“The Malays are not a lazy indigenous group, having proven themselves over time in numerous fields,” said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. [NST]
Not all Malays are lazy. In my 3+ years of study in local university, I met some of the most diligent people that are Malays; but majority of the laziest students I have ever met are Malays.
Don’t want to be discriminative here… but unless there are massive improvements over the past few years, large groups of Malays are still being lazy in local varsities.
I don’t want to jump into conclusion that they are lazy by nature, Najib could be right to say that it’s not ‘indigenous’; perhaps some Malay lazy graduates have reasons like not being able to catch up with the studies and low English proficiency (English was a huge problem for lots of local undergraduates).
My point is however, that government leaders like Najib could look into the large problems more seriously instead of being proud with some small achievements. Things cannot be improved if they cannot accept the fact that they need improvements.
February 5th, 2007 at 8:24 am
I guess that if you plot some sort of histogram or make a population survey, you’ll find that the ethnic Malay population has a larger spread or variance. IOW there’s a larger gap between the good and the um…not so good. This is probably due more to socio-economic factors rather than anything cultural or genetic. My personal impression is that there is a large gap between the haves and have-nots resulting in better opportunities for some to do well and build the correct mindset to succeed in life, and less for others….
February 5th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
The English colonial could be guilty of this… they had been surpressing the Malays during their rulling years.
Yet 50 years have passed, that’s enough time to do some serious improvement on every aspect. I couldn’t remember who exactly but there was one government leader that said that it would take another 100 years for Malay to become as competent as other races.
I don’t really bother if Malays are matching Chinese or whatever, the internal competency is useless if Malaysia could not compete with foreign countries… and Malays as the majority race will play a major role in the country development and really need to buck up, fast.
February 6th, 2007 at 3:50 am
This is really a misconception. There are a lot of hard working intelligent Malays. The perception that Malays are lazy in University is just a matter of ratio - simply because there are more of them. Another factor may be cultural, most are too humble to market themselves and prefer to be low profile- and people perceive them as not good enough. BTW, I am not a Malay but have worked with them.
Proof are my numerous Malay friends working with MNCs everywhere around the World. They won’t have got there if they were lazy.
February 6th, 2007 at 6:56 am
There’s really a big misconception on Malays. Are they really lazy or not serious in their job? I have met a friend in the IT industry who is really an excellent Java programmer. He really know his stuff and is serious in what he is doing. I believe that passion is always the key to success.
February 6th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Adam, it’s not just ratio; and certainly not a matter of low profile. When I was in uni there were some 30-40% of students (80-90% are Malays) that only appeared during exams but never attended classes…
They are good qualities Malays as well, no doubt about that.
Darkredz… I know some Malays that are well recognized in their field too. That shows that with proper attitude and passion as you said, Malays can succeed in whatever they want. They just need to push those that are not working as hard to work harder.
February 9th, 2007 at 11:16 am
Hi there,
i’m not a malay,but i dont think they are lazy.
some of them worked for me in 4 MNC’s and quite dam good and better, they makes tidy works. I loves their quality of work perfomed…such a super crafter’s…..and also they don’t politiking around, friendly and helpfull.
However, the perception that gives “malay as lazy” is from the attitude and poor work ethics and inefficiency of malays works in public sector……arrogant,dam stupid slow,corrupted,unattentive,un professional…blah..blah ….blah. you can name it.
This, which ruin the malay races.
So…i think what Najib saying “may…… be” right as some department are bucking up….by replacing with stupid slow mak cik with third class mentality to newly graduated chick’s.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
One bad apple ruins the whole basket…
You are probably right on the public sector, I still remembered last time I visited ROC and saw a lady doing knitting at the counter… my gawd.
Hope that there will be continuous improvement on this.
February 10th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
I’m a Malay and i agree with a statement that MOST Malays are lazy. Im not saying all. To see the real picture u must join a population where malay is the only race there . hint : malay uni? . BUT some have them do have a good potential , some are too brilliant, no need to study to score.
February 12th, 2007 at 2:37 am
I do agree that not all malays are lazy but large number of them are. The question one has to ask “why is this so?”. Is it due to genetics? I think not. I believe God create everyone equal; it’s the environment, society and peers that causes this. UMNO as the champion of malay race has failed to realised this and continue to use NEP and constitutional special malay rights and privileges thinking they are helping the malay race. But in fact, they are spoiling them. When one is on crutches too long one can no longer use ones leg anymore to stand own two feet.
Everyone can see plenty of these examples daily except our malay leaders choose to remain blind and deaf. Proton is a very good example. How can this giant auto company fail with all those special assistance! Because of ‘CRUTCHES’ that was given from day one. Large quantities of Malay graduates whom can’t speak or write a simple English sentence. Whose faults are these? Problem of English face by our under graduates is just the tip of the iceberg.
