It is not easy being a Malaysian Chinese these days. Nobody wants you, not even Malaysia. Shang Neng shares anecdotes from his younger days and rants about the travesties of being Malaysian and Chinese. Disclaimer: All are personal opinion based on the stories the author has heard from family and friends. It should not be construed as gospel truth.

As a young Malaysian Chinese, when asked to draw my vision of the year 2020 in our primary school  Pendidikan Seni classes, I would draw flying cars, floating buildings, a city of steel and glass, people in jet-fighter styled suits covering arms and legs and a helmet to top, using jetpacks strapped to their backs.

Today, if asked to draw my vision of 2020?

I hope to have trees with leaves still green, less floods, less killing around the world. And, hopefully in the myriad hands I have drawn holding on to each other in the middle in harmonious unity, there will be a pair of hands with the colour that best represents my Chinese skin (another conditioning from Primary school: “NO! People cannot be blue because they are nice or green because they are jealous! They must be coloured brown because this guy with songkok is evidently Malay, and this girl in this cheongsam must be yellow because she is evidently Chinese, and this Indian boy must be coloured black!” Boy was my little self so confused.)

Image from http://amyadair.wordpress.com/2010/03/15/unity/

 

It is not easy being Malaysian Chinese. We are not all Lim Goh Tongs, Vincent Tans or YTLs. Some of us are the Ah Kaus fishing for a living in Kuala Selangor. We are also the Ah Sengs peddling DVDs in pasar malams. Some are the Ah Tans, working as ma-chais for the loan shark tailos. Many too are the Lim Ah Sings sleeping under abandoned hawker stalls beneath fly-overs in the heart of KL.

I was not born into blankets sewn from hundred ringgit bills, so it was a tough growing up trying to understand why there are people who say if you are Chinese, you are rich and greedy. It is hard to understand why people would brand people like my dear father as groups wanting to take over the country, when all he did was come home late from work weekly in order to ensure he will one day afford to put this son of his through University. It drives me crazy when some Malaysian Chinese demands for equality, that poor bugger gets told to go back to China or go to Singapore.

Lim Ah Sing is not a fictional character. He is a homeless person with an extremely sad story, and this is his real "home", in the heart of KL.
Lim Ah Sing is not a fictional character. He is a homeless person with an extremely sad story, and this is his real "home", in the heart of KL.

 

It is easier said than done for a modern day Malaysian Chinese like me. Wherever I go now, I will be an outsider. Roaming places I will never truly belong. Sleeping in buildings I will probably never be able to call home.

In China, my lack of speech in Mandarin will highlight me as an instant outcast. They will favour their own kin before letting this guy -who looks very much like one of them but in essence anything but- to lead their companies. In Australia and the UK, sure, there will be equality and minimal discrimination, but- to a point. You start off on equal footing as all, but as you progress, there is a limit to how high up the corporate ladder you can climb because your Chinese skin bars your ascent. Try being Malaysian and vie for a pupillage to be a barrister in the UK! You might be given PR in the UK or Australia, but you will truly then be a pendatang, born and bred elsewhere, made to scrape for a living in a land with different social norms and values system.

What about Singapore? You might find it hard to believe, but there are Malaysian Chinese who cannot stand the idea of living in that city state! Sure, good money, relatively more efficient government and good transport system. But really now, Singapore? Fast paced, faceless?

Image from http://kashyapbhatt.blogspot.com/2007/02/camera-for-dummies-basics-shutter-speed.html

So really now, if my home – my country, my Malaysia – asks me, a Malaysian Chinese – a budak Klang no less – to leave…

…I will have no where to go to. No place to truly call my own. No place I can say my grandparents helped built. A place I once ate at a school canteen with one Amirrulah, a place where I played Sunday basketball with a Tan Kian Ping, a place I once  mamak-ed  with a Jagdeep Singh, a place where we would celebrate Merdeka at Ashley’s Melawis home.

It’s not easy being a Malaysian Chinese. To live in a country which often confuses itself if it wants you or not. A country where you are more often than not branded as a pendatang even though your grandparents were born here.

The truth of the matter is simple, there will only ever be one home for a person like me, and I will fight for it till the end. And you can put your bets on me fighting till the end for the right to remain in…

…my home.

It’s not just being Malaysian Chinese that is bothersome these days. It’s being Malaysian Indian. A Malaysian Dusun. A Malaysian Homosexual. A Malaysian Christian. A Malaysian Muslim. A Malaysian tauke.

It’s just not easy being Malaysian anymore.

