Some of Unspun’s Malaysian friends think he’s telling fibs when he says that a person of Chinese ancestry can feel more equally treated in Indonesian than Malaysia.
Bear in mind that this the President of a country where ethnic Chinese comprise only 10% or so of the population. Another thing for the neighbors up north to learn about from Indonesia.
No more discrimination against Chinese-Indonesians: President
Desy Nurhayati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reiterated on Sunday his call for all government offices and state officials to provide Chinese-Indonesians the same level of service afforded all citizens. In a speech marking the national commemoration of the Chinese New Year here, Yudhoyono said Chinese-Indonesians, as citizens, were entitled to the same government service as all Indonesians. “In this nation, with its variety of cultures, ethnic groups and religions, we are all one,” the President said. “Therefore, I remind the entire state administration not to discriminate against Chinese-Indonesians in public services. Treat them just like any other citizens.” |
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formal vs informal systems of discrimination.
i never understood why most (if not all) the malaysian chinese i’ve met backed their system of legal discrimination.
lazy thinking if you ask me…
@John: I don’t think the Malaysian Chinese, apart from some self serving political types in the MCA and Gerakan, back the discriminatory system. I do think that most of the Chinese felt they were powerless to resist and went with the system.
It’s a bit like in China where the Lao Bai Xing know that they cannot challenge the Emperor or the State and do what they can to survive.
Its not right, as many ethnic Chinese families have been in Malaysia for four or five generations and are not considered equal to some newcomers, probably from Java, who may be the first or second generation living in Malaysia. But that is life in Bolehsia.
Wake up … Wake up …
Unbelievable… I can’t still understand why the majority of Malaysian Chinese accept it as their “destiny”….
So, they have to fight for their better life in Malaysia as Hindraff did it … I believe and optimistic that the Malaysian Chinese can win their war if they have “gut” to do that ….
“Bersatu dan lakukan Perubahan …. Bersama anda Bisa” ….
Hi HC, not going back to exercise you’re rights, Sir? I can’t because unfortunately I’ll be incarcerated on this floating “prison”.
Anyway re: this post and I feel compelled to add a thing or two.
Many, many years ago (eighties) I ran around with some Malaccans of Baby/Nyonya extraction, one of which is a darned good friend of mine. Let’s call him Leong.
His forefathers probably came in the 1400 or 1500s (Hang Li Po’s time) but what struck me is their mannerisms: they seemed more Melayu than Melayu, if you can imagine such a thing. The Leong family was totally Melayu in that my buddy’s vocab was limited to Hokkien and Cantonese swear words only. Only later was he comfortably able to order food in Cantonese joint without resorting to Malay. How do you say Bak Kut Teh in Malay? Ha-ha. At home they ate with their hands and lounged around in kebayas and sarongs. Only religion separates them from being a true blue Melayu.
One time I tagged along to a town hall meeting of these Babas and Nyonays and the discussion was how to get the Gov’t to recognized them as Bumiputeras. Some years earlier the Malaccan Portugese community was granted that status –and the abuse that came with it –so why not the Peranakans too?
Needless to say, as a 20-something at that time it opened my eyes. I felt embarrassed, sitting in that hall because my grandparents were born in Sumatera, a place that to this day I have not set foot on. And these babas and nyonyas have been here hundreds of years earlier! So I knew then it wasn’t right. It was only a matter of time that this system has to change because it is fundamentally flawed.
Unfortunately, HC, 99.99 percent of my “Melayu” brethen at this coming elections will not see it this way. And UMNo harps on this to keep the status quo. Make Cinakuis the bogeyman…
You’re right. The Chinese in Indo these days are better treated. That’s because Indo does not have a socio-minefield called “ketuanan Melayu…”
@Matsalo: Yes, it is a shame that generations count for nothing in the Malaysian political landscape. There was a time when Unspun was so much in love with Malaysia and its potential. Somewhere it all went downhill.
When did all this “Ketuanan Melayu” shit start? I have no recollection of the term when I was growing up. Must be something that crept in after I left Malaysia. (will be the ever knowledgeable Michael Chick weigh in to help illuminate us?)
I believe the Malaysian Chinese are experiencing some awakening. Their backs are to the wall.
Our version of ketuanan melayu:
http://andreasharsono.blogspot.com/2008/02/bagaimana-meliput-pontianak.html
near my hometown
Its fine to give chinese and the indians equaility. But I just wondered, if something bad such as war occur in malaysia, are they going to stay, defend the sultan and malaysia or just leave to the malays to fight and die for?
@Just wondering: Unspun wonders what you will wonder about if, say, a Negrito questions the group of people describing themselves as Malays and Bumiputras in Malaysia.
The reason for the Negrito’s doubt is that most of the so-called Malays are actually ethnic Javanese, Minangkabaus, Achenese and Sundanese immigrants in Malaysia. Most of these Malays are not even third or fourth generation immigrants like the Chinese and Indians.
If a war breaks out between Malaysia and Indonesia, wouldn’t the Negrito have cause to worry where their loyalties lie?