I was so tempted to touch on this topic even before I wrote Politics and You. I asked myself this, are my audiences ready to handle something so sensitive or should I keep to something light and dainty? Okay, if you have read my posts long enough (or everything), you’ll know that I love to take heavy topics like management stuff and turned them into something light and palatable for easy reading. So I’m going to try to take something really serious and important and try to keep it light.
A few weeks ago, the ongoings of Malaysia (namely Kuala Lumpur) has gotten me pretty upset. I choose to move here as an expat from Shanghai for various reasons and one of the biggest reasons is that Malaysia is much closer to Singapore (basically our neighbours) and we have common things like similar food, similar culture and both countries have multiple races. But that’s where the similarities stop abruptly.
Singapore is all about racial harmony as per quote our founding father “… in Singapore you will get equal misery or equal prosperity as the case may be regardless of whether you are black or brown or yellow or any of the shades in between.”. Whereas Malaysia allowed rallies by the Chinese and Malays on two separate occasions. Although the rallies are somewhat peaceful but the tensions were there. The focus on the rallies are allegedly on the color of our skin. News outside the county were widely reported and exaggerated. Some of the news played on people’s fear of safety.
Out of the sudden, I get texts and calls from my family back in Singapore. It’s kinda understanding that my mum’s panicking all over but that’s what mothers do. Then I had friends from all over China texting me, asking me if I am okay. In total, on the 16th September, I got about 50 texts and calls either to check if I’m still alright or to ask me to stay at home for the whole week or even asking me to come back to Singapore / Shanghai. I even had 5 different persons called to remind me to stock up my fridge in case, I’m stranded at home. (You would think the country is going to war….). But I survived that day and I shall survived any future rallies.
So in this context, I’m kinda stuck in the middle. I’m a Chinese, I’m a foreigner and I’m in the country. It’s like looking through the glass ball, seeing the whole situation unfurl but yet I can’t break through the glass bubble to reach out. It’s frustrating that the racism did not just involved around politics, it penetrates the workplace too.
And it’s not just Malaysia, I have seen it in quite a few countries too. We all been fighting sexual discrimination but we need to make sure we don’t forget about race discrimination too. Sure, we are evolving with having Indian men leading Google and Microsoft. But in some countries, race discrimination is a lot more serious than others. Like the Chinese (me) is often being thought as crafty, cunning, greedy, hardworking and smart. Mind you, the last compliment about smart is not about innovation or creativity or thinking out of the box but it’s about how we are crafty enough to cut corners without letting others know. So we are being compared as a bull in fox’s coat or is it the other way round?
Then in South East Asia, there is word out on the Malays as well, lazy, simple but humble and family oriented. And then about the Indians who are deemed by others to be too aggressive and arrogant, talking a lot of bull but I do know that top criminal defence lawyers in Singapore are Indians.
Is there some truth in that? In my two cents opinion, I don’t judge someone by its color or the country they came from but rather by his or her values and their perceptions, their views, their mindset, their thoughts. These are good indications to gauge as to whether I’m going to hire him. When I work with the person, it’s the work, the meticulous details, the efficiency and the effort that shaped my impression on the incumbent. In fact, I have many Malay friends who are smart and successful in their career, and still happily swinging eligible bachelors in their mid 30s. I have Indians friends as well who are gentle especially standing next to an overly active Tomboy – me. As for me, a Chinese, I have never been more contented in my simple life as a writer. My greed radar must have been stolen when I left Shanghai. Haha!
Gender, colour, religion and age have never factored in my reasons to hire or promote someone and it shouldn’t be in anyone’s. If we can all choose to be in the skin color to be born in, many might choose to be white however, I am proud to be a Chinese and I wouldn’t change anything about me at all.
Have a great weekend ahead! Thank you for reading!
MiddleMe 
Hey Kally, that’s a great post! You’re absolutely right, in society (on a global scale), a person’s skin colour shouldn’t matter, as we all are humans, no matter where we come from. It’s good to hear that there are places like Singapore, where things as race, nationality etc. don’t matter 🙂
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Yeah.. Singapore government actually spend a lot of money trying to integrate foreigners as well as all the races. In additional, it is a small country so it’s manageable.
Thank you for telling me you like this post!!
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Reblogged this on Olamatts007's Blog.
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Thank you so much for sharing this article with your audience!
