tale of a malaysian diaspora - discrimination abound
found this in my comment box under ‘my momma told me...’. it is not suppose to be there as it is out of topic. perhaps it should be under ‘the pursuit of A’s‘ and it has to do with education. anyway, methink this person is waiting to be heard and her story is too good to be stashed away in the comment box where only very few will get to read, so i am reproducing it here in all its entirety what she wrote.
her story has to do with education in our country and the discrimination policy it practised. she also let us in about how it as a malaysian living in another country. DO READ HER WHOLE STORY! i hope too bloggers might spread this story.
one paragraph i like to highlight::
If you want to say discrimination is here in the US, yes, of course it is. Can you name a country where it doesn’t happen? But let me tell you one thing - if you go looking for it, you will find it. But in Malaysia, you don’t have to go look for it because it seeks you out, slaps you in your face every which way you turn, and is sanctioned by law!
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molisa said, on March 19th, 2007 at 3:20 am
I am a female Chinese Malaysian, living in the Washington DC area in the United States. I have read many of the letters that often talk about foreign countries when the writers have no real knowledge of actually living in those countries.
Many draw conclusions about what those countries are like after hearing it from someone else or by reading and hearing about them in the media or after four years in a college town in those countries.
I finished STPM with outstanding results from the prestigious St George’s Girls School in Penang. Did I get a university place from the Malaysian government? Nothing. With near perfect scores, I had nothing, while my malay friends were getting offers to go overseas.
Even those with 2As got into university. I was so depressed. I was my parents last hope for getting the family out of poverty and at 18, I thought I had failed my parents. Today, I understand it was the Malaysian government that had failed me and my family because of its discriminatory policies.
Fortunately, I did not give up and immediately did research at the Malaysian American Commission on Education Exchange (MACEE) to find a university in the US that would accept me and provide all the finances. My family and friends thought I was crazy, being the youngest of nine children of a very poor carpenter. Anything that required a fee was out of our reach.
Based on merit and my extracurricular activities of community service in secondary school, I received full tuition scholarship, work study, and grants to cover the four years at a highly competitive US university.
Often, I took 21 credits each semester, 15 credits each term while working 20 hours each week and maintaining a 3.5 CGPA. A couple of semesters, I also received division scholarships and worked as a TA (teaching assistant) on top of everything else.
For the work study, I worked as a custodian (yes, cleaning toilets), carpet layer, computer lab assistant, grounds keeping, librarian, painter, tour guide, etc. If you understand the US credit system, you will understand this is a heavy load.
Why did I do it? This is because I learnt as a young child from my parents that hard work is an opportunity, to give my best in everything, and to take pride in the work I do. I walked away with a double major and a minor with honours but most of all a great lesson in humility and a great respect for those who are forced to labour in so-called ‘blue collar’ positions.
Those of you who think you know all about Australia, US, or the West, think again. Unless you have really lived in these countries, i.e. paid a mortgage, paid taxes, taken part in elections, you do not understand the level of commitment and hard work it takes to be successful in these countries, not just for immigrants but for people who have lived here for generations.
These people are where they are today because of hard work. (Of course, I am not saying everyone in the US is hardworking. There is always the lazy lot which lives off of someone else’s hard work. Fortunately, they are the minority.)
Every single person, anywhere, should have the opportunity to succeed if they want to put in the effort and be accountable for their own actions. In the end, they should be able to reap what they sow.
It is bearable that opportunities are limited depending on how well-off financially one’s family is but when higher education opportunities are race-based, like it is in Malaysia; it is downright cruel for those who see education as the only way out of poverty.
If you want to say discrimination is here in the US, yes, of course it is. Can you name a country where it doesn’t happen? But let me tell you one thing - if you go looking for it, you will find it. But in Malaysia, you don’t have to go look for it because it seeks you out, slaps you in your face every which way you turn, and is sanctioned by law!
Here in the US, my children have the same opportunity to go to school and learn just like their black, white, and immigrant friends. At school, they eat the same food, play the same games, are taught the same classes and when they are 18, they will still have the same opportunities.
Why would I want to bring my children back to Malaysia? So they can suffer the state-sanctioned discrimination as the non-malays have for over 30 years?
As for being a slave in the foreign country, I am a happy ’slave’ earning a good income as an IT project manager. I work five days a week; can talk bad about the president when I want to; argue about politics, race and religion openly; gather with more than 50 friends and family when I want (no permit needed) and I don’t worry about the police pulling me over because they say I ran the light when I didn’t.
How about you………….?
=========================
UPDATED: read another about similiar story from wilson ong.