Image from http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fail:Hisham_Keris.jpeg

Is it really that difficult? To have a government which governs its people for the right reasons, to make us richer, healthier, better than the rest of the world? Can we all one day be free to live the life we chose for ourselves as long as it does not impose itself upon another? Can we one day choose who or what we pray to, who we love, or where we die.

I want a day when I can wake up in the morning and have Bak Ku Teh for breakfast, nasi lemak daging rendang for lunch, Italian for dinner and roti canai for supper without some person on television telling me how, when and where I can eat them.

It’s tough being a Malaysian Chinese these days.

Nobody wants us.

Shang Neng is an optimistic humanist. He often finds no better comic/humour than the front pages of mainstream newspapers quoting our dear YBs. Often ranting about the shortcomings of his country, deep down he knows no other home like Malaysia, and is a true-blue  budak Klang. He believes in a Malaysian revolution brought on by the youth.

59 replies on “It’s Tough Being Malaysian Chinese”

  1. YOu Chinese idiots stole the wealth of the non-Chinese in this land or wherever you go.

    It is good that when Chinese die, most of them get a painful death.

    WHen Chinese age, they begin to eveolve into demon like or pig beings; could be due to their bad behavour.

    TO hell with the Chinks.

  2. Chinese are a greedy & dishonest bunch. They dominate jobs in organisations through communism & greed. Totally despise that bloody race. Malaysia will be better without these greedy pigs.

  3. Chinese are a greedy & dishonest bunch. They dominate jobs in organisations through communism & greed. Totally despise that bloody race. Malaysia will be better without these greedy pigs.
    Ever wondered why the Chinese are labelled pendatang more often than the others? Bcos they rob everyone through their horrible behaviour.
    Chinese are more pigs than human if u ask me.

  4. All race also racist. Long endless topic…
    Every race have their own characteristic. Chinese majority selffish and kiat su. Malay majority lazy and jealous. Indian majority …….. endless topic.
    If not Malay then chinese would not know themself is hardworking. If not chinese then malay would not know themself have better manner.

    Just appreaciate each of the character above thus Malaysia be colourful. Learn from each other.

    Of course. Depend on what u all want. A colourful wonderful moderate country or another Arab country in the world?

    But a wonderful malaysia is not going to last longer. More chinese, indian and malay professional start to move out from here. And the other citizen keeping move in here, look at trend recently, malaysia is going to become another Arab in asia.

    I miss the Dr. M age. He is sucked, but the racial problem is not terrible.

  5. I wonder what kind of Malaysian (mainly the non moslems) these people fight for..do they meant as the following;

    "Malaysians" are not malaysians unless there would be free interracial sex @ bikini parties like animal everywhere? or;

    "Malaysians" are not malaysians unless it would become like Singapore? or;

    "Malaysians" are not malaysians unless this country recognised prostitution as 1 of its economic sources like some of our neighbouring countries? or;

    "Malaysians" are not malaysians unless it abolishes all its sultanate institutions? or;

    "Malaysians" are not malaysians unless the malays should relinquish their privileges which even granted by the British and others Commanwealth panel of judges; or

    "Malaysians" are not malaysians unless these LGBT people got recognised in the eye of law, even when public won't give a damn on their running activities, provided it being held secretly from the public, and like people who against it are not human being who doesn't have their own rights of living : or

    "Malaysians" are not malaysians unless malays started publicly to have beer bars, massage & prostitutions centres; etc. or;

    "Malaysians" are not malaysians unless the malay@ muslim women prohibited from wearing head veils, or publicly and proudly announced their interest to be bikini models, pole dancers, pornograpic actress, prostitutes full time or part time; or

    "Malaysians" are not malaysians unless all Islamic teachings abolished; or

    MANY OTHERS..

    SUPPOSE THOSE ABOVEMENTIONED MATTERS ARE THE REASONS WHY "MALAYSIANS" IS UNATTAINABLE TILL NOW, I RATHER OPT FOR THE NON-MALAYSIAN ONE..FORGIVE ME ALTHOUGH IT JUST IMPOLITE FOR THE OFFENDED TO BE THE ONE TO SEEK THE APOLOGY

  6. I laugh when Chinamen talk about being "Malaysian" or "1 Malaysia". Unity and then what….your community conquer everything using the racist "Chinese only" tag?

    The only race in the world with such bad behaviour & mentality. I pity the malays in a sense that they are more humanly & well behaved; which the Chinamen can never achieve.

    Birth control for these yellow clan! Let them breed no more in our multiracial land.

    Modern day communist, cancer favours your kind.

