A new window for us all

Last month, I had an important engagement meeting with officer from Disability Support Centre at Universiti Malaya, as our university would like to initiate a similar support hub in campus for potential disabled students. Besides myself and boss, we had an accompany of our mother-figure counsellor, Mrs. Phoong.

In car while heading there, we talked about so many things; of interesting cases our counsellors have been handling, support plan for disabled students and other recent hypes - coming election which later triggered into perspectives and attachments I had never heard before - the sense of belonging of Chinese after independence in Malaysia.

Mrs. Phoong started it so good when she said that Chineseness in Malaysian Chinese are no longer emphasized. They are a lot more Malaysian than Chinese now. I like that phrase a lot. She related it with her recent vacation in China which she struggled to converse in her-supposed original lingo but she failed. Listening to one complete sentence and having to translate to her kind of Chinese language, it was like deciphering a very ancient script. She sighed and complained to her husband to no successful way of bargaining better and both ended laughing. While language was the most troubling experience, she could not too enjoy those times dealing with the locals as she mentioned “They are all different from us.” At one point during her vacation, her family almost trapped into a scam which later engendered to several tiring escapes and finally, compelling leisure in hotel. 

“I couldn’t enjoy. Every bit in Malaysia, even tiny things were missed deeply.”

“What tiny things?”

“Nasi lemak.”

I laughed real hard. I totally could relate. When I went to Jakarta, despite being recognized as bangsa serumpun with common identifications we have with Indonesia, I felt unease quite a lot of times, especially touring around the bustling city, either by feet or car. Just like what Mrs. Phoong said, “They are all different from us.” I remember strolling through the night market for kuih-muih and somehow regretted terribly especially with fat rats and roaches welcoming me and friends at the market entrance and the smell – I am surprised till now that I did not say a word. However, during the four days, I enjoyed the food very much and dragooned my poor mind from thinking too much about cleanliness. The aftermath was great though – 4 days and countless foods despite giving me wonderful memories, nothing wished to stay in my tummy, so I spent an hour in airplane toilet on the way back to Malaysia – diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and fever all in one perfect combo. It was tragic, true. However, as I think back, my regrets partly not contributed by the cleanliness alone, but it was a lot more on the sense I failed to connect. What happened during my Japan trip was at least 90% enjoyable but some parts along the way, even the tiniest thing in Malaysia was missed deeply, that is the weather (and Nasi Lemak too).

I guess what Mrs. Phoong and I experience are both similar, that is the sense of belonging, but what really is the sense of belonging? If you ask me, my agreement would be the strong relationship with the concept of patriotism and patriotism as based on Lee and Hebert’s (2006:500) definition refers to “emotional and symbolic attachment to the national symbols, to the government and its structures, to a sense of civic responsibility and to the traditions and customs of a political community.” In simple words perhaps, the sense of belonging of Malaysians is believing and upholding the five tenets contained in our Rukun Negara, our national philosophy. Through each pillar, it widens to a lot more significant characteristics that every Malaysian should embrace and proudly apply.

Mrs. Phoong shared with us her stories and certain sentiments that all these while being kept to herself and family. Her ancestors who came to Malaysia long before independence struggled to adjust themselves in an alien land and progressively later played a fundamental role economically, socially, politically and other think tanks. Unfamiliar with famous dejecting stories written elsewhere, she fortunately never experienced any kind of mistreatment here as she was repetitively convinced of her identity as a Malaysian. Mrs. Phoong was a graduate from Universiti Malaya in teaching background and further pursued her Master studies in psychology. Engaging with students is her primary forte and she enjoys doing it every day – having to listen and learn from people at the same time.

Our Disability Support Center has yet to officially launch but the commencement of research and studies have been made since the first month of my employment. We from time to time visited available centers in Kuala Lumpur to understand the needs and support provided for disabled individuals. Mrs. Phoong made things a lot easier for me thanks to her enthusiasm and patriotism. Her observation as a counsellor cum Malaysian appears to be an encouragement to remain aware of her values and identity. She, at most times, conscious to practice the five tenets contained in Rukun Negara and diligently applies what is deemed appropriate as Malaysian behavior.

“What Malaysian behavior?”

“All Melayu behaviors as written by Usman Awang.”

I was awed. I smiled and nodded, gracefully.

“As years passed by, my Chineseness are no longer emphasized, Sheriel. I am a lot more Malaysian than Chinese. And this, not just me.”

I remember of what my parents told me a long time ago. It used to be like this – when a Chinese or Indian converted to Islam, people would not call that person a muallaf, saudara baru, neither masuk Islam. They were instead being named as masuk Melayu. It is not Malayisation but a solemn asseveration of ensuring unity and non-diversity in this country. Historically, that had been applied during the ruling of Malacca Sultanate, steadily occasioned the cultivation, growth and enforcement of Malay language and cultures in the regions. I used to smile wide listening to this as I thought of a very wonderful welcoming message to these converts. They were not exceptions from the Muslims and Malays, instead feted by all values and perks benefited to them as a part of the community, rather than these difficult times, people at the moment are fighting over the UiTM admission offer to non-Bumiputra.

Sigh.

As this anecdote is written now after the victory of Malaysia Baru, I hope to see more windows of values – equal treatment, a voice in societal decisions, a chance to start over and not just good policy ideas but the rights of ours to act as a human simply by upholding virtues and morals. We were given one great chance to prove why do we deserve this, let us make the most of it.