Malaysia is one of the best places to live in because of our diversity. How can we be scared of diversity when it is all around us - especially since we have been seeing, eating and breathing it all our lives. Here are some examples:
Seeing- Walk down any Malaysian street.
See the different skin tones, see the clothes we wear.
Breathing- Smell the different flavours wafting from any food stall.
Eating- How many of you eat Nasi Lemak for breakfast, Noodles for lunch and have Nasi Kandar for dinner?
In the land that we call Malaysia, diversity is a plenty. This makes up Malaysia. I really cannot imagine eating the same type of food every day.
Unfortunately what saddens me as a Malaysian is all the talk about race politics in the news today. Why all this talk?
In my younger days, I’ve spent a lot of my years out of Malaysia. At one time, my best friends were a white English boy and a black New Guinean. We were the odd trio. We totally trusted each other and defended each other even against others of our own race. It was the comrade and friendship that matters. Not the colour of our skins.
As children we understood that colour does not matter. Somehow, as we aged, instead of being wiser and more accommodating, we get caught up and become narrower minded. At the playground near my house, I see so many kids of different races playing together. They just want to have fun and laugh. Yet if you look at the parents there, it will be great if they even smile or look at one another especially those of a different race. What happened?
People are people, be afraid of the person’s belief system not his/her colour. There are Chinese who are two-faced, Indians who are lazy and Malays who are money oriented. It is the person not the race that matters.
As the world becomes smaller, race diversity will become more prominent in any country. I have met Singaporeans who are of European descendent that are more Singaporeans then the locals born there. I have met many Englishmen from the Indian continent – many who are really Africans in heart and in soul. What makes them is their ability to adapt, their willingness to learn and their willingness to accept.
To me, a Malaysian is someone who loves to eat (this is who we are, we eat), contributes to the Malaysian society (I know many in Malaysia who do not contribute in any way even though they live here), loves this country, has adapted to the diversity here (surprising they are still many Malaysians who prefer not to have it) and is willing to defend and speak up for this way of life. That is the true Malaysian to me.
Seeing- Walk down any Malaysian street.
See the different skin tones, see the clothes we wear.
Breathing- Smell the different flavours wafting from any food stall.
Eating- How many of you eat Nasi Lemak for breakfast, Noodles for lunch and have Nasi Kandar for dinner?
In the land that we call Malaysia, diversity is a plenty. This makes up Malaysia. I really cannot imagine eating the same type of food every day.
Unfortunately what saddens me as a Malaysian is all the talk about race politics in the news today. Why all this talk?
In my younger days, I’ve spent a lot of my years out of Malaysia. At one time, my best friends were a white English boy and a black New Guinean. We were the odd trio. We totally trusted each other and defended each other even against others of our own race. It was the comrade and friendship that matters. Not the colour of our skins.
As children we understood that colour does not matter. Somehow, as we aged, instead of being wiser and more accommodating, we get caught up and become narrower minded. At the playground near my house, I see so many kids of different races playing together. They just want to have fun and laugh. Yet if you look at the parents there, it will be great if they even smile or look at one another especially those of a different race. What happened?
People are people, be afraid of the person’s belief system not his/her colour. There are Chinese who are two-faced, Indians who are lazy and Malays who are money oriented. It is the person not the race that matters.
As the world becomes smaller, race diversity will become more prominent in any country. I have met Singaporeans who are of European descendent that are more Singaporeans then the locals born there. I have met many Englishmen from the Indian continent – many who are really Africans in heart and in soul. What makes them is their ability to adapt, their willingness to learn and their willingness to accept.
To me, a Malaysian is someone who loves to eat (this is who we are, we eat), contributes to the Malaysian society (I know many in Malaysia who do not contribute in any way even though they live here), loves this country, has adapted to the diversity here (surprising they are still many Malaysians who prefer not to have it) and is willing to defend and speak up for this way of life. That is the true Malaysian to me.
6 comments:
cant imagine myself not eatin malaysian food for a day. suffering man!!
To preach diversity is one thing and to live is another. I am proud to say that the new generation in Malaysia is more tolerant and accepting of others to appreciate and allow diversity to flourish.
I'm proud to be Malaysian. A Malaysian who know what and how to make a decision and not because of the skin color.
ive live most of my life among malays only...when i hang out wit other than malay, its just the same...
what is the big fuss anyway?
I am proud to be Malaysian :)
Diversity in living is great as we have tones of choices of food, clothes, happening places to hang out and which/what entertainment to go for. It is just easy and pleasure.
Diversity in business can help to capture bigger and different market. To groom different businesses to succeed is real hard and "pressure".
This is what make Malaysia a special place to stay. We can speak multi language, enjoy different types of food, living in a multi-culture country and celebrating different festivals together...
Post a Comment