  7. another 10 year. You may see the Chinese population in Malaysia reduce to 26 percent to 15 percent.
    another 50 year, You hard to meet a Chinese in this Boleh land anymore.
    All the generation parents keep teaching their children English and save as much as money for their future education. Most of them only have 1 or 2 children. Why?
    They are planning to send their children study abroad in the future, and always tell their children "if everything allow, you dont need to come back to this country anymore"

  8. i also feel the same as u bro, i'd live with sister in amsterdam for a year and what can i say is the are the same as other country i've been such as australia. totally racist!! feel like shame being born as chinese. after all, sometime think that our living style also make people against us. still love malaysia and really hope that we chinese, malay and indian can manage to blend with each other and stop using the vulgar and provocative word toward each other..

  9. I would like Malaysians to embrace the differences we all have, learn about each other's culture equally, and most importantly respect each other.

  10. If u want to understand Malaysia read the book " the story of Mohamed by Harry" Amazon for $ 1.
    Easy to read and understand;genuine honest author; I guarantee u wont regret it. Most Malaysian Government policies are closely connected to Islam.

    1. I'm a Catholic myself, but as a true Malaysian I've had plenty of friends of different beliefs – the religion doesn't make a person bad, his behaviour does. You aren't exactly a saint either if you believe in the stereotypes. Bet you don't even know any Muslim personally. God bless your soul.

  11. Did you read Chua's book;,u may get the gist from website Malaysia today or Malaysia Siki.
    Chua got the British intelligent reports which was released 30 yrs after racial riots 1969 and mr chua wrote a book.
    Chua said the racial riots was planned by UMNO and needed the election as a trigger.
    The whole aim was to seize power and make wealth transfer .

    Q society of Australia has lots of stuff about Islam – just google

  12. Why UMNO behave like moron and crooks.?
    Nobody has mentioned Islam 's idealogy yet.
    PLease read English versions of the Koran but beware of some that act as proganda tools.
    The essentials of Koran are revealed everyday in the middle East:
    kill
    conquer
    subjugate
    deception
    The Malaysian govt is doing what the Koran tells them.
    Get the hell out of Malaysia if you can.Good luck

  13. @Liberation ,
    " Don't think being a Malay Muslim is easy either. Some of us who believe in equality of various races have to bear all the humiliation as well that the government has put us into, like you know, ketuanan Melayu and whatever racist idealism that they have been inciting around since Merdeka? You should know that not all Malays are like that. Some of us (like me) would love to hold hands with all of you regardless of race and move forward into a better future WITHOUT prejudice. Yep, it's easier said than done, but it's something that I believe is worth doing "

    "I know many Malay friends who are equally embarrassed at times, confident that the Malay race are a strong people and they will be able to stand even without handouts. The same Malay friends with my Chinese friends also agree that of all, the Indians and the "lain-lains" are definitely the worse off in our beloved country in terms of social and political support.The same Malay, Chinese, Indian and lain-lain friends also agree that change will begin with us.We're in it together, really. For the long run.May peace be upon us all."

    REPLY @SEEHELL
    Yes Bro Liberation, trust when I say I do feel and understand what you're saying , after over 30yrs of NEP not even 10% goes to where is intented ie to Malays/bumis
    BUT over ( 90% X 30 yrs ) of this NEP Rm. , stolen by the UMNO/bumis and they blame it on the Chinese/Malaysian.

    Only lately lots of Malays come to know about this UMNO/bumis, and something needed to be done b4 it's
    too late . That is why …. this " Kumpulan 25 tokoh " called for support .

    I'm a Chinese/Malaysian this called for support is only for the malay/muslim/Malaysians… below is the link …
    read understand … dan ….. Jika anda ingin menyokong surat terbuka tersebut, sila sokong petisyen di bawah .. http://www.malaysia-today.net/saya-nombor-26/

    I'm fed up race issues that umno/bn is trying to con us all into …
    To me Malaysia DO NOT ..a race or any religious problem BUT a political problem,

    Just you take a good look at UMNO/BN now …… biting and hiting each other and Perkasa the main trouble maker
    just 2 days ago … openly saying that PM Najib is corrupt …
    ." Without mincing his words, former Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman today told Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to stop lying to the public " and … yes it's related to the 1MDB "

    There is only one option to save this motherland of ours ( be it malays, chinese or indians ) we have to work hand in hand as a team to get this bad politicians/elements in this country that wants to desperately hold on to their hegemonic ideology. Kick them all out of politics so that we get to save our beloved MALAYSIA.

    NOTE: I'm a Malaysian ( Chinese ) and Malaysia is my home I'm born here in Malaysia after Merdeka ,
    and I'll defend my home with my last breath and dun anyone call me pendatang . If I'm pendatang
    then we're all pendatangs ok ?

