a decent education and life.
 Yeah, granted that I wish I could have saved my parents big bucks if 
 I could have gone to local U's, but then again c'est la vie.
>Is this situation will be carried on forever?

 Like I said, if those Malaysian politicians are smart one fine day, they 
 will wake up and smell the coffee and abolish it (affirmative action - 
 Malaysian-style).

 This is just my personal opinion, and if you disagree, that is fine with me.
" I strongly feel that Malaysian government should put 
 a time limit for the bumiputeras to achieve their expected economic
 level, after which there will be NO more government subsidies or help 
 or special privileges. I think this serves as a great motivator for 
 achieving the NEP goals. What are your opinions?"

 Thanks for your time.

****************************************************************************
      __________    *  Dr. Peh H. Ng                                         
     |          |   *  Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
     |______(*)_|   *  Valdosta State College
     /\__----__/\   *  Valdosta, Georgia 31698
    /_/()||||()\_\  *          
    |_\ o||||o /_|  *  Tel: (912) 333-5778 
    |---- Peh ---|  *  e-mail : pehng@grits.valdosta.peachnet.edu
    |_|        |_|  *                                                     
****************************************************************************

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