Tag: Chinese

Joshua Simon: What Is Racial Harmony?

I propose a challenge.

Go to town. Ion, 313, Orchard Central, Wisma, Takashimaya – any mall in town. I want you to count how many Malay/Indian men and women featured on the posters.

Ok now out of town. Wherever you go in Singapore now open your eyes to it and really count. On the bus. On the train. On the commercials before the movie starts. On the newspapers. On the magazines. On the tv commercials.

Are you cool with that?

Because it seems to me the ‘Singaporean Look’ is a skinny Chinese girl with long hair and a big smile! ☺️ Yay and her boyfrend smiling right behind chasing after her is a slim fit Chinese boy with straight hair and a big smile! Tee-hee!

Are you cool with that? Seems to me we are. Coz if this was the US we’d bring this up and talk about it. Really, talk about it and fix it. But Josh this is Asia! And this is the Asian look! Ah, see that’s the problem right there.

As a young kid growing up in Singapore, I’d never see someone of my skin color rocking ads and headlines unless it’s Singapore Idol Season. I couldn’t entertain my first ambition of being an actor coz every role (although said open to all races) would go to the man with the Singaporean Look.

I do music, I do radio. I’m behind a microphone. If I had a dollar for every person that has come up to me saying “OMG I didn’t know you’re Indian!” I’d be able to afford a down payment for an HDB flat.In the industry, I’ve had peers get turned down gigs because they were too “ethic looking”. I don’t watch Channel 8 or Vasantham but… off the top of my head I can name you 10 Chinese local celebrities (includes Rui En). Is it just me?

Maybe there isn’t enough talented Indian and Malay celebrities. Or maybe we’re not given a chance to see them.
Who’s stopping them? Who’s saying no to these people? Who’s decided what the Singapore Look is?

I’m not celebrating Racial Harmony in Singapore till I get my answers and see some change. It’s 2016. Do not get complacent. I represent the next generation that isn’t gonna just keep quiet and nod my head and say it’s all okay.

Racial Harmony isn’t just about us getting along. It’s equal opportunities. Equal chances to shine. I wanna see diversity.

I can smell the smoke and tell that something ain’t right. Now I wanna see people move. Share that spotlight.

Source: Joshua Simon

April 29, 2016
Chinese Singaporean: Racism Is Rampant Among Singapore Chinese

Today, I heard from someone very close to me that she’s a racist and that she hates my boyfriend (who’s Indian, I’m Chinese) because he’s ‘black’. She proudly declared it to me. It didn’t come as a shock to me initially because I always knew she was a closet racist, as are many people her age here in Singapore. The strange thing was, my boyfriend and I have been together for over four years and she had always welcomed and greeted him with a smile and some obligatory small talk.

So on this day, she let it all go on me and briefly mentioned something about ISIS. Was it the sudden outburst of terrorism and violence that had unleashed her unhappiness? I couldn’t argue. She was manically shouting about hating ‘black’ people and Muslims. Basically, all people of colour to her was ‘smelly’ and ‘disgusting’.

I had to stop her there. I had taken offence long enough. I started quoting something MLK said off my head and she immediately went like, yeah but he’s black. So I replied with a startled “AND?” And she replied me with a swift sentence, “he’s black. So is Obama and his entire family. He’s a disgrace.”

This woman I’m writing about is a pretty decently educated Chinese middle class female in Singapore that watches and reads the news daily and frequently. Yet being in this time and age with information readily available to her via her 5 handy Apple gadgets, she was still adamant on her stance. Funny thing is, she isn’t THAT religious. She only takes attendance on special occasions. So why was she hating other religions that aren’t her own? It irked me to hear her bash other religions so aggressively. This isn’t strange of course. Hateful religious groups are rampant the world over. But she woke me up.

I read an article yesterday about a student from Zimbabwe who’s currently studying in Yale-NUS, who talked about how she was constantly being fed with racism everywhere in Singapore. Both from the younger and older generation. Taxi drivers who refused to drive her and staff who rudely dismissed her. This might seem like a small problem at hand but it is a lot bigger than you think. Everywhere in the world, there are bigoted people who refuse to be open to the idea that there could be diversity. There are bigoted people who judges based on skin colour and one’s physical appearance. There are bigoted people who hate instead of understanding. Why do we live in a society where people pretend to understand when they don’t actually do?