  14. Coz youre all racist. You all talk about race. Obsess about it even. Lets admit it. Malaysians look down on indons and filipinos too. Each one considers his or her race as superior to the other. You are, as a culture prone to generalizing. Im not malaysian. Im filipino. I have malaysian friends but they get offended when i call them malays… its confusing coz what are other people supposed to call you? What nationality? You stereotype everyone. People reap what they so. That is the rule on karma. Piece of advise.. drop the im more superior attitude. Treat everyone equally and with respect. Our hubris as a nation saw us laid low.. we learned our lesson the hard way. Hope you dont have to go through martial, civil war and national poverty to learn the lessons we learned. We were guilty if being smug.. being one of the richest in asia in the 50's. Guess God chose to give us a lesson on humility. Hey… im just a guy from a nation of maids.. who am i to comment. But maybe just maybe… you will see where malaysia is heading if you keep being the nation that you are. Good luck. Hoping to see a more humane neighbor. P.s. i am also not a terrorist, drug peddler, illegal migrant, squatter or slum dweller. Peace.

  15. What I see is, everybody need to let loose their cultures a bit and blend with each other more. Like Chinese, speak to Malay using fluent Bahasa Melayu instead of english, the trust will build by time. While the Malay should try to make friends to Chinese and Indian and learn both culture more . So my point is, learn about each other cultures, understand and appreciate it. Arrogance, ego and prejudice should be put aside. Every race has its own weaknesses but please don't throw out bad words to each other. The reasons the Malay fears the Chinese will take over what they used to posses is due to lack of trust and closeness. I think this can be tackled if everybody willing to blend in. So everybody please mingle with each other and try not to stick with your own race buddies all time if we want to be 1 Malaysia

  16. I notice that comments about migrating from Malaysia being the best decision are down voted. Probably by those who are in denial and viewing us as traitors. How can one blame those who leave the country for wanting better lives for themselves and their kids? Staying in Malaysia and fighting for the country's improvement is going to be long, gruelling isn't something everyone is willing to do and people have got to respect their decisions.

  17. Dear brothers and sisters, a rainy Sunday afternoon missing home and tried to read something related to it. I came acrossed this article and read all comments, I found out something. Everybody seems to have strong opinion about his or hers own situation, and only see from ONE perspective. First of all, we know the situation is tough to change, we know that when we stuck at one phase of problem solving another issues keep occurring, we know that people are stubborn and not willing to give up for what they have, we all know that the topic of RACE has been falsely introduced and so on and so fort. One personal question, why the hell are we still stuck in the race discussion and keep finding a way to convince each other…shouldn't we spend the time on finding another way (rather than keep trying the same old trick) to overcome this issue? Shouldn't we try another approach to solve this issue?

    I wonder why there is no single political party that only focus on country development, tell people how you can decrease the number of poverty, tell people how you can be sure to increase the living standard, tell people about how your country development concept would lead to harmony, tell people how you can lead us out of "against each other", tell people how you are going to make malaysia a better place. Sadly, the current parties are only focus on the interest of particular groups of people, like "I guarantee your privilege, or I guarantee you will get the privilege".

    I, my honest opinion, would like to see a party focus on how to build an educated, low poverty and ambitious country, rather than a party only focus on the policy of "he gets it, I want it too." It's like corporate management, first find out the strength of these groups, assign them to certain areas of expertise, award them for their achievement in order to to surpass the expected goal and to generate motivation, create NEW privileges (e.g. Based on income level, regions etc) without eliminating the existing one (btw you would'nt like people take away the house you are living or?), now we have the common Goal of developing Malaysia to a wealthy country (in the aspect of education, spiritual and monetary). Should we still talk about race or skin?

    Although, I very much appreciate your spirit of staying in Malaysia and continue fighting for a better tomorrow. Before you start fighting, please allow me to ask a question, are you fighting for you yourself (or your race), or are you fighting for the country? As I see, even if you win, fighting for your own kind, one day in future this will most likely occur again as other will feel exactly what you are feeling today.

    My apology if I have offended anyone due to my inconsiderate personal opinions.

    Just another Malaysian.

    1. But it's not even comparable to Malays who choose to blame any race based on their whims. Today it's Chinese, yesterday it's Indian, tomorrow it could be the Indigenous people. Malays are a tribal, primitive bunch. Even you have to admit it. That's why not a single country run by Malays has clean hygiene and are all covered in dirt and grime.

      I can't think of any Chinese hate groups but there's plenty of Malay ones.

