Accident victim tells doc, ‘I don’t want a Keling to touch me’

Medical doctor recounts how injured man refused to let a 'keling' touch him, but later apologises saying "I didn't know you were a doctor. Doctor can touch."

TAIPING: In racially-divisive Malaysia, a Facebook post by a young, Indian doctor recounts how she was hurled with a racist slur when trying to help an injured elderly Malay man.

Written on December 30, 2015, Dr Shalini Paramaswaran was driving home when an old Malay pakcik (uncle) skid and fell from his motorbike when attempting to make a U-turn.

She rushed to his aid, noted his deformed right leg with bone exposed and heard that he was unable to feel his feet.

“I introduced myself to help him,” she said, “and pakcik responded in a rather shocking way.” In front of the crowd that had gathered, he shooed her away with the words, “Aku tak nak keling datang dekat aku, tolong aku ke, banyak orang boleh tolong (I don’t want a ‘keling’ coming near me, or to help me, lots of people can help me)”.

‘Keling’ is regarded as a derogatory term referring to a person of Indian origin.

Members of the public then asked her to move away.

The shell-shocked doctor obliged and proceeded to call an ambulance. Upon arrival of the medical unit, Dr Shalini debriefed the paramedic who attended to the injured victim.

After ensuring that the Malay man was attended to, she was about to leave the accident site when the paramedic called out to her, asking if she had examined the man.

She replied, “No, he didn’t want me to touch him. So I called an ambulance instead and waited to ensure no one moved him.”

Overhearing the exchange, the man then smiled and said, “I didn’t know you were a doctor. Doctor can touch.”

Expressing her disbelief, she ended her post with this poignant remark, “Before knowing I’m a doctor, I was a disgusting ‘keling’, cannot touch. After knowing, all the smiles n sorry…”

As at January 2, the post has triggered 2,572 shares, 1,295 comments, 7,074 likes.

What’s obvious is that the story struck a nerve with everyday Malaysians of all races. Most thanked her, some apologised for the man’s racist rant and one person questioned her motive for going public with this story:

Facebook user Esha Rsym wrote: “Probably that pak cik’s brain fell out ‘coz of the accident…”

Facebook user Samuel Selvaraju commented: “Hmmm. Sometimes better to help animals. They are grateful.”

User Vanita Vidia said: “To me it seemed exceedingly strange. She thought to do good for her purposes but I do not feel too sure if this lady doctor and her purposes posting this articles (sic).”

User William Lim wrote: “It was a noble gesture from you. Shame on the pakcik for judging people by race. Seems to me racial politics have bred more racists nowadays and sad for society.”

Facebook user Fadhil Shamsudin said: “I feel ashamed and astonished after reading your post. Such disgusting act of racism portrayed by the uncle is totally unacceptable. Anyway, you did a good job and the fact that you called an ambulance and accompanied the uncle truly shows that you are worthy of a doctor. Keep it up.”

Facebook user John R Maman said: “Should have just left him there.”