Citizen

Are our days as non-Malays Malaysian numbered? Mind you I did not say non-Bumiputeras which the Malays claim that they are. They claimed their ancestors were the 'landowners' of Malaya (before it was rename Malaysia). However asked any Malay (particularly the royalties, upper class, politicians and the rich) they will tell you that one of their parent or grandparent is either a Chinese, Indian, Arab, Javanese, Mat Salleh (the Europeans), etc. Maybe half landowners. Even our Prime Minister has Chinese ancestry and his deceased wife was half Japanese. He is now married to his second wife who is a Portugese Malaysian coverted from Catholic to Islam. To me the real Bumiputeras are the aborigines - most of them are located in Sabah and Sarawak. Majority are poor and illiterate. And they are not the majority in UMNO (the Malay aka Bumiputera party) and they hold very few positions in the government.

As a 3rd generation non-Malay - Malaysia is where my heart is. This is the country which I toil the soil. I have no allegiance to the country of my ancestors. I am citizen of Malaysia and proud to be one. Yet we are still being "positively discriminated" from the day the country gained it's independence until today. There is no equal rights here and we are told that we should not question the social contract set forth by the founding parties (of the 3 main races - Malay / Chinese / Indian) ie the Malay rights is always right.

Today talk to any non-Malay, they will tell you that they prefer to send their children to their own ethnic schools or private schools as the Government schools are not treating/teaching their children fairly. Most non-Malay parents would prefer their children to study abroad and if there is any opportunity - stay abroad. The parents perceived there is little benefit if their children return here. Most of the children ends up in Singapore, Taiwan, China, Australia, the UK and the US.

Race based companies also exist, whereby certain race are preferred over others. It has become a Lose-Lose situation and it is getting worst. I am also guilty of it. If I do not help my own race who will? The Government is not going to and surely not most of the Malays.

Are our days numbered as non-Malays?

In the next 50 years do we have to give up more of ourselves to the Malays in exchange for our "citizenship"?

This is the tag line at the end of the commercial. In the commercial you will see the 3 different majority races in Malaysia (the Malay, Chinese & Indian) highlighting it's unique culture. All purported living happily, in unity and peace with one another. It is not true.

I remember as a kid in primary school - everyone irregardless race, creed & gender was a friend. But as I entered into secondary school, I learned of the "Quota System" where the Malay race was given places in better classes - not based on exams result but because of the quota system. Even though my exams result was better than my Malay classmates, I was relegated to 4th classes, making way for the Malay students to be placed in 1st and 2nd classes. Then I learned that even though a non-Malay did well in school - the chances of getting scholarships and good courses in universities were very slim. Most of us had to depend on our parents to see us through universities. But the Malays was given good courses to study and was sent to overseas countries to study under Government full scholarships / loan (which most do not pay back).

Then I entered the workforce working for a Government Linked Company and soon realized that the "Quota System" was also in place. The company had to ensure that the Malays are the majority workforce in the company and that certain senior positions are strictly for the Malays only.

Even when we purchases houses - there is 2 price advertised. One is for the Malay (or also called the bumiputera) which is lower priced and one for the other races (or non-bumiputera) which is the higher price.

The above are just few examples.

All this in the name of the New Economic Policy (NEP) - a policy to help the Malays to become rich. Yes today you will see many Malays driving BMWs, Mercedes, sports cars and bedecked with golds and diamonds. While the rest of us have to learned to be independent, strong, patient & forgiving.

The non-Malays (most of us 4th Generations citizens of Malaysia) are CITIZENS too. This is apartheid in reverse.

It's less than 2 weeks before our nation celebrate its 50th year of Independence. Yet I don't see any reason why we should celebrate when the country is fraught by corruptions, crimes, abuses, racial disunity and lies. Our PM makes silly statements so much so that I stopped reading (or watching) any news about him. His ministers makes stupid remarks / comments which makes me wonder how did they get to be politicians in the first place or maybe it takes an idiot to be a politician. The crimes committed are really sickening. Everyday some one gets murdered, gunned down (mafia style), raped, abused, burnt, chopped, and the list goes on and on .. The polarisation of races are so evident. All you need to do is go to a restaurant or shopping complex or cinema or school / college to see the Malay, Chinese, Indians and others not being together. We are "together" yet we are now more separated than ever.

How awful, how terrible. It is our 50th "birthday". Instead of getting older/wiser/more mature/smarter .. we are on the reverse.

Happy Birthday Malaysia and you need lots and lots of LUCK!!!