The true face of Malaysia.

When I started this blog a week ago, I had taken into consideration what I would like my readers to read and how they would read it. For as surely as the web is the window to the world, the blog is the window to the author. In pursuit of the ultimate blogging technique, I have often perused other renowned blogs in hope of finding some positive points worth filching...

One can't help but notice that amongst the high hitters in the blogging community, are those who dedicate their blogs exclusively to the exploration of political, racial, scandalous 'hot' issues that plague the communities we live in. I decided much earlier on that while my blog would not be part of that particular circle, it would occassionally touch upon such topics should they catch my eye.

I'm a Malaysian Chinese... And by birthright I am stereotyped with many labels. Kiasu-ism, mad driving skills, an inborn instinct to accumulate cheap, plastic containers.... many labels... so many in fact that I've been accustomed to shrugging them off in the course of my daily life. An article however caught my eye. An article branding me with yet another label, which I have never actually thought of before in my life. A label so ludicrous that it would be funny under different circumstances. The offending article... I submit for your viewing pleasure below :

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/44775-btn-taught-me-the-chinese-are-the-jews-of-asia

It's unbelievable that at this age of computer chips and ever shrinking cellphones we still have such primitive minds in existance. They are the bane of the people, for it is due to the propogation of such idealogy that the people of our nation will never achieve that simple unity which so many of our forefathers strove for in times past. Know that while we gather beneath one banner, while we take refuge under one roof and build our homes, we are not yet Malaysian... We are still a ragtag bunch of Malays, Indians and Chinese people... very much wary of each other... and very much in fearful anticipation of the next 13th May outbreak. Sad... but true.

To quote the wise words of my good friend Atikah : "It does not have to be this way, Kenneth."

WE DO NOT NEED THIS! It is with great joy that I say confidently that this situation WILL NOT prevail... That there is hope and one day we will be able walk side by side, leaving all stigma and racism far, far behind us. I have many friends and we all come from different backgrounds. But I'm happy to say that while we are aware of differences, we are much much more aware that such differences are negligible when compared to the many similarities we share! We eat at the same table, we laugh at the same jokes and we walk the same roads. But most importantly, we know we're not alone.

True we may still be the minority... but today's great oaks were merely yesterday's seeds...

So I implore you dear reader... Look at your neighbour and see the person not the skin for it is most certainly true that beauty is far more than skin deep. If everyone in this nation could do but just that, then the day will come where we cast our differences aside and present to the world the true face of Malaysia!