Hello folks

Maaf for updating this blog at my whims and fancy. I shall spare you the excuses and get straight into my new post……exactly a month after the last post. 

Something has been on my mind of late. My identity.

Growing up, I never had issues about my mixed parentage or for being a Sabahan.

No one made fun of me for being a “Lain-lain”. I was never asked how I could be a Bumiputera yet be a non-Muslim at the same time.  Rarely, did people hassle me about what race I was.

Perhaps being separated by a huge chunk of water called the South China Sea has shielded Sabahans and Sarawakians from the very divisive attitudes of the West Malaysians.

I say divisive because it is.

When I first came to KL six years ago, I was something of a ‘star’ in college because I was different. Because I was neither Malay, Chinese or Indian. Because I was a Lain-lain.

There was always a barrage of questions from giggling and oogling strangers or people whom I just met on what I was.

“Ooohh.. you’re from Sabah is it…. No wonder you look different…”

“Wahh.. Sino-Kadazan ahh… patutlah muka lain.”

Lain-lain. The ‘Others’.  I cannot fathom why the powers-to-be need such a label. For to do so is to actively promote a culture of ‘us vs. them’- the process of othering.

The results? Stigmatisation and antagonism.

I’ve been told that Sabah and Sarawak suffer from the ‘wee man syndrome’.  “A bit like Scotland and England, eh,” a friend chuckles much to my dismay.

I was and still get mightily offended when people say “Malaysia dan Sabah and Sarawak”. And for forgetting when Malaysia was formed.

“Sabah, Sarawak AND Malaya formed Malaysia on 16 September 1963,” was my indignant reply.

It’s sad that the date is now etched on most West Malaysian’s memories only because of Anwar Ibrahim’s unfulfilled promise for a spectacular takeover of the government.

I realise that by talking about this, I am guilty of contributing to this widening rift. But, I write this piece hoping that something good would come out of it.

I hope that race wouldn't be the trump card for politicians. I hope that I would never have to tick the 'Lain-lain' box when I'm filling in forms.

I wish that people would stop teasing me and others of mixed parentage... for well being mixed race.And hope fervently that all jokes for being Sabahan will stop.

I hope the leaders realise that race relations cannot be enforced. It must be nurtured with a lot of understanding generously peppered with respect. And this process of othering is not at all helpful.

I want a better Malaysia lah...