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you’re welcome. its my pleasure. its nice meeting you.
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Well said. Racism and stereotyping is alive and well everywhere I’m afraid. This office I work in is toxic with all of It even though it’s a government office in higher education. And I’m afraid the toxicity and fear bleeds over into everything. People are so blind to their own biases. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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Thanks so much for leaving a comment to encourage me!
Racism is an awful thing in our world, no matter how tough it is, we need to stand up and make a difference. It is even more cruel when it’s affect our lives directly whether it is in the schools, or workplace or in the neighborhood.
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Hey, I nominated you for the Liebster Award https://being1nsane.wordpress.com/2015/10/02/liebster-award/
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Very well stated! Excellent and so true! Thank you and may you continue safely and happily and in good health! 🙂
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Thank you, Jonathan! It always never fail to make me smile when I see your comments pop up. May you have an amazing weekend and always in great health and happiness!
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😀
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Thanks for your coming on my blog. Have a sunny weekend Kally…
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You have a wonderful weekend too!
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Kally thank you very much for this post. Truly, I love everybody. Skin color, race, language, region of origin do not matter to me. You’ve done well to write this post.
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Thank you, Ngobesing! I love how inspiring by all the articles you write too! I’m still halfway completing the email you sent me.. 🙂 Have patience with me ya!
Have a great weekend!!
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Thank you Kally. I know how busy you are so I will be very patient. Please, take your time. Great day to you.
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You’re the best!! Thanks!
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So too are you!
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Very well written!! I completely agree with you, there is no way labeling people is acceptable. Thank you for this post!! 🙂
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Hi Katie, thank you for taking time to drop me an encouraging comment!! I do hope one day everyone will be treated equally regardless of race, religion and gender to build a equality society.
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Great post. Racism needs to end. In my view it is one of the evils that humanity MUST defeat if it is going to survive.
My own country (U.S.) has a long way to go before it end racism. I had always hoped that in my lifetime I would see it’s end but I was overly optimistic.
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Yes, indeed. I believe racism happens everywhere, but if we can motivate the majority then the minors with biased views will not destroy the beauty and harmonious society.
Thank you for reading my post and following me!!
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Kally, you are very welcome. Thank you for following me too. I haven’t written in that blog in a while. I guess I’ll have to now. I’ve been concentrating on the other two. They take up a lot of my time. But I’ll work on it.
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Please do share the links for your two other websites and I’ll go and read them 🙂
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nivek5913.wordpress. com
likableliberals.wordpress.com
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Wrong link.
likableliberals.wordpress.com
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Stay proud of your heritage, Kally.
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I am very proud of who I am. I never thought of not being a Chinese nor a Singaporean or even think of plastic surgery or having braces to correct my teeth. Because I just love the way I am born.
BUT I don’t judge people who do because I also believe deeply in people’s choices as long as they don’t harm themselves or others.
Thank you for reading my article and taking time to leave comment!!
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Good for you! Some birds fly some walk..None envy the other. Thank you for your article. More please.
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Racism and every other type of discrimination, in my opinion, have their roots in the political cultures of each country. I believe that those in power will always find a way to designate a group based on skin color, religion, gender, or any other reason as scapegoats. This allows those in power to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes and convince them that these “others” are the reason for their own miserable lives. Of course those in power who produce these myths will continue to exploit everyone regardless.
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Sad to say it has a ring of truth in it, political agenda is suppose to be by the people for the people but instead we have selfish individuals who manipulates political power to their advantage causing distress to society.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment!!
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☺
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South Africa still has its own problems, despite the fact that we are supposed to be a fully integrated democracy. Change begins within people’s hearts. Some, however, prefer to keep their hearts in the dark. Or keep the dark in their hearts. And they miss out on what the rest of us enjoy: friends/colleagues/employees who enrich our lives BECAUSE they are different. Great post.
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Thank you for reading and leaving me a comment! 🙂 I’m glad you see the same light and yes, we learn a lot from different races and cultures. If only everyone is as accepting as us, the society will be a much better and friendlier places.
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Hello and happy Sunday to you lovely Kally. Thank you for your presence at my side. What’s happening ? Why these changes on your Blog?
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Hi Bernard, there’s no changes in my website. Maybe it’s slow in uploading the images on WordPress.
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Fascinating to hear about racism from an ‘Eastern’ perspective. I’m white British (ugh, even writing that makes me feel like some racist nazi ) and we only hear about the white/other clashes.
