Being born and bred in malaysia, a multiracial country, a nation of segregated races and of social extremes. Though unspoken, but deep down everyone knew the sensitivity of racial issues. Since young we were all taught in school to be kind to each other, but being placed in a chinese primary school, my childhood is practically surrounded by only Chinese, having friends from other races is non existence and I could only hear stories from the textbook featuring ah Chong, Ali and Hassan.
When I entered national secondary school, there I was culture shock a little, so many people of different skin colours. And being Malaysians, we all find our comfort zones by forming cliques of own races, I dare to admit that I was one of them. After a few years throughout high school, through television and magazines influence, I grew to be against racism and social classes, I think everyone should be equal, why one should be judged through their skin colour, background and wealth, we are all only human. I then start to mingle around and adapt from hanging out with the bookstore kakak to listening to malay songs.
After stepping into the society, me being me, naive and thinking I could make a difference, i kept the same attitude towards everyone until one fine day, I got robbed and practically felt cheated, because I put my guards down, two young boys who were merely 18 years old smashed my car window and took my bag, from then on everyone of other races and classes looked like criminals to me, I fear them. I then learn to know the cruelty of the society, you really need to judge someone by their looks, I run whenever a motorcycle passes, I stare at people in fear that they would rob me, I then became what I've been against for - Racist. I get angry at myself sometimes why do I behave this way but I'm left with no choice!
I work near a squatter area, I normally fuel up at the fuel station nearby, i'm always cautious with my bag and lock my car immediately when I get in, there was this fine day, when I just withdrew money from the ATM machine in the fuel station. I ran out quickly afraid someone might be marking me, there was this guy on a motorbike parked right in front of the door, as I walked out he held the door, I was scared and he let me out and gave me a warm smile. I was stunned and return him with a thank you, then I realized what a person have I turned into?
Then it kept me thinking what is the main reason of all these social classes, segregation of race and bad economy? I believe all causes are chained reaction. Simple as it is for racial segregation, language and education plays an important role, we all grew up speaking different languages and cultures and were then put into different schools, for example I grew up only to know about Chinese language and cultures, reasonbeing the decision by my parents because education in national school is incompetent. truthfully speaking i have lived my whole 24 years in malaysia and I don't even know how kadazans sound like and what do they do and eat during their new year celebration? One thing is the rakyats has becomes ignorant at one point when knowing nothing can be done to make a change, one's patriotism has been put off again and again by this disappointing country. Theres when education plays an important role, take for example school should take native language as an optional and focuses on speaking the international language - English. And school should improve the standard of education. You will be surprised how many illiterate still exists in Malaysia? And then why the raise of criminal rate? Because standard of living keeps going up and yet the salary remain the same. All issues from raising one's minimum wage to improving public transportation. Malaysia has been taking its own sweet time whereas other countries is now way ahead of us. Now it's time to forget which race is boss but to focus on the development of our country, screw politics and propagandas, our current EC is too caught up with corruption and they have already forgotten about the rakyats, Truly hoping for a change for Malaysia.