Do you know some realised Malays send their children to oversea English boarding schools as young as primary school; while some send their children to govt chinese primary and private chinese secondary schools. Why? These parents want their children to be special, to know another one or two foreign languages are always better than not.
If 30 years ago, our govt were to force every students to learn tamil, chinese, english, arabic and bahasa( well maybe at least 4 languages)compulsory to pass for SRP, SPM and STPM, we all can now go to India, China and Dubai to conduct businesses without language barriers at all.
Do you all unrealised malays wants to why the chinese and indian malaysia whose grandparents or great grandparents or great great grand parents were migrants survived and their later generations become successful or at least improved to middle income group? I tell you lot a secret. We (speaking on behalf of our g8 g8 grand parents), we have no choice, the environment or society is always harsh for us second class citizen.
We have to fight since young;
-we have to fight to enrol into limited chinese primary school;
-we have to fight to excel in English on our own when the govt keep tell everyone to learn only bahasa, fortunately our parents had the foresight to ignore that propoganda;
-we have to fight to get into local univ with limited seats;
-we have fight to be more hard working, more street smart in order to maintain our competitiveness in working life;
-we have to fight to get our own working capital in order to start own small business.
-we have to pay more to buy houses, i.e. no special discounts
One has to learn to adapt and strive to improve and continue to adapt, hopefully within this lifetime we can be better in later life, if not, then hope our next generation will carry where we left off and improve from there until success is obtained.
It is a sacrifies commitment which pass down generation to generation.
Just look at the Singaporean, people of HongKong, Taiwanese 50 years ago. They were no better than us then. Look at them now, we ought to be ashame of ourselves. They are in general better off than us is because in their governmental society there are no such thing as special privilege base on race. Basically, if you work you shall survive; if you are lazy, then you shall die slowly but surely.
But then again, one cannot blame our malay leaders for being gutless to take a stand and say this to the nation, “If you vote for me, I shall abolish all your malay special rights and privileges as well as NEP.” Not even the running president of united states dare to say “Vote for me and I shall stop all your public welfare system”
Hence, this lead to brain drain from our country. For God sake! give us the equality, we are also malaysian! Is third generation born here not enough for you! Give us equality then we are truly one nation. Pak Lah! Najib! be the champion of malays and savior to chinese and indians malaysian as well!
March 5th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
I applaud you for saying something like this, Chinese Malaysian also Malaysian aka CMM. The fact that you actually say something like this may reward you a visit from the people from ISA. Really, I’m not kidding. Go just a few more steps and the government would probably have you behind bars, no matter what your rights are. This is life in Malaysia.
Anyway, I really admire you what you’re saying. How many people realize the truth by now? I mean I am sure that not a lot of people do (especially not some ‘certain’ people.) I and my parents as a Bumis have our so called ‘special rights’, but we never actually exercised it. This is because we understand that only if we fight our way out of our own misery will we survive in this new world. Plus, the world is getting smaller now because of technology, and we have to somehow ensure our own way to survive. Why? Because I don’t think (and believe) that the government will lift a finger in helping us even if they ‘claimed’ that they will support us. I’ve seen too many promises broken by politicians in office to believe in them in my 19 years of life, and I expect more broken promises in the near future. We just have to wait and see.
Anyway, back to topic.
I find most Malays, if properly motivated, could do very well in whatever field they choose. I mean, I believe in something call ‘talent’ but, talent or no talent, laziness IS laziness.
March 6th, 2007 at 1:41 am
Nah, I never cross the borderline with my blog, government needs to be really dumb to send anyone to visit me under ISA ruling.
You should be proud of yourself really. As I’ve mentioned quite a number of times on my blog, I totally on having special rights to protect the “poor and needed,” if anyone can survive without the privellege, they should.
Yes Malays can do well in whatever field they choose, we’ve seen enough examples of great achievement from some Malays. It’s a matter of choice, really.
March 6th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Darn, if only you all read the RM 10 Federal Constitution booklet available at major universities regarding Article 153 about so-called Malay Special Rights.
The truth is, there is no ’special rights/privileges’. I advise you all wise men go and read them to learn more.
With all due respect, we just being brainwashed by strong medias controlled by current goverment. I have a friend from North Korea proclaimed that he and most Puk-han (North Korean people) loved Kim Jong-Il more than their parents. Whoever controls the media, controls the country.
Sadly, i must say that UMNO is using too much racial concept -saying Malay this, Chinese that- rather than what Jee asserts that the ruling party should focus on the have-nots and poors disregarding their races.
UMNO just have to change their mindset. Jee, let’s start our own party. Together we’ll party this country 24/7, hahahah. take care people.
March 6th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Heery… there is a fine line that should not be crossed for racial-based discussions… I am not going to question the validity of any racial-based constitutional articles.
Quite agree on the biased media coverage for BN though… we could blame the press for being cowards… but frankly, they don’t have much options or risk their license being pulled. Luckily the internet usage is getting more influential these days, thus providing some different perspective for some issues.