  18. All the 1 race supremo agenda by the Ge 13 winners caused great mental stress and pain to the losers . By 2110, the non-Malays and non-bumis will be extinct. So what is the solution? It is time we petition United Nations to create a global citizens country to accomodate those who are facing racial discrimation, harassement and attack in their own country. In the meantime , I am considering to start a virtual global citizen community. Any supporters?

  19. I think it is hard being any race here in Malaysia. Wake up boy and smell the shit! Let me put it plain and simple and it will be the brutal honest truth but be clear for I am not implying that everybody from a particular race is the same, I am talking about the majority as a whole. The Malays feel that it is their born right that all that is under the sky in this country is rightfully theirs, we came to this country and now they have to share it with us. The Chinese look down on other races, always thinking that their better than the other races. You talk about having a difficult time? Try applying for a job in the private sector or corporate if you're a non-chinese. Just look at jobstreet, "Chinese only". The Indians could not careless about anybody, they just need to survive and whatever that helps them survive goes, that includes at the expense of their own kind. Now of course there also nice Malaysians among us but the majority are as what I have just described. You may wonder, what credibility does this guy have? Well, I am half Chinese and Indian that looks like a Malay dude. I have friends from all races and I know what each and everyone of you really think about the other. I have also been discriminated by all three races, so if you're whinning about how difficult it is to be you, just imagine yourself in my shoes. The problem does not lie with other people, it lies in each and everyone of us that has failed to do our parts. Instead of becoming a nation that is united, we are adding to the disharmony by the way we treat each other.

  20. Hi Tan,
    I am a Malaysian Chinese studying in UK. Great article, but you shouldn't be pessimistic that you are 'homeless'. Instead you should be proud that you are a Malaysian Chinese, A TRULY WORLD CITIZEN. You can go wherever you want to. Trust me, you can't find any people more 'globalized' than a Malaysian Chinese. We know English, Mandarin, Chinese dialects (useful in Taiwan and Hong Kong) and Malay. For English, if we slightly refine it and remove the Manglish elements, our English is pure American English, which opens up our American dream. When I first came to UK, i tried to pick up British English but it is so hard. Then I try to learn American English. And to my surprise, mystification, it is so easy to pick up. Now I can speak American English that most of international friends who know how Manglish sounds couldn't believe that I am from Malaysia. Lol. Mandarin, if we refine it to Standard Mandarin (pu tong hua), we can have the access to a 1.3 billion population economy. For Malay, you might think it might be not useful but I can tell you is not. If we could spend some time to learn and refine, we can pick up Indonesian faster than anyone else, the language for the world fourth largest country and definitely a rising star not behind of Chinese economy. See, we are so lucky being Malaysian Chinese. We have access to United States, China and Indonesia, three very big economic powerhouse. I hope I change your perspective a bit.

  21. I agreed with you. I'm suprised that many people from Malays to Indons think that all Malaysian Chinese is rich. From my humble experience, we act or look rich just because we own a car and probably a house. I told them that we work really hard for our $. I'm not saying the others don't work hard.

    Many parents work their ass off to save $ to ensure their children get a decent education be it college or university. Naturally when they graduate, they get a better job and work their way up. English is still the business language. Chinese language is useful if you decide to go to HK, Taiwan or China. Anyway, mastery of any language for that matter is useful. For Malaysian Chinese, I encourage and urge you to master languages esp English and Mandarin. Work harder. It is still the price for success. The sad part? We're beginning to slack. Many are getting lazier because their parents gave them almost anything they want out of love and care. This is going to kill you slowly like drugs. Work hard. Maintain values. Pray to any God you believe in. Plan ahead. Educate yourself. If you've grown because of someone, help someone to grow because of you. God Bless!

  22. i think that many malaysians are still in a state of denial – they still cant accept the fact that the damage to the country is already irreversible. i know that going to another country is really tough – but it is still better than staying behind in malaysia. on the other hand, migrating to another country is not that difficult.

  23. Politics aside, I couldn’t find anything that I will miss in Malaysia. I can find better quality and yummier Malaysian and ethnic foods here in Auckland. Living in a multicultural, secular and fair country, the whole world is coming to you. My children are enjoying a happier and healthier childhood than mine. That’s what I am giving them just like what our grandparents did to their family hundreds of years ago. No regret.

    As a fellow Malaysian living in Auckland, I agree with you. It's a country where you get a fair deal and you're treated with dignity, regardless of whether you're Chinese, homosexual, a refugee or a even a dog.

    My job, fortunately, allows me the opportunity to get up close and personal with how the New Zealand administration runs the country. And, sadly, both Barisan and Pakatan's efforts are a pale shadow of the efficiency and honesty I'm seeing here.

