Very interesting. The reason why I ask for your input is because I didn't receive the prejudice that you and other Chinese Malaysians report here, or I didn't see it when I was in Kuala Lumpur several years ago when I attended a conference at Asia Pacific University. Coincidentally, when I was at the lecture hall at APU, the one who was giving lecture about the concept of "Satu Malaysia" was actually a Chinese Malaysian Professor in the Department of Pyschology. This concept of 'Satu Satu' actually had captivated me -- and seeing the cameraderie amongst Indian Malaysians, Malay Malaysians and Chinese Malaysians -- had me envying the racial harmony in Malaysia.
But at the same time , i guess the prejudice that you mention would not be something academics would proudly air. I guess there is truth in the saying (pardon me if my Malay is bad...as i said, i'm still learning...):
If you can understand Malay language, Mahathir rethoric towards Najib did reveal the political climate. The Malays are very displeased with the reduced contract given by UMNO and difficult to get scholarship. He literally said if UMNO lose will be havoc, because the opposition will dig and won't be merciful. And the Chinese will not support even when given RM500 social welfare. Chinese view the money as buying votes. He chided Najib for organizing show of support.
For example today newspaper:
Ku Li: Race, religion-based parties no longer relevant
PETALING JAYA: Religious and race-based parties are no longer relevant to the younger generation who "want something different," said Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
"I honestly think it inhibits unity and harmony and maybe the way forward is an open-based system, and not religious-based or race-based.
"I'm going to get into trouble for saying this. I don't care, I believe in it," he said in his keynote address when launching the non-governmental organisation Harmony Malaysia.
Tengku Razaleigh, the Gua Musang MP, said there should be some hard thinking done and try to accommodate so as "not to miss things that they want because we don't want a disharmonious society."
He said Umno, with its race-based concept, was self-defeating as it could not attract the young or expand its membership to other races.
A news portal quoted Tengku Razaleigh as saying the tendency to harp on religious and racial issues had left the people jittery and that the “spirit of May 13, 1969” still existed in society.
“As of now we may say with relief that we are successful in our attempt to prevent any repeat of the tragedy.
"However, if we scrutinise further and look at it from a philosophical perspective, the spirit of May 1969 occurs every now and then and rampantly.
“It may not be in the form of physical conflict, but more so psychologically, and mindset level. And this can be seen in the level of distrust that exists within us,” he said.
He urged Malaysians to avoid such groups and strive to maintain order and propagate peace and harmony in the country.