It’s not just UMNO that used too much racial concepts… Chinese parties like MCA are guilty as well; sounding like fighting for Chinese, but the Chinese poors and have-nots are often neglected by MCA as well.
Own party? Sounds great… Zouk or Souled Out? :p
March 6th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Heery-
Well, most people considered quotas to local Us as one of the major disadvantages regarding this… Believe it. However, honoring the pact that they have made, they said nothing and send their children to abroad instead. I can’t say I blame them, actually…
To avoid unnecessary finger pointings, let’s just leave it at that, shall we?
Jee-
Unfortunately, I have to agree… Although it seems like MCA (I don’t know about MIC though) doesn’t have much influence over here, PBS and UMNO seems to be getting most attention, followed by Keadilan and friends. PAS don’t have much influence here either…
Today we have a brief discussion with friends of mine, and we’re talking about what will happen if PAS took control of the central government. All of us (2/3 are malays, actually) shuddered. I wonder why…
March 21st, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Malays are not lazy. Let me explain. When you live in a country or climate that changes into different seasons such as summer, winter, spring or fall etc, what the weather forecasters would tell the public on tv or so -in particular in the summer months where it’s ‘humid and hot’ at the same time- is that they would usually say to drink plenty of water and ‘to limit physical activities to a minimum to avoid being overheated’. You would know this if you had lived in a country w/various seasons. Just imagine if you live in a country/climate that is hot and humid all the time all year around like the equatorial, you would always have the tendency to limit your physical activity to a minimum. And Malays are the native , the original people of the area (archipelago) and this tendencies have been conditioned upon them for thousands of years. If you come from a country that’s cold w/snow, you usually have to move fast, you can’t move slow where it’s cold, otherwise you’ll be frozen to death. This explains why (not all) Malays’ physical movement (and people around the globe w/similar cilmate) tend to be more relaxed. To compare it the let say to the Chinese, they move faster because they originally came from the colder climate. Most of them came in the early 1920s, not thousands of years ago.
March 21st, 2007 at 5:48 pm
lol Munah… this must be the most distorted reasoning I’ve ever heard for laziness. Seriously, do you even believe in what you’ve written?
March 22nd, 2007 at 7:21 am
as far as physical movement is concerned, yeah I do beleive in this. There were hundreds of French died this past summer of heat exhaustion. Have you ever heard of it before, well now you have, the environment has a lot to do with who or how we are as people. I didn’t say I blame all of the Malay problems on it, nor do think all Malays are this way. That is to oversimplify it. It’s only part of the problem. Chinese is part of the Malay problem, they always keep to the themselves and make their money and to hell w/everybody else.
Another Malay dillema is that they are not immigrants in their own country, therefore somewhat lack the drive to prove themselves. Immigrants who come to Malaysia are lucky in this sense that they have this motivation. They are able to see things in perspective. Where Malays are immigrants they do well economically. There are many successful Malays in the United States.
March 22nd, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Every year there are some people that died of heat stroke, yes I knew… and what does it have to do with the thing you mentioned. If there is anything related, that is people overseas are more affected by environment than Malaysians because of the extreme heat and extreme cold for around 3 months each year. If there are any excuses of being lazy because of the environment, people in Europe or US, Japan etc should have better excuses than Malays.
There are lots of Malays that are successful in Malaysia as well… they are not immigrants, and are not affected by the environment.
So, Chinese have to be blamed for some Malays being lazy? Great.
May 8th, 2007 at 2:12 am
Great! Blame it on the chinese… LOL. (I’m a chinese btw) I don’t blame you. Thank God, I’m neutral and I don’t give a rat’s a$$ to what people say about the chinese. I’ll just work my a$$ off, pay my taxes (do I have a choice?) live a good life, live my dreams (which I did by joining the US Marines, semper fi) seen the world and die a happy man faced down! So people can kiss my a$$ good bye.
We are humans after all. I say, live a good life cos we might not know what our future lies ahead of us…
Why start a racial war when life is too short to enjoy? Peace everyone…
Semper Fidelis
May 8th, 2007 at 9:25 am
US Marines? You aren’t Malaysian ain’t so?
May 30th, 2007 at 8:36 am
Dear bloggers,
Let me pose this questions to you all. Is any of you has been migrated to any country per say? At least, not just studying for two to four years, but also live as an immigrant of that particular country? Reason if you never done that then you have no idea what it feels like to be an immigrant.
Malay in Malaysia consider lucky, because the government uphold certain priviliges to the so-called “bumiputras’. Imagine if the Malaysian government does not protect the rights of the local people; what will happen to the Malays? Is so easy to judge and critize someone or somebody because he/she thinks that’s their rights to be a judge for someone else. But, to actually and truly understand the real issue is difficult. Many has failed obviously, therefore they’re just bunch of complainers. Our knowledge is limited towards what we know and many information was not available to us, the public.