The argument with racism stems way far back and as a 21 year old, I genuinely thought that everyone already got the whole picture. That ethnicity, nationality and race does not define a person. So many brave souls have stepped up to talk about the issue and yet, things like this still happens regularly every day.

Okay so back to the problem at hand-
She adores our late Minister Mentor Lee Kwan Yew, a respected person everywhere for his efforts in helping Singapore move on into the 21st century and building its own identity in the world. He is someone who stressed on something called ‘racial harmony’. So much so that we celebrate ‘Racial Harmony Day’ in Singapore.

The hypocrisy is almost too much. She bought me my first kebaya (traditional Malay outfit) to wear to Racial Harmony Day in school. She still chats and laughs with the friendly Malay Muslim store lady. She is always polite to the old Indian Muslim shopkeeper and greets him with a smile. She buys food home for the Indian security guards in her apartment block. She dotes on and gushes about the cute Indian boy living in her block.

Yet, she tells me proudly that she feels superior to every other race and that she dislikes all people of colour. Strange isn’t it? Does she feel scared or afraid so she built up all the hate? Does this have anything to do with the recent aggression and spark of acts of terrorism all around the world?

It’s just scary to think that she is one in possibly hundreds of thousands of people in Singapore alone to have almost the exact same mindset.

What would you do?

Edit: I saw quite a few comments when some of my Facebook friends shared this post saying that I never did try to talk to this person. I’m pretty sure I made it clear that I did. She just wasn’t open to listen and that’s a huge problem on a bigger scale because for one, this proves that a whole community of small minded people who refuses to let anything remotely different affect their boring daily routines, exists. And they are everywhere. They are people who can never be open to more ideas, whether good or bad. Being stubborn or defensive about the things you believe in isn’t wrong, but when you go out of your way to bring an opposing idea down, that’s pretty much the lowest blow. Also, isn’t this basically the root of every problem ever? Power. The need to be in an authoritative position. We need change. ASAP too.

Source: Cheryl Ann Chong

April 14, 2016
Almakhazin: Are The Chinese In Singapura Racist?

As can be expected, discussions of racism tend to elicit a variety of responses.

It is undeniable that institutional racism exists in Singapura. But we recognise that a lot of those who by virtue of their numerical advantage, do not suffer from racism, will assume that it does not exist.

And some others do not necessarily reject racism, but argue against its discussion.

We receive regular caution and criticism, especially from Chinese Singapurans against discussing racism. Some of them appear to be driven by good faith concern.

While others are simply trying to muzzle any discussion that may question their privilege.

We do not believe that those who promote the system, do so because they intentionally want to discriminate. But they believe in the system.

And for some, they take comfort in believing that their superiority is manifested in the outcome of the system. Because the PAP claims it is meritocratic, then if the Chinese community does better than the others, it is only because the Chinese are genetically or culturally superior.

To then point out how the system privileges them and discriminates against the other races, is to force them to reject an important part of their identity.

Their reactions tend to be from justifying racism to insults.

Such as PAP’s Jaro Gee’s claim that Malays are just looking for handouts

Or PAP’s Maydeline Tan’s association of Muslims and the ban on hijab with terrorism.

These are not isolated responses. Read the mainstream media comment section whenever Malays or Islam are discussed and we can see how much racism exists in Singapura.

Most Malays in Singapura have experienced racism. That many do not speak about it is testemant to the climate of fear whenever we discuss issues about race and religion and for some, the sense of resignation.

Does this mean only the Chinese are racist?

No it does not. There are racist Malays, Indians, Eurasians too. The difference between a racist non-Chinese and a racist Chinese is that the non-Chinese are not institutionally privileged.

And they do not create systems that perpetuate the racism.

Given that the political elites are Chinese, racism from among the Chinese community (which appears to be over represented among PAP members) become systemic and institutional.

Does this mean the Chinese in Singapura are necessarily and naturally racist?

Not at all. We know a lot of Chinese Singapurans who not only reject racism, but advocate against it.

There are some who are worried that discussions about racism may cause fractures in society. We recognise their concern.

Some of them try to understand and promote accomodation and respect.

And of course, there are also Malays who justify racism against their own community.