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13 Responses to 'tale of a malaysian diaspora - discrimination abound'
Leave your mind jogging here. (Smileys are clickable)
on March 19th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I am sure many if not most Americans and other Westerners will be shocked to realize that apartheid still exists in today’s world, though not in South Africa this time around. The state-sanctioned discrimination practised by this racist regime must be let known to all and sundry in the West so that appropriate sanctions can be imposed to bring down the world’s Asian version of South Africa.
lucia: er… i don’t think it is that bad yet. anyway, why only americans and westerners?
on March 20th, 2007 at 2:08 am
gfdser: Yes indeed. When I told my colleagues that positive discrimination or affirmative action still exists in modern Malaysia, they naively said that they couldn’t believe it!
on March 20th, 2007 at 4:23 am
Whoa, We need more letters like these or opinions of families who had immigrate and why. This story is so much more ‘in-you-face’ or to me, honest with truths all laid bare.
Mind is I add a link here, Lucia?
lucia: by all means, do. that was what i had mentioned anway - hoping bloggers would link this post.
on March 20th, 2007 at 5:01 am
Actually the discrimination of Chinese does not surprise. I am glad it is not even worse. Really a well written article Lucia.
Thanks for sharing it here.
lucia: yes it was a well written article. glad to share it.
on March 20th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
I’ve read many such letters at malaysiakini. Sometimes the letters make those who can’t migrate feel dejected, demoralised and ‘left behind’.
The Indians and Pakis somehow did very well to ‘tarek’ their families from not only Kenya and Tanzania (ole Tanyanika?) but from mother countries India and Pakistan as well into Britain. They form organic communities, Indo-Paki villages away from India/Paki.
The Viets did equally well in Australia, where being a minority is actually an advantage. But obviously the greater proportion of Chinese and Indians in Malaysia must cope with the current discrimination.
While it’s not as bad as the original Apartheid regime (nad we have t fair about this), it’s still frustrating & many a times demeaning. It’s frustrating because I can’t see an end to it. It’s demeaning because when we’re needed we’re up, and when we aren’t we are told to ‘balek th’ng snua’ - I call it the ‘1999 spurious inclusion’ bull.
on March 21st, 2007 at 10:43 am
It is not that hard to migrate, especially if you are a Malayan (i.e. from Malaysia or Singapore). Australia is currently accepting people who speak English and are under 45 with TRADE (yes - hairdressers, welders, chefs etc) or professional (e.g. graduates) or business skills.
Better still the Govt will give you AUD$7,000 when you buy your first home if you are PR in Australia, which doesn’t care about race or ethnicity.
If you really want to migrate send me a brief email about yourself and your family at: "easymigration@iprimus.com.au". No obligation on you or me.
lucia: thanks but no thanks. me never thought of migrating as despite all its warts and pimples, i still love malaysia.
on March 21st, 2007 at 7:22 pm
[...] These Malaysian diaspora blogs led to another heart-rending tale in Lucia Lai’s blog, from a Chinese Malaysian woman living in Washington, as follows: I finished STPM with outstanding results from the prestigious St George’s Girls School in Penang. Did I get a university place from the Malaysian government? Nothing. With near perfect scores, I had nothing, while my malay friends were getting offers to go overseas. [...]
on March 22nd, 2007 at 12:09 am
That article by Molisa reminded me of the struggles that I have to make to ultimately become a US citizen. My wife and I were cleaners too when we were doing our Masters in London, just to get money to pay for rent and occasionally buy fish-and-chips. We always joke that with our B.Sc. (Hons) degrees at that time, we were probably the highest qualified janitors in all of England. I remember having to wake up before 6 am to get to the supermarket to clean the store before they opened at 9 am, and I was falling asleep in the library because I was so tired. Now I am a US citizen in a state government agency. After working many years in the US and paying social security tax, it would be foolish for any Malaysian to pack up and go home when you are entitled to social security benefits when you retire - provided you are a citizen. To me, that is about a quarter of my present monthly salary from the government every month when I retire. When added to the pension benefits, I shall be getting a monthly support near to my present salary when I retire. Who else would be giving me that money when I retire? It would be irresponsible of any parent to return to Malaysia, knowing full well that your children are better off in the US. The one family that I know who still keep their Malaysian citizenship is a Kadazan. For them, they have bumiputra status back home but for us — nothing. I cry in my heart for those smart students who complained about the inequality back home and yet they do not realize the vast opportunities in the US. The US has given us all the blessings we ever hope for..and for that reason, this is my country.
lucia: thanks for sharing.
on March 22nd, 2007 at 4:12 am
Migration and emigration of human beings is a pre-requisite of human progress and development. Without migration, human beings would be doomed to an existence worse than that of animals. Even animals migrate to seek a better habitat.
Patriotism is not a one-way thing, it is a two-way commitment. If one finds that one’s loyalty and patriotism is not reciprocated as having to live with a corrupt government, discriminatory policies, inhumane and repressive laws etc, one has a right to review one’s commitment and patriotism if one so chooses.
Why would people stay if their talents are not recognised in their own country and they do not have the opportunities to develop their potential? Why remain when they can have these opportunities in another country?
Indeed, it is very fortunate that we all live in this day and age of globalisation where we are free to live and work anywhere in the world as long as we have the skill and talent.