In America for instance, Indians was protected because they are the native people of America. Do you know why the US government extended special priviliges to the Indians? Of course, there is always a reason why. Same thing just like in Malaysia, but many of us failed to understand the real reasons behind it. Instead just questioning with the big WHY? WHY? Well, I’m not an expert in American history nor an expert in Malaysian history either. Anyway, from here on, we could at least think that special priviliges just not given only to the Malays, but in other country like America, to the Indians and I’m sure they are many others as well.
The bigger question is whether Malays became lazy simply because of that priviliges or just because many are uneducated and still live in poverty. I don’t know about you guys, but I have live during the era where Chinese, Indians and Malays live in peace and harmony. I know my neighbours well and we celebrate each other celebrations with joy and happiness.
Malays are not lazy, maybe fews are, but obviously not all Malays. We can’t generalize everything and put everything in one perspective and then make an assumptions that because of few encounters with the lazy Malays, then it’s our right to feel that all Malays are lazy. There are many internal and external factors that influence society to shape that way. Things like socio-economic, demographic, geography, religion and etc play a huge role in our society.
Have you ever experience working with the Mexican, Puerto-Ricans, Arabs, Middle-Easterns, Black, different kind of blacks, white, hispanic and so on so forth. All races are bound to what they know. Imagine how many naive American still think that Malaysian are still live on trees? How many people still don’t even know where Malaysia is on the globe? The most they can point out is that Malaysia is somewhere out there…..
I personally has experience first hand that Blacks think that Asians are robbing their lives, because more and more educated Asian are holding better position in the society. How many white people think Mexican are creating huge illegal problems by illegally immigrated in the United States of America. How many Hispanic thinks that we should not use the word “hispanic” in addressing them.
Blacks thinks that Asian are lazy, whites think that Black people are lazy and the list goes on an on. What I’m trying to share with you guys in here that regardless who we are in this planet, we’re global citizens and like it or not we all in this world together. When we live among other people, they tends to be many differences in opinions, but as long as we know how to put aside those differences in opinions and achieve a common goal. In my view we will live in a better place and this world will be a better place for other people. Remember, you never what lies ahead of you until you get there. And when you get there, you start wondering why am I here and what’s the purpose of me being here and what’s the purpose of life.Change come from within, even in the smallest size.
Sincerely,
SFMALAY
May 30th, 2007 at 10:13 am
SFMALAY… Chinese, Indians and Malays still live in peace and harmony. Despite occasional racial tension, I think Malaysians are handling it well.
There will always be difference in thinking, not just inter-racial, but from the same race as well. Great if we can have a common goal… I always recall Commonwealth Games 98 as the most unite moment of Malaysians in my era, simply because of the common goal of making it a successful event.
We can’t expect absolute unity in Malaysia… it will never happen in near future (not in the next 100 years). What we can do is to keep the society in balance, and EVERYONE will have to work hard to achieve that goal.
October 8th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
It’s been interesting to read such free-flowing comments on the subject of the Origins of the Malays. While we are on the subject, how many of you have read the book entitled “Contesting Malayness - Malay Identity Across Boundaries” Edited by Timothy P. Barnard published by Singapore University Press?
Written by a Professor of National University of Singapore. It reflects the Anthropologists views that there is no such race as the “Malays” to begin with. If we follow the original migration of the Southern Chinese of 6,000yrs ago, they moved into Taiwan, (now the Alisan), then into the Phillipines (now the Aeta) and moved into Borneo (4,500yrs ago) (Dayak). They also split into Sulawesi and progressed into Jawa, and Sumatera. The final migration was to the Malayan Peninsular 3,000yrs ago. A sub-group from Borneo also moved to Champa in Vietnam at 4,500yrs ago.
Interestingly, the Champa deviant group moved back to present day Kelantan. There are also traces of the Dong Song and HoaBinh migration from Vietnam and Cambodia. To confuse the issue, there was also the Southern Thai migration, from what we know as Pattani today. (see also “Early Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago and the Malay Peninsular”)
Of course, we also have the Minangkabau’s which come from the descendants of Alexander the Great and a West Indian Princess. (Sejarah Melayu page 1-3)
So the million Dollar Question… Is there really a race called the “Malays”? All anthropologists DO NOT SEEM TO THINK SO. (strangely, this includes all Malay Malaysian Anthropologists who are of the same opinion.)
Neither do the “Malays” who live on the West Coast of Johor. They’d rather be called Javanese. What about the west coast Kedah inhabitants who prefer to be known as “Achenese”? or the Ibans who simply want to be known as IBANS. Try calling a Kelabit a “Malay” and see what response you get… you’ll be so glad that their Head-Hunting days are over.
