A few weeks before the elections, a forum about the future of Malaysian politics was organised by my university's Malaysian Society. I attended it, eager to talk a little about policies that were really affecting us at the grassroots...education, employment...stuff like that. I was a little worried that I might get boo-ed by my Malay counterparts if I mentioned the "hot" topic of the NEP. I was a little taken aback when one of the Chinese guys stood up and said
"Actually, no country is perfect...but Malaysia is a pretty good democracy. We can't have freedom of the press, because we have a multi-racial country and it will incite racial problems"
And I was just like....hello, isn't that the kind of thinking which has stunted any discussion on new policies which are more progressive for all Malaysians...and also the kind of political propaganda used in keeping bloody ISA around? I was pleasantly surprised when I heard one of the Malay speakers counter this by saying
"What is there that we can't talk about that will cause racial riots like May 13th? Nep? Take it away I don't care...Islam? Say what you like, so I can defend my faith...but there're no sensitive issues that will cause me to go out and want to kill someone from another race"
Wan Saiful Wan Jan ( the director of Malaysia Think Tank-London) was one of the speakers, and a very eloquent one at that...he put a simple question to the small number of Malay students in the room. He asked them "After coming here, and being one of the minority for a change, can you still go back home and take part in a policy which discriminates against the minority races?" "How would you feel if there were such a policy here in the UK?"
The "political tsunami" that was the 2008 elections hopefully reflects his forward thinking...that people are starting to see themselves as Bangsa Malaysia and not Bangsa Melayu, Cina or India anymore.
~DS~
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Why UK and not local U?
Sometimes I wonder why I am in the UK. I did STPM and basically intended to do my law degree in the local U in Malaysia. This might come out as a surprise as I am currently in my 3rd year of a UK law degree.
I believe and sincerely thank god that I managed to fall in to the category of Indians whose parents can afford to send their kids overseas to pursue their dreams. And not all non-Malays in Malaysia are as privileged as the rest of us. I wanted to get in to UM(University Malaya) which I always presumed to be a prestigious uni.This changed after I completed my STPM. However I am not denying the fact that very successful people have graduated from the local universities in Malaysia. It is because of those that manage to secure a place in local uni’s without even being aware of the closing date for the applications.
When I was doing my STPM I had a Malay friend. She was one of the most laidback and relaxed student I have ever seen throughout the 2 years of STPM.And not surprisingly she had missed the date for submitting the application form. However she was not bothered as she was pretty confident that somehow or other she will get in. This is because there is a place for her in the local universities regardless of the fact she had forgotten about the applications. I did not even apply for the local U in the end.
My parents felt it was best if I obtained a UK degree. And why is that so? Because at the rate everything was going on in Malaysia there was more than just a tinge of doubt that at some point my local degree might not be able to get me anywhere outside of Malaysia. And why am I even talking about being outside Malaysia? It is because of the issues arising and matters that have been swept beneath the carpet in order to save those people running our country.
When I came to the UK I realized that I missed home very much. Not just my family but Ipoh and just being in familiar surroundings. I was extremely homesick and all I wanted to do was to go back home. We do have lots of issues but I still love Malaysia and I do want to come back and work. And if possible make a difference! Writing this blog with DS I believe, is the first step towards it.
-C-
I believe and sincerely thank god that I managed to fall in to the category of Indians whose parents can afford to send their kids overseas to pursue their dreams. And not all non-Malays in Malaysia are as privileged as the rest of us. I wanted to get in to UM(University Malaya) which I always presumed to be a prestigious uni.This changed after I completed my STPM. However I am not denying the fact that very successful people have graduated from the local universities in Malaysia. It is because of those that manage to secure a place in local uni’s without even being aware of the closing date for the applications.
When I was doing my STPM I had a Malay friend. She was one of the most laidback and relaxed student I have ever seen throughout the 2 years of STPM.And not surprisingly she had missed the date for submitting the application form. However she was not bothered as she was pretty confident that somehow or other she will get in. This is because there is a place for her in the local universities regardless of the fact she had forgotten about the applications. I did not even apply for the local U in the end.
My parents felt it was best if I obtained a UK degree. And why is that so? Because at the rate everything was going on in Malaysia there was more than just a tinge of doubt that at some point my local degree might not be able to get me anywhere outside of Malaysia. And why am I even talking about being outside Malaysia? It is because of the issues arising and matters that have been swept beneath the carpet in order to save those people running our country.
When I came to the UK I realized that I missed home very much. Not just my family but Ipoh and just being in familiar surroundings. I was extremely homesick and all I wanted to do was to go back home. We do have lots of issues but I still love Malaysia and I do want to come back and work. And if possible make a difference! Writing this blog with DS I believe, is the first step towards it.
-C-
Like that mar...what to do?
I lead quite a blessed life when I’m back in Ipoh. Internet also got, Astro also got, Good food DEFINITELY got...so what’s there to complain about?
A lot really, when you start thinking about it.
