Sometimes I think there is NO HOPE
I had a lovely birthday. But today I opened the newspaper and got pissed off.
"Tunku ensured Malay predominance," screamed the headline.
After 50 years of independence (okay, maybe 44), what is all this nonsense about Malay predominance? Why does everything have to be classified in terms of being "pro-Malay" or "anti-Malay"? Does Malaysia belong to the Malays alone? HELLO?!?!?!?!
I swear, sometimes it seems like the country's leaders are trying their utmost to alienate one-third of the population. Bangsa Malaysia, my foot. And the thing is, they can't even admit that they're only out to protect their own interests. No, they keep on pretending that they're just as concerned about the rest of us. Do they think we can't see through all the hot air?
You know, you can talk all you want about integration, but all my Malay friends were sent off to sekolah berasrama penuh (special boarding schools) after primary school. It was an opportunity only offered to Malay students with fairly good grades. Way to go, Malaysia. Start them young. Segregate them from the age of 13.
I didn't begrudge my friends the opportunities offered to them; I just thought it strange that only the Malays were eligible for such opportunities. And if you talk about wanting to even up the economic disparity, then I think you should remember that not all Chinese are rich, and many Indian families could use some help too.
We've never considered ourselves in competition against you, but your "us" vs "them" mentality is starting to rub off. When you think only in terms of your own interests, it's only natural that we get alarmed and begin to worry because nobody is looking after our interests. Yet when we voice our questions and displeasure, you pretend the problem doesn't exist, insist that nobody talk about it anymore, and leave unsaid the threat of charging those who do under the ISA (Internal Security Act).
I'm disgusted with the executive, disgusted with the judiciary, and disgusted with the legislature. And I'm sure I'm not the only one.
UPDATE: In case this wasn't clear... as I said to Bob... I don't blame the Malays, I blame stupid government policy!