In an article in the Star, dated: Dec 3rd 2006
available for on-line viewing at:
http://thestar.com.my/
An excerp is reproduced here below:
“The Malays – taken as an aggregation of people of different ethnic backgrounds but who speak the same language or family of languages and share common cultural and traditional ties – are essentially a new race, compared to the Chinese, Indians and the Arabs with their long histories of quests and conquests.
The Malay nation, therefore, covers people of various ethnic stock, including Javanese, Bugis, Bawean, Achehnese, Thai, Orang Asli, the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak and descendants of Indian Muslims who had married local women.
Beneath these variations, however, there is a common steely core that is bent on changing the Malay persona from its perceived lethargic character to one that is brave, bold and ready to take on the world. ”
The definition of “Malay” is therefore simply a collection of people’s who speak a similar type language. With what is meant by a similar type language does not mean that the words are similar. (A native Kelantanese native speaker has no clue whatsoever what his Iban native brother is talking about; if both speak their own dialect) Linguists however, call this the “Lego-Type” language, where words are added on to the root word to make meaning and give tenses and such. Somehow, the Indonesians disagree with this “Malay” classification and insist instead on being called “Indonesians” even though the majority of “Malays” have their roots in parts of Indonesia. They refuse to be called “Malay”…. Anyhow you may define it.
The writer failed to identify (probably didn’t know), that the “Malay” definition also includes, the Champa, Dong Song, HoabinHian, The Taiwanese Alisan and the Philippino Aetas. He also did not identify that the “Orang Asli” are (for lack of a better term) ex-Africans. If you try to call any one of our East Malaysian brothers an “Orang Asli”, they WILL BEAT YOU UP! I had to repeat this because almost all West Malaysians make the same mistake when we cross the South China Sea. Worse, somehow, they feel even more insulted when you call them “Malay”. Somehow, “kurang ajar” is uttered below their breath as if “Malay” was a really bad word for them. I’m still trying to figure this one out.
Watch “Malays in Africa”; a Museum Negara produced DVD. Also, the “Champa Malays” by the same.
With this classification, they MUST also include the Phillipinos, the Papua New Guineans, the Australian Aboroginies, as well as the Polynesian Aboroginies. These are of the Australo Melanesians who migrated out of Africa 60,000yrs ago.
Getting interesting? Read on…
“Malay” should also include the Taiwanese singer “Ah Mei” who is Alisan as her tribe are the anscestors of the “Malays”. And finally, you will need to define the Southern Chinese (Southern Province) as Malay also, since they are from the same stock 6,000yrs ago.
Try calling the Bugis a “Malay”. Interestingly, the Bugis, who predominantly live on Sulawesi are not even Indonesians. Neither do they fall into the same group as the migrating Southern Chinese of 6,000yrs ago nor the Australo Melanesian group from Africa.
Ready for this?
The Bugis are the cross-breed between the Mongolian Chinese and the marauding Arab Pirates. (FYI, a runaway Ming Dynasty official whom Cheng Ho was sent to hunt down) Interestingly, the Bugis, (just like their Arabic ancestors) were career Pirates in the Johor-Riau Island areas. Now the nephew of Daeng Kemboja was appointed as the First Sultan of Selangor. That makes the entire Selangor Sultanate part Arab, part Chinese! Try talking to the Bugis Museum curator near Kukup in Johor. Kukup is located near the most south-western tip of Johor. (Due south of Pontian Kechil) He is more than willing to expound on the Bugis heritage. Buy him lunch and he can talk for days on end.
Let’s not even get into the Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekiu, and Hang Lekir, who shared the same family last name as the other super famous “Hang” family member… Hang Li Poh. And who was she? Legend tells us that she is the Princess of a Ming Dynasty Emperor who was sent to marry the Sultan of Malacca. Won’t that make the entire Malacca Sultanate downline “Baba” ? Since the older son of the collapsed Malaccan Sultanate got killed in Johor, (the current Sultanate is the downline of the then, Bendahara) the only other son became the Sultan of Perak. Do we see any Chinese-ness in Raja Azlan? Is he the descendant of Hang Li Poh? But wait a minute….
That’s what legend says. Let’s look at the proof. The solid evidence. There is a well next to the Zheng He Temple in Malacca which is supposed to be the well built by the Sultan of Malacca for Hang Li Poh. According to legend, anyone who drinks of it shall re-visit Malacca before they die. Hmmm smells like a romantic fairy tale already. But let’s look at who Hang Li Poh actually is. Which Ming Emperor was she a daughter to? So I got into researching the entire list of Ming Emperors. Guess what? Not a single Ming Emperor’s last name begins with Hang. In fact, all their last names begin with Tzu (pronounced Choo). So who is Hang Li Poh? An Extra Concubine? A Spare Handmaiden? Who knows? But one thing for certain, is that she was no daughter of any of the Ming Emperors. Gone is the romantic notion of the Sultan of Malacca marrying an exotic Chinese Princess. Sorry guys, the Sultan married an unidentified Chinese commoner.