I’m ashamed to say that I never thought, really thought, about Malaysia much when I was home. Most of us grow up very contented, going from school to tuition to sleep, day in and day out, with hardly a care in the world (other than which mamak to go to later). Now that we’re older, maybe we start thinking more about the things we just took for granted in school. I probably need to explain that I went to a typical government school (not one of the more famous convent schools) When segregating us into the classes from Form 1 onwards, the “kelas terbaik” would be about 20% non-malays and 80% Malays...despite the fact that many of the malay girls achieved average results at best. Our debate and public-speaking teams got little support from the school, while the predominantly Malay hockey team was mentioned at almost every school assembly. Instead of thinking of ways to increase the school’s academic performance, our headmistress was primarily concerned with what colour the tablecloths in the canteen should be. We went through all the standardised tests (PMR and SPM) knowing that our marks in the science subjects like Biology and Physics, would be automatically pulled up by the graph-system. We left school, knowing that despite getting the necessary results...that elusive JPA scholarship would fly over our heads, right into the hands of a Bumiputera. We didn’t ask too many questions...we memorised and regurgitated information to pass tests.
“Why Siti managed to get medicine...she from Arts stream leh!”
“Aiya...like that one la...nevermind lor, your parents got money to send you overseas mar...go marry gwai loh and don’t come back lor!”
Tolerance is a good thing...when it’s for the right cause. But an ‘anything also can’ attitude is a far cry from our Malaysia Boleh slogan. Why do we tolerate a system which is openly discriminatory? Why do we tolerate the dumbing down of a nation of bright young minds? Why do we only think about getting out and not about how we can move forward?
Because it’s like that mar...what to do?
~DS~
A lot really, when you start thinking about it.
I’m ashamed to say that I never thought, really thought, about Malaysia much when I was home. Most of us grow up very contented, going from school to tuition to sleep, day in and day out, with hardly a care in the world (other than which mamak to go to later). Now that we’re older, maybe we start thinking more about the things we just took for granted in school. I probably need to explain that I went to a typical government school (not one of the more famous convent schools) When segregating us into the classes from Form 1 onwards, the “kelas terbaik” would be about 20% non-malays and 80% Malays...despite the fact that many of the malay girls achieved average results at best. Our debate and public-speaking teams got little support from the school, while the predominantly Malay hockey team was mentioned at almost every school assembly. Instead of thinking of ways to increase the school’s academic performance, our headmistress was primarily concerned with what colour the tablecloths in the canteen should be. We went through all the standardised tests (PMR and SPM) knowing that our marks in the science subjects like Biology and Physics, would be automatically pulled up by the graph-system. We left school, knowing that despite getting the necessary results...that elusive JPA scholarship would fly over our heads, right into the hands of a Bumiputera. We didn’t ask too many questions...we memorised and regurgitated information to pass tests.
“Why Siti managed to get medicine...she from Arts stream leh!”
“Aiya...like that one la...nevermind lor, your parents got money to send you overseas mar...go marry gwai loh and don’t come back lor!”
Tolerance is a good thing...when it’s for the right cause. But an ‘anything also can’ attitude is a far cry from our Malaysia Boleh slogan. Why do we tolerate a system which is openly discriminatory? Why do we tolerate the dumbing down of a nation of bright young minds? Why do we only think about getting out and not about how we can move forward?
Because it’s like that mar...what to do?
~DS~
Friday, 4 April 2008
Why Dim Sum and Chutney?
We arrived at the airport in high spirits, grinning from ear to ear (even while lugging 1 handbag, 1 laptop bag, 1 cabin luggage and a 36 kg suitcase...each!) ...only to be met with a blast of icy wind the moment we stepped out. We had nowhere to stay. We had no idea where to go. And to top it off, we had no sense of direction.
Undaunted, we managed to settle in and get some bearings in our new home for the next nine months. Our initial days began with much enthusiasm and little trepidation. In our minds, we were still in Malaysia. It didn't take long to realise...we were far from home.
Blast to the Past
Week 1, Day 4
We were looking for the Residence Office, to collect our house keys. Very confidently, we headed off in the wrong direction. We were obviously lost, and decided to ask for directions. Unfortunately, hardly anyone bothered to layan us. We finally bumped into a very "helpful" stranger...who proceeded to give directions to Chutney's boobs. Although we managed to find our way, it hit us that not every stranger on the road was our friend.
We got lost on the way to Tesco, countless restaurants and even in the park. Our wonderful sense of direction got us asking half the population of Cardiff for directions. Most of the people who layan-ed us, were men...while most women seemed to shoot us dirty looks. In our frustration, we came up with the theory that they probably thought we were here to steal their men. We started joking around about how they might think of us as Asian call girls. This led to the question...if we WERE Asian call girls...what would our aliases be?
In order to reflect our racial heritage and love for food...we came up with...Dim Sum and Chutney!
Undaunted, we managed to settle in and get some bearings in our new home for the next nine months. Our initial days began with much enthusiasm and little trepidation. In our minds, we were still in Malaysia. It didn't take long to realise...we were far from home.
Blast to the Past
Week 1, Day 4
We were looking for the Residence Office, to collect our house keys. Very confidently, we headed off in the wrong direction. We were obviously lost, and decided to ask for directions. Unfortunately, hardly anyone bothered to layan us. We finally bumped into a very "helpful" stranger...who proceeded to give directions to Chutney's boobs. Although we managed to find our way, it hit us that not every stranger on the road was our friend.
We got lost on the way to Tesco, countless restaurants and even in the park. Our wonderful sense of direction got us asking half the population of Cardiff for directions. Most of the people who layan-ed us, were men...while most women seemed to shoot us dirty looks. In our frustration, we came up with the theory that they probably thought we were here to steal their men. We started joking around about how they might think of us as Asian call girls. This led to the question...if we WERE Asian call girls...what would our aliases be?
In order to reflect our racial heritage and love for food...we came up with...Dim Sum and Chutney!
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