  24. Being an emigrant myself, I have a lot of good childhood memories in Malaysia but I find it more and more difficult to connect Malaysia to those fond memories. Malaysia has changed and become more like a place where you will drop by and make a quick buck and leave. Why? Most of my childhood friends left Malaysia, I can hardly find any childhood friend that I can sit down and talk and cherish those fond memories. I have even an ex colleague in Malaysia who told me they plan their school reunion in Melbourne. Amazing isn't it?

    I see my family members and relatives living in large air-conditioned caged home, and concrete jungle. Politics aside, I couldn't find anything that I will miss in Malaysia. I can find better quality and yummier Malaysian and ethnic foods here in Auckland. Living in a multicultural, secular and fair country, the whole world is coming to you. My children are enjoying a happier and healthier childhood than mine. That's what I am giving them just like what our grandparents did to their family hundreds of years ago. No regret.

  25. Together!!! we'll create a super better Malaysia that based on UNITY!!! man up guys…we'll rise together! <3 Malaysia <3 Unity

  26. I have to agree with najib manakau. We are paying most of the taxes and being discriminated by everyone, including the girls, wtf! Yeah I leaving the country soon to work elsewhere. Sick of paying the taxes, so that others can enjoy everything we work hard for. Let all the stupid shit here rot!!

  27. And by the way, you did not say that it is tough praying to God, as a Christian……these days.

    If one actually puts God into the rat-race, I think He is at the moment really proud of Christians!!!

    "If you can hold your head, when all about you are losing theirs….you'll be a man, my son."

    To hell with Kerismuddin & Sons Sendirian Bhd.!!!!!!!!!………..

  28. @Liberation: Touché, my friend. The only reason the article was based on a Malaysian Chinese boy's perception was just to get the message across from my point of view why we should not be asked to "balik" when we are already home.

    I know many Malay friends who are equally embarrassed at times, confident that the Malay race are a strong people and they will be able to stand even without handouts. The same Malay friends with my Chinese friends also agree that of all, the Indians and the "lain-lains" are definitely the worse off in our beloved country in terms of social and political support.

    The same Malay, Chinese, Indian and lain-lain friends also agree that change will begin with us.

    We're in it together, really. For the long run.

    May peace be upon us all.

  29. Don't think being a Malay Muslim is easy either. Some of us who believe in equality of various races have to bear all the humiliation as well that the government has put us into, like you know, ketuanan Melayu and whatever racist idealism that they have been inciting around since Merdeka? You should know that not all Malays are like that. Some of us (like me) would love to hold hands with all of you regardless of race and move forward into a better future WITHOUT prejudice. Yep, it's easier said than done, but it's something that I believe is worth doing :)

    All the best Shang Neng!

    1. If u are real , god bless you and may one day Malay could proudly held their heads up high and be respected wherever they go.

      Need a favor though, you need to enlighten people like karim to be brave and more independent and stop discriminating others to survive. He's sad he needs help

  30. Hello everybody. Thank you so much for the varied comments here.

    One point I would personally like to highlight.

    I wrote about how tough it is being Malaysian CHinese because I had first hand experience from, well…being one.

    But personally, in this country I feel that no other are worse off than my fellow Indian and indigenous friends. While the Malays and Chinese fight over the non-essentials, thousands of Indians are living well below the poverty lines with no real political representation to ensure the slightest bit of social/governmental protection. For those of you who have shared your views and perspective of being Malay and Indian, I thank you for the insight. It has indeed been enlightening.

    When on one of the rounds feeding the homeless in KL, I was staggered by the sheer number of homeless and hungry Indians and Eastern Malaysians.

    So don't get me wrong, like how I ended, it is generally tough these days being Malaysian in general. Whoever whatever you are, we seem to be stigmatised wherever we go.

    Australia and the UK have stepped up their immigration and PR criteria. I understand where they are coming from, they obviously want to protect the interests of their own citizens first and foremost. So I personally feel socially, I will be an outsider here. Don't get me wrong, I have countless English friends here in the UK, but being in a Uni setting is dead different being out there in an office job, or even in the more rural areas.

    So I stress and agree with you lot, it's not just being Chinese. It's about being Malaysians. Our fundamental rights are being cast aside like ragdolls, it's pathetic. I am just happy to have finally reached maturity age and be allowed to vote come the next GE. I will definitely do my part, BN or PR.

    Thanks again for all your insight and comments and criticisms. It has all been highly valued.

    1. I support your article, I am from a poor Chinese family that father does not work properly, and mother who is low-ed, also struggling in lower end of society. When we are in such situation, no other people can understand how the NEP has badly affected us. I am an ambitious Chinese, yet you can't see much opportunities here. And we are stripped of dignity.

