Malaysia Star, Malaysia
Aug 29 2005

Diversity the heart of unity

By MANGAI BALASEGARAM

EVERY now and then when I travel overseas, someone will say – or even
sing – `Malaysia, truly Asia’ to me. People certainly have been sold
by the country’s promotional ad on CNN. My Danish friend Pernille,
who lives in Manila, routinely asks me, with a little giggle: `So how
is Malaysia truly Asia?’ Corny as it may be, people don’t seem to
tire of that phrase.

Some people have asked me to explain exactly what it means. Others
who know multiracial Malaysia have told me something along the lines
of, `That’s one of the best things about Malaysia – the way all these
different people live side by side. That, and the food.’

Our multiracial mix seems to be one of our best selling points. It’s
our strength and wealth. It makes us unique among our neighbours.

So tell me, how come we don’t always see it ourselves? How come some
of us never see beyond our differences? How come some of us separate
ourselves so much from other races? As Merdeka approaches again, it’s
timely that we reflect on this again.

We identify ourselves so much by our `own’ race. Have you ever
considered that you also `own’ a part of the other races? If you are
Chinese, is it possible to feel a little Indian at times? Or if you
are Malay, can you have a little Chinese in you?

Ours is a history of rich racial and cultural diversity, which is
what Malaysia is today.
Don’t laugh. The idea is less absurd than it sounds. When I first
went to Britain, it was Chinese food that I missed most. Especially
wan ton mee and that preserved fruit delicacy, mo far kor. This used
to really puzzle a couple of Hong Kong Chinese who I knew.

For some time now, I have been calling myself `Malaysian’. That’s not
to say that supersedes my Tamil ethnicity – it doesn’t. But
`Malaysian’ is simply more inclusive of all the different elements of
the environment that I was raised in.

Anyway, as I’ve said before in this column, I find this simple
division of Malay, Chinese, Indian and lain-lain ridiculous. Because
most people are not that simple – they’re much more specific and
complex. For example, I’m in the Indian category, but my forefathers
actually came from Sri Lanka – or, to be precise, a tiny island of
this island.

Another example. A celebrated `Malay’ writer I know actually has no
Malay blood (and is not reluctant to say it either), but is a mix of
Javanese, Arab and Chinese.

Thinking along generalities makes us forget how heterogeneous we are.
Maybe the politicos and demographers find it easier, but it’s really
terribly imprecise, let alone racially divisive. The idea of a `pure’
race is a complete fallacy. Half the time, such talk simply serves
political purposes. (Remember Adolf Hitler?)

Take the English `race’. It’s actually a mix of Celts, Angles,
Saxons, Vikings and much more. Interestingly, in the north of
Britain, you can find local words of Scandinavian origin. Or take Sri
Lanka. Arab traders have been going there for over 2,500 years. The
tiny island of this island from which my forefathers originated bears
foreign influence in its name – it is called Delft, after the Dutch
who once ruled it.

There’s been all kinds of mixing. Many European languages have some
of their origins in Sanskrit. (The common heritage of Welsh and Hindi
– which have similar-sounding accents – was discussed in a BBC
article). Finnish is related not to Scandinavian languages but
Hungarian (the Finno-Ugric languages), which is spoken at the other
end of Europe!

History is all about the movement of people. (Remember, we’re all
supposed to have come from original man in Africa?)

The history of regional trade and migration in Malaysia dates back
thousands of years. Archaeological remains of 2,500-year-old Chinese
ceramics have been found in Sarawak. And ruins of Indian temples in
Kedah are just as old.

In the last few centuries, people from all over the place have
arrived on these shores. Once there were Jews here – there’s a Jewish
cemetery in Penang. There was even an Armenian community. In fact, it
was two Armenians, the Sarkies brothers, who built the Raffles Hotel
in Singapore and the E&O Hotel in Penang.

Our history is rich with such influence. Multiracial Malaysia, my
friends, is not new. And it is still very much alive. Yet some among
us refuse to accept this reality. On the eve of our 48th birthday,
don’t you think it’s about time that we really embrace and celebrate
our diversity?

The sooner we get beyond race and think `Malaysia’, the quicker this
country can progress. And then we really will be Malaysia truly Asia.

Mangai Balasegaram is a journalist who stubbornly remains an
optimist, despite more than a decade of working on bad news. She
still believes it is possible to change the world, if only by
changing the perspective a little bit. Send your feedback to
starmag@thestar.com.my.
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