Tag: malay

Other Malay Stereotype Stories Surfaces After Viral Google & Canteen Helper Story

After Singaporean woman, Atikah Amalina, who goes by the handle @thetudungtraveller, shared with the public of her experience with microaggression due to being Malay and wearing a tudung, a similar experience was shared by another lady named Ezura Al-Barakbah.

Like Atikah whom a driver assumed worked in the canteen in Google, Ezura was stereotyped as a “kakak canteen who is uneducated and knows nothing but cooking.” Some even questioned how she got invited to Pesta Perdana and whether she religiously queued up at Mediacorp in order to get her hands on the tickets.

This was her post in full,

I know how it feels.

They stereotype me as kakak canteen who is uneducated and knows nothing but cooking.
So when they saw Medic Kid on TV then somemore got the cheek to say, ooh i thought you are a fulltime kitchen help.😢

And asked me how come you got invited to Pesta Perdana ah?
Is it you go Mediacorp queue up for the tickets ah😅

I dont care about what others may think about me.
All i know is i want to help the school and cook for the kids.
It takes a huge village to raise a kid ok!!!

I dont care if you look down on me pushing my trolley cart, wearing instant tudung and makeup less.

Coz at the end of the day I loove cooking for the kids and arranged my busy schedule just to make time to cook for them

Hey even though if I am just a kakak canteen in your eyes,
A canteen cook is more knowledgable than you ok!!
Must know costing, accounts, marketing be it for groceries or marketing on social media

The stereotypes of a Malay lady wearing a hijab.. what else have you encountered?

Share with us in the comments section.

Rilek1Corner

April 8, 2019
Watain Concert Banned, Minister Dragged in Racial Issues Involving Malays, Muslims and the Christian Community in a Follow-up Explanation

In the wake of the government’s order to block a black metal band from playing here (just hours before the concert was due to start), Minister of Home Affairs K Shanmugam oddly dragged in racial issues.

In a speech at an appreciation lunch for Malay-Muslim anti-drug campaigners on Saturday, the minister honed in on a photograph taken at a meet-and-greet session between Swedish band Watain and their fans. The picture depicted Watain and their fans showing ‘the middle finger’ — a defiant (and very metal) response to the government’s decision to cancel the concert on grounds of preserving “public order”.

According to Channel NewsAsia, Shanmugam detailed how the ministry would be unable to let the concert go ahead, given how Watain’s lyrical content held anti-Christian themes. Then he went into length about the photograph, harping on how it showed “primarily Malay young men”.

“You have a group of Malay young men, showing the one-finger sign, supporting the group,” CNA quoted the minister.

“If a group of Chinese went and showed the finger sign and said that we should allow it – how would you all have felt? It is the same.”

Mentioning that the photo has gone viral “across the Christian community”, Minister Shanmugam stated that it was crucial to show that the picture does not represent what the Muslim community thinks.

“They won’t realize that this a small group of Malays, but they may think, is this what Muslims think of us? So now we have to send the message that this is not what the Muslim community thinks. These are black metal group supporters, they are not the mainstream community.”

In conversations with Christian leaders, Shanmugam pointed out how the leaders would oftentimes draw comparisons to how tough the government would quash anti-Islam sentiment, such as banning the Salman Rushdie book The Satanic Verses in Singapore.

“(The leaders) said what these people (Watain) are saying is far worse, it is a hundred times worse about Christianity – how come you would allow that?” said Shanmugam to The Straits Times.

“They said you treat the Muslim community differently than the Christian community.”

Shanmugam acknowledged there was “some truth” to what the leaders said but said it was not fully true “but it is an approach”.

He also pointed out to Channel NewsAsia that not all bands would be banned because they spoke about Christianity.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————–

The aftermath?

It led to confusion among the Muslim community. How did this become an issue that involves the Muslim community? Is the minister trying to be a “hero” that saved the Muslims from depicting a bad, intolerant stand against Christians? What has the brown-skinned fans in the photo got to do with Malays in general, or worse representing what the Muslim community in Singapore thinks about the Christians. Is it because there is a stereotype about Malays in Singapore where they are called Mat Rockers? And who are these brown-skinned fans in the viral photo? Are they even Malay/Muslims from Singapore?

What was the Minister thinking by saying all this?

Source: Coconut, Yahoo, The Straits Times and Channel NewsAsia

March 11, 2019
They (PAP) wanted to disrupt our plans, but God have a better plan for us (SDP); Damanhuri Abas

“Greetings friends and thank you for coming. What a nice place.. this is. We didn’t plan for this.”

“They wanted to disrupt our plans, but God have a better plan for us.”

Epic round of applause.

That was how Damanhuri Abas started his speech at the SDP’s Campaign Kick-Off 2019 where he spoke on National and Malay issues. Close to 2 years ago if you remember, the man responded to an accusation that he uses religion to incite some ‘untoward things’. Yet today, this opposition politician who is driven by religion is standing on that stage.