It is thus important to recognise that the problem is not the individuals.

It is not the Jaro Gee or Maydeline Tan who display their racism.

Or the Hawazi Daipi who justify it.

Our focus should be on the system that not only privileges one race over the others, but promote and justifies racism.

We believe most of the Chinese in Singapura, just like the Malays, Indians, Armenians, Jews, Sikhs, are good.

A lot of those who promote or justify racism do so because it affects their identity. Hawazi Daipi justify it out of his responsibility and loyalty to the PAP.

The same with Jaro Gee and Maydeline Tan.

To overcome racism, we need to keep the conversation going.

And remember that the problem is not the Ah Hui or the Ah Hiang that live next door or across the island.

It is the system that the elites have set up to privilege themselves and their community.

Source: http://almakhazin.com

April 14, 2016
Nabilah Shihab: Encountering A Racist On The MRT

The peak hour train at Jurong East was crowded as usual. I stood in front of a well-dressed lady in her 40s sitting at the priority seat. Upon seeing me, she promptly crossed her legs and kicked her shoes against my legs. On a normal day, I would speak up and educate such an individual on the virtues of courtesy. Lucky for her, I had just made a vow before bed yesterday to become a more tolerant person. I just smiled and thought to myself, maybe it was an accident.

The lady began talking on her mobile phone and I let my mind wander. Before long, my thoughts were interrupted by the lady’s rant.

“A lot of Chinese girls so stupid marry Malay men.”

It was strangely refreshing to hear a racist rant in person in Singapore. In the past I had only seen them in the comments section on Facebook. As a final year Sociology undergraduate, I was keen on hearing her perspective on the issues of race and inter-racial marriages. Also, being the child of a Malay-Chinese mother and an Arab father, miscegenation was of personal relevance.

In between rants of how her Chinese friends were the CEO of Singapore Airlines and secretary to the Prime Minister’s office, she complained about how poor Malay men were trying to prey on her and other Chinese girls.

At that moment it occurred to me: she was the infamous Catherine Tan known on social media for her videos where she aggressively expressed her dissatisfaction with Malays and Muslims. It also occured to me that there was probably no one on the other end of the line. She was believed to be mentally unsound. As soon as she began directing her racist rants at me, I realized that I was no longer a mere observer.

“Look at this Muslim girl in front of me, trying to get in my face. Trying to harass me. Ya look at her she’s wearing blue jeans, black shirt, red scarf and black shoes,” she said, glaring angrily at me.

As she was giving her Outfit-Of-The-Day commentary, I almost corrected her: Oh I’m not wearing jeans! These are trousers I bought on sale. I wear them when I feel fatter than usual because being able to fit in them is assuring. Do you like them?`

I stopped myself when I realized that she was obviously not trying to be friendly. She was trying to direct her hatred for Malays and Muslims at me. As she continued to passive-aggressively taunt me, I half expected her to say something more vicious. However, she did nothing of the sort. I have to say that for a racist person, she was quite nice.   As the train reached Clementi, I prepared to alight.

“She’s alighting now,” she said as if to make sure I knew she was talking about me.

I smiled and walked on. I continued to wonder if her views were a reflection of common sentiments buried deep within the Singaporean psyche. We do not normally hear racist views in Singapore where racial and religious harmony is celebrated as a state policy. Violent racial riots in the 1960s have made us more careful about what we say about people from other races and religions, at least in public. However, laws such as Section 298 of the Penal Code which criminalises the “wounding of religious feelings” and other limits on the freedom of speech do not actually eliminate racial tensions. Instead, they drive these racist sentiments further underground. Once in a while, a mentally unsound person would express the racial tensions in our society that we do not feel free to speak about openly.

Within my racially diverse circle of friends, race is not a sensitive topic. It is discussed openly and respectfully in our casual conversations and also at university. We share the same belief that creating platforms for open dialogue about race and religion would facilitate tolerance and better understanding. Indeed, as Singaporeans, our relationship with one another should not be so fragile that it could be threatened by the words of some people. For us, what one wears on one’s head or the colour of one’s skin should not be of any concern. (Unless the colour of your skin is gangrene. In such a case we would be very concerned and would urge you to seek medical attention).