      Today I took any opportunity to learn everything and lucky to rely on my company, if private companies do not hire chinese, we have no other place to go. At the end we can only live like a corpse without dignity. Support your articles as I can!

      If Malay said they are miserable, why not ask more of them vote the right person. There are alot of them easily got scholarship overseas, yet many of non-Malay can't even afford a flight ticket to try overseas opportunities. Malay is in situation misguided since born, there are restricted Malay-translated professional books, they must learn english and absorb more independent knowledge to save themselves.

  31. Well you certainly have a point given that Malaysian Chinese becomes the punching bag whenever someone needs a scapegoat, as only evident in the MSM, I hope.

    1. I empathize with you all. fellow Hwa Chiao in Malaysia. I feel your pain.

      The problems for ethnic Chinese in the Philippines are even more violent and unpredictable. FOr the last 20 odd years since that bitch, Cory Aquino, was President, Chinese-Filipinos have been persistently traumatyzed by an epidemic of 'KIDNAPPINGS FOR RANSOM' and various kinds of crimes. These persecutions are often perpetuated with the complicity of either the police or the military. As of 2005, the total number of 'reported' abduction victims reached 2,650, with some victims hit multiple times from blackmails and kidnappings. If you add the unreported ones, the number easily goes up exponentially. Yearly toll in the 1990s was a scary ~200 incidences a year. Every family suffered extreme angst in one form or another. And yet the biased Westerm media stays mum about this issue.

  32. Exactly how I feel being born a Msian Chinese. Left Msia almost 12 years ago, but hope to be buried there as it's still home to me.

  33. I would agree with Karim from Klang,we need to get rid of UMNO/Barisan, please do not only think of one race, we should be color blind if we want Malaysia to move forward, like it or not.

  34. Lee,

    I am sorry to disagree with you that migration is cowardice. On the contrary I am advocating that the able qualified non Malay Malaysian should leave this God forsaken country to rot with it, especially, with the morons from Umno. They have never ever regarded the non Malay Malaysians as Malaysians and ever calling the Chinese, pendatang, is proof of their desire to treat the Chinese as Malaysians.

    One would fight and serve their country but are the non Malay Malaysians being treated like Malaysians ? As such why should anyone in particular, the non Malay Malaysians fight and struggle for Malaysia. At least the non Malay Malaysians are wanted elsewhere but not the Malays because they do not know how to run a 100 meter race just like everyone else. They are only trained and able to run 50 meters in a 100 meter race that is why they are not immigrating. Above all why should the non Malay Malaysians stay in a country as second or third class citizens and yet taxed to keep the country going ? A good example is the recent crack town on the custom officers on their corruption but their Union is now 'seeing' the P.M. not for them to be indicted. Other that that what would the Union be seeing the P.M. for ? Their actions are just to condone the on going corruptions surely such actions are signs that this country is way beyond salvation. Leave the country as soon as you can and let it to rot.

    Anyway Malaysia is about to go bankrupt with all its wealth being corruptly taken away and stack in foreign countries. Just waiting for the country to go bust and the morons themselves will then immigrate to enjoy the ill gotten wealth.

  35. The sad state of affairs for chinese malaysians now is actually the result of poor leadership of so-called chinese-representing party MCA after Tun Tan Siew Sin bcos they practised golden silence in all issues affecting the community and hence lost respect from umno and those bodek newbies perkasa,pembela,utusan.That's why these people come out with daily chinese bashing bcos they know the chinese has lost their voice/guts.We have to reclaim our voice ourselves minus the politicians and be brave to confront these troublemakers whatever the situation.Migrating is cowardice.

    1. I nearly believed all of you! But for me the most racist people in Malaysia (Malaya) were, are and will be the Chinese. Most of them think that they are born businessmen although most find it difficult to even run a kedia kopi . They speak ill of the Malays and the others, especially the Tamils. Their uncouth behaviour and failure to respect and interact with other races is there for all to see. Of course they are even ruder in Singapore. Even if the Chinese migrate to the West they are born to repeat their mistakes if they take with them their unjustified superior complex.

      But wait, the REAL Chinese are already doing that not only in the West (even as uncouth tourists)but also in the South China Sea believing fairy tales of the extent of their "rights". The REAL China borders were only up to the Great Wall (or Long Wall) of China. Outside that is other peoples' land!

  36. This is what I have observed: Chinese Malaysians are a particularly clannish lot. Even more so than other Asian groups.