Next question. If the Baba’s are part Malay, why have they been marginalized by NOT BEING BUMIPUTERA? Which part of “Malay” are they not? Whatever the answer, why then are the Portugese of Malacca BUMIPUTERA? Did they not come 100yrs AFTER the arrival of the first Baba’s? Parameswara founded Malacca in 1411. The Portugese came in 1511, and the Dutch in the 1600’s. Strangely, the Baba’s were in fact once classified a Bumiputera, but some Prime Minister decreed that they were to be strangely “declassified” in the 1960’s. WHY? How can a “native son of the soil” degenerate into an “un-son”? The new classification is “pendatang” meaning a migrant to describe the Baba’s and Nyonyas. Wait a minute, isn’t EVERYONE on the Peninsular a migrant to begin with? How can the government discriminate? Does the Malaysian Government have amnesia?
The Sultan of Kelantan had similar roots to the Pattani Kingdom making him of Thai origin. And what is this “coffee table book” by the Sultan of Perlis claiming to be the direct descendant of the prophet Muhammed? Somehow we see Prof Khoo Khay Khim’s signature name on the book. I’ll pay good money to own a copy of it myself. Anyone has a spare?
In persuing this thread, and having looked at the history of Prophet Muhammed (BTW, real name Ahmad) we couldn’t figure out which descendant line The Sultan of Perlis was. Perhaps it was by the name Syed, which transcended. Then we tried to locate which downline did the Sultan descend from of the 13 Official Wives of Prophet Muhammad named in the Holy Koran? Or was the Sultan of Perlis a descendant from the other 23 non-wives? Of the 13 Official Wives were (at least known) 3 Israeli women. Then you should come to this instant revelation, isn’t Prophet Muhammad an Israeli himself? Yes, the answer is clear. All descendants of Moses are Israeli. In fact, the Holy Koran teaches that Moses was the First Muslim. Thus confirming all the descendants of Moses to be Israeli, including Jesus and Prophet Muhammad. It is also found in Sura 2:58&59 which specifically mentions that the Torah/ Talmud (Jewish) and the Kitab (Bible) are Holy Words of Allah. But since this is not a Religious or a Theological discussion, let’s move on to a more anthropological approach.
So, how many of you have met with the Orang Asli’s (Malaysian Natives)? The more northern you go, the more African they look. Why are they called Negrito’s? It is a Spanish word, from which directly transalates “mini Negros”. The more southern you go, the more “Indonesian” they look. And the ones who live at Cameron Highlands kinda look 50-50. You can see the Batek at Taman Negara, who really look like Eddie Murphy to a certain degree. Or the Negritos who live at the Thai border near Temenggor Lake (north Perak). The Mah Meri in Carrie Island look almost like the Jakuns in Endau Rompin. Half African, half Indonesian.
Stangely the natives in Borneo all look rather Chinese in terms of features and facial characteristics especially the Kelabits in Bario.
By definition, (this is super eye-opening) there was a Hindu-Malay Empire in Kedah. Yes, I said right… The Malays were Hindu (just like the gentle Balinese of today). It was known by it’s old name, Langkasuka. Today known as Lembah Bujang. This Hindu-Malay Empire was 2,000yrs old. Pre-dating Borrobudor AND Angkor Watt. Who came about around 500-600yrs later. Lembah Bujang was THE mighty trading Empire, and its biggest influence was by the Indians who were here to help start it. By definition, this should make the Indians BUMIPUTERAS too since they were here 2,000yrs ago! Why are they marginalized?
The Malaysian Government now has a serious case of Alzheimer’s. Why? Simply because, they would accord the next Indonesian who tomorrow swims accross the Straits of Malacca and bestow upon him with the apparently “prestigious title” of the Bumiputra status alongside others who imply have inhabited this land for hundreds of centuries. (prestigious, at least perceived by Malays) They also have a strange saying called “Ketuanan Melayu” which literally transalates into “The Lordship of Malays” The Malays still cannot identify till this day “who” or “what” the Malays have “Lordship” over. And they celebrate it galantly and triumphantly by waving the Keris (wavy knife which has Hindu origins in Borrobudor. Ganesan is seen brandishing the Keris in a bass-relief sculpture.) during public meetings over National TV much like a Pagan Wicca Ceremony on Steroids. Let’s all wait for that official press release to see who the “Malays” have Lorship over, shall we?
Of the 3 books listed, “Contesting Malayness” (about S$32 for soft cover) is “banned” in Malaysia; you will need to “smuggle” it into Malaysia; for very obvious reasons….
or read it in Singapore if you don’t feel like breaking the law. Incidentally, the Professor (Author) was invited to speak on this very subject circa 2 yrs ago, in KL, invited by the MBRAS. You can imagine the “chaos” this seminar created…… 
Fortunately the FRU was not called in.