Source: http://kentridgecommon.com

March 12, 2016
Disapproving Family And Distance Could Not Stop This Malay Abang And Chinese Gf From Getting Married

Nizam encountered a lot of difficulties while dating his Chinese partner, Margaret. From her parents disapproving their relationship to Margaret being sent overseas, the couple have gone through multiple ups and downs together but are now married and have a 5-year-old daughter.

This is his entry for the contest:

“My name is Nizam and I’m 26 years old this year and I’m married to a Chinese girl, her name is Margaret Soh, she is 23 this year.

“We have a daughter name Nurshiyumie and it sounds like Japanese name.

“So our love story started in 2008. When I knew this girl (my wife) I was only 18 years old. She was chubby, innocent and full of fun. She always smiles.

“We dated for couple of months. We were so happy. I never felt so much happiness before I knew this girl.

“Her laughter brings hope in my life. But the good times did not last and we got a serious dose of parental disapproval and judgmental side-eyes from our relatives.

“When her parents got to know that she was dating me, a Malay guy that had nothing, they sent her overseas to avoid me seeing her.

“My heart broke into pieces. I called her every night when she was overseas to hear her voice.

“I couldn’t eat and I couldn’t sleep. It was like the world was ending.

“She tried to escape from there and wanted to come back here, but she failed.

“Her relative kept away her passport and she actually tried to commit suicide.

“My mind went blank, my heart was aching, it felt like millions of needle poking through my heart, I felt like dying.

“After a month of being separated, she finally came back to Singapore.

“She ran away from her family. She called me immediately and I told her to come to my office.

“I was so happy. No words could describe how happy I was.

“When I saw she came out from a car, we ran to each other and I gave her a tight hug.

“Later as we predicted she was reported missing.

“Eight months of wanted life. Nothing can describe how grateful I am to have a girlfriend like her staying by my side when I really had nothing.

“She cried awake every night, having nightmares and was traumatized.

“I didn’t know what to do. What I thought of is to have a family with her, to take care her for life.

“Since her parents couldn’t do anything, I held her tight, held her and I made a vow to make her my wife and take care of her until the day I was gone.

“We planned to have a kid. I ask her ‘Will you marry me and have a kid with me?’

“She cried and held me tight. She was willing to marry me, give me her future and trust me.

“Time flies and she finally got pregnant. We were so happy and excited.

“We went back to look for our families. She converted to Islam.

“Her willingness made the decision to convert to Islam easier, it’s not about race. It’s about initiative and finally we were married, she put her trust all on me.

“She moved to my parents place. We had to sleep on the floor in the living room where there is no more room for us.

“All was occupied by my sibling. But she did not even complain with her pregnant stomach.

“Because she knew she chose this path with me.

“Until she given birth to our previous baby girl, she was natural birth.

“Looking at her enduring the pain alone, the pain, the look on her face and she sleeps on the floor when she need to stand up to go toilet.

“Sometimes I even saw she cry in the middle of the night. I try my best take care my little sweetheart when she was about few months old.

“I try my best to balance out NS and home. No family support.

“Sometimes, we even have to share one packet of rice together.

“At this point of time, I cannot afford luxury for her. But finally she achieved her dream as a makeup artist.

“Things went smoothly, finally my baby girl is 5-years-old this year.

“I have taken a course and work at a better benefit company.

“I tell myself I am so happy and lucky to have this girl as my wife.

“I want to give her everything, no matter what it takes, I will give her all that I can.

“She deserves all the love from me, my daughter and my wife. No one can replace them.

“We have gone through ups and downs. We love, we cry, we fight.

“Now we celebrate Chinese New Year and Hari Raya together.

“Our daughter look so cute wearing baju kurung and Chinese qi pao.

“Just to share with you, love does not only mean the race or religion.

“Don’t be judgmental toward inter racial love, its about compromising. We need to understand that true love takes time and effort to dismiss all obstacles among us. Race is just a race. Religion is religion.

“All that matters is that those involved are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to be together.

“Compromise each other. Time flies and we both know that we want to spend the rest of our lives together.

“I love you my wife and I will take care of you and your family forever.

“I don’t encourage people to follow us, but I hope in this world there will be more true love relationships, inter racial love because only love can hurt like this.”

Source: http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg

February 12, 2016