    In New Zealand, they have a habit of forming ghettos and socializing primarily with each other, all the while spitting venom about the racism they have apparently experienced back in Malaysia. And, yes, they blame the Malays for all the oppression they have suffered.

    The irony is, they're really the biggest racists. The only difference is, they have swapped their ghettos in Malaysia for ghettos in New Zealand.

  37. Tan Shang Neng,

    i'm partially in agreement with u. yes, life's a bitch not just in M'sia but any part of da w0rld if u always l0ok it dat way. if i want 2 start bitching ab0ut my life, it's hard als0 being a M'sian Malay, under c0ndition dat i dun hav dat0' or tan sri after bin in my ic. being labelled as subsidi-junkies or penchant-riders by certain quarters. being given a l0ok dat tells here-comes-dat-no-g0od-malay-always-have-benefits every time i appr0ach gr0up of non-malays and here-c0mes-malay-muslim-trait0r-wannabe-champi0n-of-non-malays (br0 j0han will agree on dis) everytime i appr0ach gr0up of malays. i was raised fr0m a p0or environment in a kampung 30 miles from taiping. my dad's best friends are Ah Wong, Pak Mat n Raja (real names) thus i tasted 1m'sia way b4 najib's initiative. still, i'm n0t generalizing anyone here. i als0 hav da privileges of meeting w0nderful ppl in my life, qu0ting a few Brian, Vishnu, Vincent, Sukhdev, Raden, Hair0l etc. da ch0ice remain wit u, t0 lo0k da glass as half empty or full. let haters speak, we nvr ask them a single cent. we keep on m0ving n building our life c0z in da end we r far much better than them. keep on swinging, br0!

  38. Myself, a klang bred of malay root but not of any political party attachment am amused by your statement being malaysian chinese is tough.Did you know that being malay is tougher sir,you want to know why?Being ordinary malay means you become competitor to the chinese,indian,sabahan,sarawakian and worst the umnoputra/putri! Please do not think your race only, when come to politic absolute power will eventually be absolute corrupt no matter what race or religion you be or pratice ' there is no law or worst God in their head<

    1. With all due respect, I think ur argument doesn't make good sense because whatever u just posted, I think everyone is subjected to the same situation… Do u mean that you should not have to compete with every other person ?? If thats what you mean I feel sorry for you because you're just typical m****. Try to take it positively and sleep on it.

  39. In Australia the Minister of Finance is a Malaysian-born Chinese from Sarawak, Senator Penny Wong. Of course being an international student overseas I do see your point but life doesn't have to be so pessimistic. We are only outsiders if we want to be, being a Malaysian, I find that my greatest asset is versatility. I mightvnot fit in with one particular group but I do not not fit in either if tha makes sense.

  40. In Australia and the UK, sure, there will be equality and minimal discrimination, but to a point. You start of on equal footing as all, but as you progress, there is only as high a corporate ladder you can climb because your Chinese skin bars your ascent. Try being Malaysian and vie for a pupillage to be a barrister in the UK! You might be given PR in the UK or Australia, but you will truly then be a pendatang, born and bred elsewhere, made to scrap a living in a land with different social norms and values system.

    As a Malaysian Chinese who now calls New Zealand home, I have to disagree with you. Asian migrants are doing very well here and are occupying the highest positions in industry and government.

    For example, the CEO of Fletcher Building, our largest company, is Chinese. Also, our governor-general, who's the second most powerful man in the country, is Indian.

    1. I did my pupillage in London . No problem. Had more than enough offers. I found being willing to integrate helped. Having some money is not a barrier either. To this day I think fondly of my pupil masters and heads of chambers!

  41. HAve you tried being a Malaysian-Indian?

    It's even worse. Trust me when i tell you, you're judged even by fellow Indians just by the shade of your brown skin. The lighter skinned get treated better than the darker skinned ones.

    Poppycock if you ask me.

    It's even worse the foreigners in Malaysia outnumber Malaysian-Indians now.

  42. well, u dun give them the right to take ur rights away. vote wisely & God bless!!

  43. Now you know why the millions of Malaysian Chinese immigrated and millions more will plus the remaining will too given half a chance. Whereas the present regime can only think of getting them the professionals who had immigrated is offering them special rate in their taxes if they return to serve the country.

    This is just typical of the corrupted morons, can only see the way to address their head aches is money. The morons can offer the morons money in an election but the professionals are called professionals because they can think with their brains, even though they pay a lot more taxes in the country they immigrated to they still choose to immigrate. So the corrupted Umno morons stop treating them like you treat the stupid morons electorates by offering them money to get elected. Their departure is not for more money but for the future of their family.

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