You can watch more here.

At the end of his speech, Damanhuri recited a Malay pantun that he wrote sometime after joining politics.

tanah liat, asal usul ku
jasad dicorak, Tuhan yg satu
siapa gerangan, anak melayu
khazanah silam, sejarah lalu

pulau ujong, dikenal dahulu
bumi temasek, pantai membiru
kota singa, nama negeri ku
sergam indah, jasa ayah ku

tempat melabuh, pedagang lalu
gagah berani, laksmana melayu
armada cheng ho, pernah berlalu
duduk penjajah, haram bersatu

kini merdeka, warga negara ku
suratan takdir, kita disatu
bangsa cina, india melayu
minda penjajah, jadi seteru

pelbagai kaum, berkah yg satu
kibar bendera, bangga selalu
merah putih, lambang jiwa ku
kita rakyat, engkau dan aku

maruah dibela, bukti cinta ku
sumpah setia, ikrar sepadu
berbeza acuan, tetap bersatu
langit ku junjung, bumi pertiwi ku

[English translation]:

From clay, I’m made,
shaped, by the One
who is he, the Malay lad
untold heritage, history’s past

Tales of old, isle at the end
Temasek’s soil, with azure sea
lion city, my country’s name
awe and majestic, with my father’s hardwork

A port of call, to traders’ past
courageously brave, the Malay warrior
Cheng Ho’s armada, sailed nearby
colonials came, begins the divide

Free again, my countrymen
destiny’s fate, gathers us
we are Chinese, Indian and Malay
colonial’s divide, we detest and fight

Our racial mix, blessed by One
forever proud, flags raised high
red and white, embodies my soul
we are citizens, you and I

Honour protected, for you my love
loyalty promised, unity pledged
our molds differ, remains united
the sky above I raise, on this land of mine

February 28, 2019
Interview With A Malay Singaporean Who Moved To Brunei And Is Not Coming Back

What do you think of this?

***

“My name is J. I’m 55 years old now. I’m not highly educated but only managed to complete GCE ‘O’ Level with 3 credits. Started working at the age of 18 in a big and rich company in Singapore. I studied bookkeeping and accounting while working and managed to work in the Accounts Dept in this company for 16 years and earned quite good salary.

I am now living in Brunei Darussalam with my wife. Brunei is a peaceful country governed by a caring King, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and the people of Brunei are very nice. Its a little bit back dated though, with kampong style of environment.

There’s not much adjustment actually because the people in Brunei are just like the people in Singapore. The main occupants are Malays and Chinese and there are other immigrants like the Indian, Indonesian and Filipino. I can say there’s less stress in Brunei.

My wife and I loved staying here so much. We intend to stay here permanently. By living abroad we learned to appreciate other peoples’ customs, beliefs and practices. We have no difficulties finding job here because I set up a company and employs the locals. We move out of Singapore to find a cheaper place to stay. Living in Singapore is very expensive, with new rules in every now and then, especially that CPF thing.

For those who want to migrate, please do a study in every aspect. Even if you hate Singapore, please do not give up your citizenship easily. Think over and over again. Be a PR is just as good. So if have any problem at least you can turn back to be “mama” son.”

Source: FB

Rilek1Corner

January 29, 2018
PHV Fatal Crash Outside Istana: The 3 Are Acquainted, Passengers Had Plans To Get Married

Two people died and one was hospitalised after a private-hire car driver crashed into a pillar near the rear gate of the Istana on Saturday (Dec 16), at around 6am. The incident happened along Cavenagh Road towards Orchard Road. The two deceased have been identified as the driver himself, Mr Khairul Anwar, 25, and a female passenger, Ms Nurul Filzah, 21.

At the scene, the area was littered with glass fragments and automobile parts, including a broken front bumper and a headlight. A metal gate had been dislodged and sent flying over 10 metres from the impact of the collision, landing on a grass patch on Istana. A witness said that he was passing by when he saw a small car wedged in the small passage into Istana. It’s damage was beyond recognition. Another witness suspected that the car could have been speeding and lost control, judging from the extensive damage. It is believed that during the time of the accident, the driver had just exited Bukit Timah Road and was driving on Cavenagh Road, when he suddenly crashed into the pillar.

Ms Nurul and the other male passenger, 28-year-old Mr Johari Shariff, were a couple and they sat on the back passenger seat during the time of the incident. While Mr Khairul and Ms Nurul were conveyed unconscious and succumbed to their injuries later,Mr Johari was conscious when taken to the hospital. He suffered injuries on the face but is currently in a stable condition.

All three victims were acquainted with one another. While at the hospital, according to the relative, doctors said that Ms Filzah showed no signs of alcohol intoxication.

Rilek1Corner

December 18, 2017