I sleep well as I normally do; I work pretty hard for a living, put food on the table, 3 square meal a day for my family, and afford my children’s education. I contribute to the society from the taxes deducted from my income. I pay toll for the highways I use sometimes besides the road tax I have already paid on my car, SST on some goods and services, and custom and excise duties on some luxury goods I consume from time to time.
Like many others, I pretty much mind my own business; never once have I ever moaned of the lack of special privileges, the rights of others’ religions, and colour of their skin. I have no complaints Malays have their privileges though I know many others aren’t jumping with joy with the discounts they have on buying new houses (irrespective whether they are rich or poor), preference given on education, government projects, holding all top government positions in politics, GLCs, schools, colleges and universities, and in the administration and the armed forces.
But lo and behold, I woke up one morning to read that one son of Kling publicly announced that Malay dignity has been trampled, followed with a supporting speech by the PM that the nons were “accepted” even though his father, Mr Kutty of Kerala was in fact one of us at that time; so, Tun, please use the right connotation in your speech. You are very much one of us as Malaysians with different ethnic backgrounds. Your father came from India, whereas my parents, and grandparents from my maternal side, were born in Malaya; doesn’t that make me more a Malaysian than you?
Now how have the Malay dignity been trampled upon? This really baffled me. The Malays control the country, and already have all the privileges and rights not afforded to the nons. How so son of Kling have the nons trampled upon Malay dignity? Did the nons put sand in your nasi and sambal? Have the nons questioned your privileges and other rights? Have the nons ever touched on sensitive issues such as your race, religion and our rulers? Nooo, son of Kling; we don’t do such things!! We didn’t (and dont) object to all the policies that favours the Malays for we understand that the economy between the races need a good balance for the sake of peace and harmony. Please take note that not all Malays are poor neither are all nons wealthy and successful.
Nothing gonna change whatever you may say to stir racial sentiments. Not all Malays can agree with the shit you are stirring. It won’t work. You know the great thing about privileges in education? Lots of Malays who might otherwise remain as poor uneducated rural folks, are now smarter than you think; many have become professionals like yourself (many of whom are highly qualified medical specialists, architects, engineers etc), and they don’t buy into your divisive speech nor speak and think like you do. Err…maybe some fools still do believe you blindly though they know not the basis of your idiotic speech, swayed perhaps by unfounded emotion they themselves don’t quite understand! Blind leading the blind gets you nowhere professor; maybe fame for a few days what?
No, its not the dignity of the Malays which had been trampled; if at all, it is the Chinese and Indians, and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak who have been bashed by Malays of your class from the Peninsular from time to time. Even though we are equal in the eyes of the law, it is the nons who have lost their dignity for being bashed every so often by the likes of you. And you know what, we just kept quiet, do nothing, and sucked it all up. We are true Malaysians and accept all other Malaysians as our brothers and sisters, and we understand and accept each others predicaments and living conditions, and the politics of this country. You may like to suck it all up numb skull professor, we are here to stay for good whether you like it or not.
We are humans too with feelings; I must admit it does hurt to be called Pendatang…but we can stomach it knowing that in TRUTH 99% of us are migrants anyway. We work hard and contribute much to the country.
The only true sons of the soil are the orang asli. For a learned (?) person like yourself, where is your dignity is writing such a polemic speech, professor? Need I say more, son of Kling?
By a peace loving Malaysian who believes love is the only way forward; not hatred and greed. May all sentient beings be well and happy.
Source : Dato Peter Khoo
Indie Borneo 