Amde Sidik

Which Malay?

Amde Sidik, Kadayan Journal

I am responding to the article posted in Malaysia Today sometime ago under the titled The Biggest Obstacle to Malay Progress originally posted in Lim Kit Siang’s blog, by a writer named Allan C.

I am not claiming to represent Sabahans or Sarawakians per se but I know a few of my Borneo pals share similar view with me.

The first thing, I’m curious how much this guy knows the subject he was talking about-race and ethnics of Malaysia.

I shall provide him with a little geography lesson to start with, Malaysia comprises of land from Peninsula originally called Malaya, and across South China Sea in Borneo Island, two bigger states -Sabah on the very tip north of the island, and down south west  is Sarawak.

The two states of Malaysia in Borneo are much bigger in size compare with the whole of peninsula Malaysia.

For an extra information, as far as the Borneo Malaysians are concerned many people here are of the view, equating Sabah and Sarawak as same status as Perlis or Malacca is unfair, should the bargaining to form Malaysia is taking place today, I would say, the status of the nation of Malaysia would not be as it is.

The term Malay that Allan is referring to I guess, he is restricting himself by looking only from Malaya’s perspective. It is also the term generally used by the academicians to mean the Malay stock, found scattered throughout the South East Asian nations- I don’t intent to dwell into this.

I wouldn’t disagree with some of his outlook such as on problems of politics, economic, religion and social, except, the way he explains and defines who Malay people are not only infuriates Borneons, but surely provides ground for dispute. His understanding of Malaysia’s race is far below Borneo Malaysians standard. I consider akin to looking through a pinhole, a little better than katak under the tempurung lah! but a little better is surely not good enough.

The question is, which Malay? Selected few elite Malays, the powerful Malays, the privileged Malays, the hypocrites Malays, obviously not all Malays. Don’t be misled, still far too many Malays did not benefit as much as the UMNO Malays leaders. I am referring to Malays in Malaya. I am sure Allan will discover should he seek to discover the deserving Malays and Bumiputras. The reason I say this is because it sounds Allan is implying  Malays UMNO leaders have treated all ‘Malays’ with equality if not with specialty. Again don’t misinterpret me, I am always for just and fairness, they are also Chinese and Indians as deserving as these Malays.

Now what about Malays in Borneo Malaysia? Can Allan not differentiate rather than making a sweeping statement? If only Allan stays in these two states longer enough till he can’t leave out the word bah! instead of lah! from his lip, then only he could say that Malay in Borneo is as Malay as in Malaya.

But one more thing, the Malays stocks of Borneo prefer to call themselves by their own ethnic origin, you don’t have to worry, they don’t get offended. Say the Bajau, Kadazan, Dusun, Kadayan, Bisaya, Dayak, Iban, Kalabit, and many more, about 60 or so-they are Bumiputra.

These people aren’t as fortunate as the UMNO leaders in Malaya? These people don’t behave like the UMNO putera and puteri? They don’t fit to Allan’s descriptions. If Allan has hatred toward Bumiputra, because Bumiputaras behave the way they are, Allan too is not welcome to be my friend. Many Bumiputras considered they are just as colonized as was during British time. In Sabah, impliedly, if you are not a friend of them you are their enemy.

What do we do, jump over the  biggest bridge of Kinabatangan river?  I think  we’d better fight whatever means we have even if its just a whisper.

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