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englishmaster
Joined: 03 Sep 2004
Posts: 118
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 Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:40 pm Post subject: Ethnic tensions in Malaysia |
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Has anyone else heard about the ehtnic Indian guy suspected of car theft who was beaten to death by Malay police? The Indians were having a big gathering about it today.
It's just another reminder of the Malay-Chinese-Indian mutual animosity that exists throughout this society. I've been here less than 6 months, but have already learned plenty about it.
With the economic crisis worsening here, interethnic violence could be possible.
Does anyone else have any thoughts on this? |
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Jati
Joined: 11 Mar 2008
Posts: 155
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| Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, I have heard. But I would caution you about taking any side in a Malaysian political discussion. Many Malaysians are not open about who they support, or what they really think. It is best to be like them: keep your head down, do your job, and leave the politics AND religious discussion to others.
I have learned from experience that many here do not like hearing foreigners spout off opinions on what's wrong with Malaysia. But, they will not openly tell you that they don't like hearing your opinion. It will be evident, however, in their round-about way of communication.
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Hod
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 1613
Location: Home
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| Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:01 pm Post subject: Re: Ethnic tensions in Malaysia |
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This is a valid point, but I would also like to add.
| englishmaster wrote: |
| Having been here over 3 months, I would caution you about coming. The heat and humidity are terrible, and there are a lot of muggings. I have also found that getting decent groceries here is harder, but that may be just my individual situation |
| englishmaster wrote: |
| I find this country and my job here more of a challenge than any other. I wouldn't try to dissuade anyone from coming here, I was just trying to caution. |
| englishmaster wrote: |
However, having been here over 3 months, I would caution you about heat and humidity, rats and lizards and insects, the crime rate, traffic and pollution and the meat in supermarkets.
Often do I wish I had gone back to Korea, or even China, instead of coming here .... |
There you have it. Blade Runner meets Jurassic Park, without a few dodgy groceries thrown in.
I had a Malay girlfriend, Bib. One day Bib announced, �Chinese people are not clean.� I knew better than to mention she was half Chinese, but I did ask, �What, all one billion of them?� Bib said I didn�t understand anything.
I ended up marrying a Malaysian Chinese and make sure she has a bath every week or so, but she does mention that Malays are a bunch of useless wotsits.
The benefits that Bumiputra Malays get are laughable; they make apartheid look like happy days. There are the university places denied to brighter Chinese or Indians, access to cheaper housing, access to many many jobs you�ll never see a non-Bumiputra doing and a few more such as cheaper/free schooling and books which I can�t validate 100% (won�t do for this website anyway).
It�s hardly bloody surprising there are racial tensions. It has to be said, though, the Bumiputra system doesn�t only keep the peace, it keeps Malaysia �multikulti�. You won�t have seen Chinese New Year in Indonesia last weekend. It was cancelled. Well, not cancelled, just celebrated indoors. Whereas, in Malaysia you can't avoid it - even my old friend Bib goes out to party with unwashed people at Chinese New Year.
Malaysia had racial riots in 1969 (from memory, no wiki searches as already mentioned). 1997 wasn�t a bunch of laughs with the Ringgit going down like my first pint on a Friday night. No trouble, even though the Prime Minister back then was a total loon.
Now then, �Englishmaster�, I worked with people like you, people who shouldn�t leave their house, let alone set foot in Asia. Yes, you were in China and Korea, well done. I think they have meat in supermarkets too.
Racial tensions in Malaysia won�t even register. You think too mut. |
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