I am a fourth-generation Malaysian citizen. I live in an institutionalised racist system. Most people I know have either considered emigrating themselves or are actively preparing their kids to study and live abroad permanently.
I think the main obstacle to my communicating across ethnic boundaries is that I am demonised in the eyes of the Malays. The government-controlled mass media has spewed out a tremendous amount of racial-religious propaganda daily for the last five decades.
The official spin has been:
- You are under threat by the 'orang asing'
I do not have the power to interpret reality to the Malay-Muslim masses. Only Umno possesses this power and ability via total control of the Malay vernacular mass media. But I should try because the fate of the country lies in the hands of the Malays. By sheer numbers alone the Malays already totally dominate the aristocracy, parliament, cabinet, judiciary, police, armed forces, and government bureaucracy.
But yet they believe that it is only their special rights and Umno's 'ketuanan' and racist policies that will guarantee their place under the sun.
The Malays could have been the dominant ethnic community in a progressive, prosperous, technologically advanced, incorruptible nation with an independent judiciary, competitive meritocracy, a healthy respect for human rights and religious freedoms and responsible politicians.
Instead they have chosen to be the dominant ethnic community in an increasingly uncompetitive, economically wasteful, racial and religious apartheid system riddled with supremacist ideologies with a judiciary that nobody trusts, led by corrupt albeit fabulously wealthy politicians, and plagued with rapidly declining educational standards.
The only reason for this irrational choice is the siege mentality deliberately fostered by Umno via the vernacular mass media upon the Malay-Muslim masses at the expense of the non-Malays.
Umno leaders need to repeat the lie that the 'orang asing' are a threat to the Malays in order to make themselves look useful and keep themselves in power whilst the gap between the political elites (themselves) and the have-nots (you and me/both Malays and non-Malays) continue to widen at a frightening rate.
I have found to my chagrin that the average Malay actually believes at some level that a level playing field, equal treatment for all citizens, a meritocractic system of governance, and a needs- based instead of a race-based system of government aid in Malaysia might actually threaten the dominance of the Malays in either the aristocracy, parliament, judiciary, cabinet, police, armed forces or government bureaucracy.
Although as an ethnic minority I might find this notion irrational, far-fetched or incomprehensible, it is yet my personal estimate that many of my Malay friends and associates will not support a level-playing field or meritocracy.
It is my opinion therefore that Umno's relentless racial propaganda-demonisation campaign has succeeded only too well. Anyway, it has always been my belief that you get what you plan for so the demonisation of the 'orang asing' was no innocent mistake by Umno.
Since I cannot possibly fight this demonisation in the mass media, and cannot therefore change the mindsets of the people who matter the most - that is, the Malays - I really see no future in Malaysia for my 'orang asing' children.
The chickens will come home to roost one day, and as much as it pains me to go to a foreign alien land, I see no reason why my children should have to bear the cost of keeping Umno in power nor have to witness ever more obscenely elite and privileged snouts in the mega-projects trough.
Unless the siege mentality is lifted, the Malays will continue to choose racial and religious apartheid policies, and corrupt politicians that guarantee a failed state status - that is, basket case status for Malaysia in due course. They could have chosen differently but I don't think they ever will as long as the siege mentality is alive and kicking. I am sorry for such a pessimistic point of view but I think I am entitled to say at least this much.
Leaving Malaysia 2008.