The other, “Kingdoms of the Indonesian Archipelago, and the Malay Peninsular” (about RM84) are openly sold at all leading bookshops; Kinokuniya, MPH, Borders, Popular, Times, etc. You should be able to find a fair bit of what I’ve been quoting in this book too, but mind you, it is extremely heavy reading material, and you will find yourself struggling through the initial 200+ pages. It is extremely technical in nature. Maybe that’s why it hasn’t been banned (yet)…coz our authorities couldn’t make head or tail of it? (FYI, if I wasn’t doing research for my film, I wouldn’t have read it in its entirety)
The “Sejarah Melayu” (about RM 50) however, is freely available at the University Malaya bookshop. I have both the English and Royal Malay version published by MBRAS. Alternatively, you could try reading the Jawi (Arabic Script) version if you are truly a sucker for unimaginable pain…… (may feel like circumcision)
There are actually many sources for these Origins of Malays findings. Any older Philippino Museum Journal also carries these migration stories. This migration is also on display at the Philippines National Museum in Luzon. However, they end with the Aeta, and only briefly mention that the migration continued to Indonesia and Malaysia, but fully acknowledge that all Philippinos came from Taiwan. And before Taiwan, China. There is another book (part of a series) called the “Archipelago Series” endorsed by Tun Mahatir and Marina Mohammad, which states the very same thing right at the introduction on page one. “… that the Malays migrated out of Southern China some 6,000yrs ago…”. I believe it is called the “Pre-History of Malaysia” Hard Cover, about RM99 found in (mostly) MPH. They also carry “Pre-History of Indonesia” by the same authors for the same price.
It is most interesting to note that the Malaysian Museum officials gallantly invented brand new unheard-of terms such as “Proto-Malay” and “Deutero-Malay”, to replace the accepted Scientific Term, Australo-Melanesians (African descent) and Austronesians (Chinese Descent, or Mongoloid to be precise) in keeping in line with creating this new “Malay” term.. They also created the new term called the Melayu-Polynesian. (Which Melayu exists in the Polynesian Islands?) Maybe they were just trying to be “Patriotic” and “Nationalistic”… who knows…? After all, we also invented the term, “Malaysian Time”. While the rest of the world calls it “Tardy” and “Late”. It’s quite an embarrassment actually…. Singaporeans crossing the border are asked to set their watches back by about a 100yrs, to adjust to “Malaysian Time”…
In a nutshell, the British Colonial Masters, who, for lack of a better description, needed a “blanket” category for ease of classification, used the term “Malay”.
The only other logical explanation, which I have heard, was that “Malaya” came as a derivative of “Himalaya”, where at Langkasuka, or Lembah Bujang today was where the Indians were describing the locals as “Malai” which means “Hill People” in Tamil. This made perfect sense as the focal point at that time was at Gunung Jerai, and the entire Peninsular had a “Mountain Range” “Banjaran Titiwangsa”, as we call it.
The Mandarin and Cantonese accurately maintain the accurate pronunciation of “Malai Ren” and “Malai Yun” respectively till this very day. Where “ren” and “yun” both mean “peoples”.
Interestingly, “Kadar” and “Kidara”, Hindi and Sanskrit words accurately describe “Kedah” of today. They both mean “fertile Land for Rice cultivation. Again, a name given by the Indians 2,000yrs ago during the “Golden Hindu Era” for a duration of 1,500yrs.
It was during this “Golden Hindu Era” that the new term which the Hindu Malay leaders also adopted the titles, “Sultan” and “Raja”. The Malay Royalty were Hindu at that time, as all of Southeast Asia was under strong Indian influence, including Borrobudor, and Angkor Watt. Bali today still practices devout Hindu Beliefs. The snake amulet worn by the Sultans of today, The Royal Dias, and even the “Pelamin” for weddings are tell-tale signs of these strong Indian influences. So, it was NOT Parameswara who was the first Sultan in Malaya. Sultanage existed approximately 1,500yrs in Kedah before he set foot on the Peninsular during the “Golden Hindu Era” of Malaysia. And they were all Hindu.
“PreHistory of Malaysia” also talks about the “Lost Kingdom” of the “Chi-Tu” where the local Malay Kingdom were Buddhists. The rest of the “Malays” were Animistic Pagans.
But you may say, “Sejarah Melayu” calls it “Melayu”? Yes, it does. Read it again; is it trying to describe the 200-odd population hamlet near Palembang by the name “Melayu”?(Google Earth will show this village).