There is much less reason now to put up with bad governments, or corrupt, oppressive and racist regimes, anywhere in the world.
Of course the grass is never greener on the other side. You still need the same energy, enterprise and sometimes luck to make it. But there is no doubt in my mind and in those who have worked here and overseas - the playing field is more level abroad.
Whilst, I may add that most lower middle-class Malaysian citizens and professionals are the main bulk of immigrants to countries abroad. They need to get settled first and have a few contacts to start life anew.
To expect them to be millionaires in businesses will take a generation or more and we are beginning to see that now. If they had not emigrated, they would have been hard pressed to send their children abroad and everybody knows the quota system for universities, jobs, job opportunities and promotions back home.
In Canada, we experience the best there is in life. Every citizen has equal rights. They have done well in every aspect of life.
In the US, anyone whether black, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Mexican etc, has the right to run for president. There are no restrictions, one only needs to secure the votes.
Nobody should operate under the assumption that migration is a bed of sweet, smelling roses. Roses have thorns.
Certainly, migration is not a dirty word. In fact, migration is the reason for this multiethnic paradise I call home today. The question is, can Malaysia retain its talents?
We are simply losing good people to the more developed countries, and this problem is also faced by other countries such as India and China.
Singapore has been absorbing our talents regardless of the medium of instruction they have been taught in.
Perhaps the biggest slap on our face is the fact that thousands and thousands of Malaysians have been recruited to bloom in the Lion City’s workforce, while our own industry leaders have done nothing to help the government keep these investments from going abroad.
Many people leave the country for a variety of reasons. Some leave for economic reasons, some for better education, some over concerns for the climate of democracy in their home country.
There is no reason to deride any migrant for their choices in life. Every human being is entitled to the right of physical, social and geographical mobility - you seek your place on earth and call it home.
So leave if you must, go while you can, but don’t give up on the march. That is a worthy sacrifice that requires courage.
Congratulations to those who have found a better future in life.
lucia: interesting thoughts and advise. thanks.
on June 14th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Daer Lucia,
I just came across this article elsewhere and when I checked found it odd.
“found this in my comment box under ‘my momma told me…’. it is not suppose to be there as it is out of topic. perhaps it should be under ‘the pursuit of A’s‘ and it has to do with education. anyway, methink this person is waiting to be heard and her story is too good”
This apparently smells of a case of someone trying to spread a message. The reason you found the writer’s comments out of topic is simply because she/he/it has been posting the exact comments since Feb 2005 to several articles, including http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:SCxMNa0Fm3IJ:www.supportyourtroops.us/messageboard.cfm%3FStartRow%3D3301+am+a+female+Chinese+Malaysian,+living+in+the+Washington+DC+area+in&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1, http://www.bakrimusa.com/archives/legacy-of-lost-opportunity and only God knows how many more. What is he/she/it up to? This why we should never believe all we read from the internet without making reliable checks.
Incidentally, does anyone know of any other person, especialy a Chinese Malaysian or as we would normally say Malaysian Chinese with a name like “Molisa”?
on June 16th, 2007 at 3:09 am
mcT
well ‘molisa’ could just be a handle on the net, doesn’t need to be chinese, indian, malay or whatever.
it may be true this person had posted this here and there, everywhere, since feb 2005 but that doesn’t mean what she (or he?) wrote was not true. it may be true, which she wanted to spread around.
on June 16th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Responsible blogging, like responsible journalism means you need to first establish and satisfy yourself that what you circulate and ask others to circulate is at the very least not suspicious. Oherwise you simply become a tool for other’s agenda and loose creditability.
Posting that same letter in various sites out-of-topic shows it is obviously spamming. This better-than-thou person stresses that she is a long tme US resident, Washington, DC at that, had outstanding near perfect scores for her exams in prestiigious schools and a highly competitive US university and worked and experienced life like no other, etc, etc.
The only one calling her a slave in a foreign is herself. I don’t know about others but I have never been pulled over by the police for some traffic offence I didn’t commit, in fact I’ve gotten away with quite a few.
She finishes with “How about you….?”
Does she mean “You lesser mortals and silly know nothings” perhaps?
on June 17th, 2007 at 2:39 am
ok you might have a point there but i will still give her the benefit of doubt. one may think her story is not true, while others may choose to believe her.
if you already set your mind not to believe her, of course the “how about you…?” will sound like what you made it out to be. to me, it could mean she was merely asking how about you, do you have this experience too?
FYI this story of molisa was picked up by lim kit siang, who posted it in his blog (see, it passed around in this way too… not only she herself put it up, but others picked it up from others). at kit’s blog i did not come across any commenter there who doubt her story. by that of course i don’t mean that her story could be true. as i said we won’t know for sure… though you are right with some points you picked up from her story, did sound far-fetched.
whatever it is, i just leave it be, let others individual person to judge.