'NO MALAYS PLEASE - FRY PORK IN THE KITCHEN? I'LL HAVE TO CHANGE ALL THE TILES': MALAYSIA ALREADY A VERY RACIST NATION

I believe racism is still prevalent in many forms of everyday life in Malaysia and it would be very misleading to say that this has not continued to lead to racial tensions. The first glimpse of such a legacy was prevalent during the Bersih rally last year when attendees accidentally asked "where were the Malays?".

Add that on to the Sarawak campaign where you have a so-called "Superman" asking the Malays to vote for a Malay to screw the Malays, and here we are now.

But at the same time, I'm questioning something truly important - how do you define it?

I've come to this question because personally I myself cannot stand some right wing Malays and their stances.

For example, I don't believe in the whole "women should stay at home" bit, or the "feminism is unIslamic, or the prevalent words of Friday sermons against adultery, homosexuality, transsexualism, "pork free" signboards, or even the hudud and sharia law implementation that will go through parliament in the next seating.

Does that make me racist against my own race or just liberal against conservative Islam?

I would tell people it's the latter.

From my understanding, racism is to put benefits and limits based purely on race. Thus, if someone were to ask me why "my people" screwed up the nation - which happens rather often these days out of some weird belief that I'm an Umno member - should I take offence?

Because I would actually be questioning the phrase "you people" would apply to which aspect they are referring to. Is it my race, religion or politics?

Obviously if I were to say the same to a Chinese Malaysian, would it refer to their race, belief or politics?

Wouldn't it be proper to see it separately, or just lump everything altogether?

That being said, the times are changing just a bit.

Fahmi Reza has released a poll in which 39 percent of Malaysians were fine with a non-Malay prime minister. But at the same time, let us consider earlier findings.

For example, the Center For A Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) had in fact released a study saying that Malaysians did not see themselves along racial lines. And yet, an earlier study from the same organisation also said that Malaysians as a majority would only vote for members of their own race.

In the latter study done March this year, 40 percent of Malaysians admitted openly to being racist, 18 percent denied being racist but would only vote for candidates of their own race. This was a survey done in both urban and rural settings, thus making geographical location irrelevant.

What does this point to us? Well, for one thing, we can't say we aren't a racist nation from top all the way to the bottom. What the government does for votes, the people do to get even or out of resentment, or even from a culture of fearing to cause offence.

That last one was explained to me by a landlord in my apartment complex who wouldn't rent out his apartment to Malays out of fear his kitchen - apparently some would-be tenant said he would have to retile the entire area out of fear that the previous tenant fried pork.

I myself cannot fault him in that sense. I started by thinking him racist and then discovered that there are things that will make someone appear and even encourage them to be so, purely from a very, very awkward take on their religious beliefs.

It didn't make him a racist after all, but it does make me question some Muslims on their belief system.

So the problem as I see it is twofold; we are becoming a racist nation, but at the same time it is being triggered by a growing sense of religious conservatism by the majority and the imposing of that belief in others.

That's the problem, but what's the solution?

I'm all ears and eyes for some ideas. - http://www.theheatmalaysia.com/