By that same definition, then, the Achehnese should be considered a “race”. So should the Bugis and the Bataks, to be fair. Orang Acheh, Orang Bugis, Orang Laut, Orang Melayu now mean the same… descriptions of ethnic tribes, at best. So some apparently Patriotic peron decided to upgrade the Malays from Orang Melayu (Malay People) to Bangsa Melayu (Malay Race) Good job in helping perpetuate the confusion. And since the “Malays” of today are not all descendants of the “Melayu” kampung in Jambi (if I remember correctly), the term Melayu has been wrongly termed. From Day One. Maybe this is why the Johoreans still insist on calling themselves either Bugis, or Javanese til today (except when it comes to receiving Government Handouts). So do the Achehnese on the West coast of Kedah & Perlis and the Kelantanese insist that they came from Champa, Vietnam.
Morover, the fact that the first 3 pages of “Sejarah Melayu” claim that “Melayu” comes from Alexander the Great and the West Indian Princess doesn’t help. More importantly, it was written in 1623. By then, the Indians had been calling the locals “Malai” for 1,500 yrs already. So the name stuck….
And with the Sejarah Melayu (The Malay Annals in page 1-3) naming the grandson of Iskandar Zulkarnain, and the West Indian Princess forming the Minangkabau. Whenever a Malay is asked about it, he usually says it is “Karut” (bullshit), but all Malayan based historians insist on using Sejarah Melayu as THE main reference book for which “Malay” history is based upon. The only other books are “Misa Melayu”, “Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa”, “Hikayat Pasai”, “Hikayat Raja-Raja Siak” and “Hikayat Hang Tuah” among others; which sometimes brings up long and “heated” discussions.
Interesting to note is one of the great “Malay” writers is called Munsyi Abdullah; who penned “Hikayat Abdullah” He was an Indian Muslim. Let’s re-read that little bit. He was an Indian Muslim. How can an Indian change his race to be a Malay? He can change his shirt, his car, his religion and even his underwear, but how can anyone change his race? This must be The New Trick of the Century, which even David Copperfield will pay lots of money to watch (and perhaps learn).
“Mysterious Race Changing Trick”- created by The Malaysian Government.
Still, Malaysians are still only second to the Jews (who by the way, are the only other people in the world who are defined by a religion) So perhaps David Copperfield has yet to learn a few tricks on the mass deception skills of the Malaysian Government?
Malaysia Boleh…
I find this strange.
I also find, that it is strange that the “Chitti’s” (Indian+Malay) of Malacca are categorized as Bumiputera, while their Baba brothers are not. Why? Both existed during the Parameswara days. Which part of the “Malay” side of the Baba’s is not good enough for Bumiputera classification? Re-instate them. They used to be Bumiputera pre 1960’s anyway.
Instead of “Malay”, I believe that “Maphilindo” (circa 1963) would have been the closest in accurately trying to describe the Malays. However, going by that definition, it should most accurately be “MaphilindoThaiChinDiaVietWanGreekCamfrica”. And it is because of this; even our University Malaya Anthropology professors cannot look at you in the eye and truthfully say that the word “Malay” technically and accurately defines a race.
This is most unfortunate.
So, in a nutshell, the “Malays” (anthropologists will disagree with this “race” definition) are TRULY ASIA !!! For once the Tourism Ministry got it right….
We should stop calling this country “Tanah Melayu” instead call it, “Tanah Truly Asia”
You must understand now, why I was “tickled pink” when I found out that the Visit Malaysia slogan for 2007 was “Truly Asia”. They are so correct… (even though they missed out Greece, and Africa)
BTW, the name UMNO should be changed to UTANO the new official acronym for “United Truly Asia National Organization” . After all, they started out as a Bugis club in Johor anyway….
I told you all that I hate race classifications…. This is so depressing. Even more depressing is that the “malays” are not even a race; not since day one.
“Truly Asia Boleh”
December 20th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Heloo, Theres only 2 race in the world, God fearing race and Not god fearing race. Heaven or hell. U decide.
March 29th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
A quick note to Jee: “lazy indigenous race” doesn’t mean “innately lazy”; rather, it is a reference to the British-created myth of “the lazy native”.
This came about with the advent of industrialization when the colonialists noticed the Malay people’s reluctance to abandon their traditional rural lifestyle and go down the tin mines.
By contrast, for the 19th-century boat people from Guangdong who were escaping war and famine, the tine mines were a great opportunity.
There has been much talk this past 15 years of redefining historical narratives. One big narrative I see across Southeast Asia is the interaction of the local (Malay/Thai/Tagalog) culture with the immigrant, mercantile Chinese culture. Obviously, the British “divide and conquer [and then leave]” instinct was always there. But I do find it striking sometimes that the immigrant communities seldom seem to acknowledge that “our grandfathers came here with nothing; they didn’t come to an empty land; and look how well we have done compared to them as well as compared to the Motherland.”
By the same token, in Malaysia in particular, the “race-based this” and “race-based that” partly persists because, unlike in Thailand/Indonesia, there was no pressure on the immigrants to assimilate and give up their native language and ethnic names.
Just my two cents’. Thank you for sharing your stimulating thoughts.
Martin