To hear that you struggle with difference in a country which is a real melting pot of eastern ethnicities is quite shocking to me.
A really interesting read. Thanks
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Thank you for leaving me a comment!! Yes, I agree it’s shocking that we have racism from the other end of the world.
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This is certainly a post with strong opinions, and I love how honest and open you are about the situation in Malaysia. Here in the news in Australia, there gatherings in Malaysia were also reported – albeit in a sensationalised manner and different races were fighting one another. In reality, it’s manner factors that contributed to the situation.
No matter where we are from and the colour of our skin, we all have something different to offer. It’s time many of us stop judging each person by their background. However, in some places this might be harder. In Australia, there are “ethnic cliques” – the Chinese like to live in a certain suburbs, so do the Vietnamese and Italians. In a sense, some might see different ethnic groups sticking to each other and “being racist” to other races.
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I refused to sensationalised and exaggerated the situation, yes there were rallies but in general still pretty peaceful, instead of fighting, more likely hurtful words were hurled around.
I understand why anyone would want to live in a certain area surrounded by a language they are more comfortable with, food similar to home country food easily available but when comes down to important decision making like politics, like workplace, like in a social setting, like in school, race / gender / age should not have anything to do with and shall not be taken into considerations.
Thank you for dropping by, and I am still waiting (rather impatiently) for your next post. Lol!! Take care!
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I heard a rumour that there was mainly one racial group who turned up to the rallies in Malaysia. But then again, these are just rumours and one moment in time does not define a particular cultural group and they way they think. In Australia, there is indeed discrimination amongst certain races in the workforce, but over the years I’ve been lucky enough to work in offices where this is not the case 🙂
I will have a new post out this week!!!!
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Yay!! A new post!!
There are too many rumors out there now, too many and too ridiculous to believe in. I now read the Malaysia newspapers for fun, still rather trust another country’s news than the local news. No one wants to air dirty laundry in their own backyard.
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welcome ur nice thoughts.colour n racism is main cause of intetnational unpeace n all human beings unrestness.
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True words! Thank you for visiting my website and dropping a comment! 🙂
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Welcome.
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Keep up the good work! i like the part about mothers, they worry all the time. Habits are hard to break. wHen parents raise their children, with the skills to leave home, some times it is lonelier, because there not a lot of social community for parents who raise independent young men and woman.
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I agree. Mothers are always mothers, in their eyes, you’ll never grow up even if you have 5 children of your own and in your fifties, in a Mother’s eye, you are still her baby.
Thank you for your generous encouragement!! Your words will keep me writing for a long time! 🙂
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Somehow I missed this Post but I am glad I found it you give a lot of insight on what is going on in that country. A country with so much beauty to share with the world and with a world view of equality.
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Thank you for your comments. This country I’m living in right now have so much potential to grow even beautiful. As long as they don’t destroy it with their political agendas.
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Great thoughts…..nice article Kally….and the statement Gender, colour, religion and age have never factored in my reasons to hire or promote someone and it shouldn’t be in anyone’s is amazing………………………………congratulations
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Thank you!!
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Great post Kally! Sometime I too think of touching the sensitive topics and I did it recently. In India, there are many such issues e.g. casteism and its really a taboo to advertise one’s last name. I dared to write a post on my last name and sent it to a news paper. You know they immediately reverted with apologies. Although I moderated the article to great deal! I wonder when will we be free from such prejudices and accept ourselves the way, we are!
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OMG! Really? They just turned you away? That’s injustice!
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yes…they did. People avoid some topics.
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* I like *
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The world needs to work together to keep on moving forward. Peace and love are so important, as long with kero in better track of all forms I f nature. I was raised to give, care and reach out to all p r pole until one dies not act nice. Then try to see if they chsnge, if not distance away from those who are not like thinkers. Great post, Kally.
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I’m glad you enjoy reading my posts. Appreciate your kind words.
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This was a great read 🙂
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Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed the article. Come back more often. 🙂
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Definitely yes!
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That was an excellent read, and I wanted to like the post, but I couldn’t find the button.
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No worries 🙂 really appreciate that you like my article and leaving me such a nice comment.
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It was nice to get an unbiased perspective from another part of the world.
You are truly blessed to have so many caring friends and followers.
Thanks for reading my comment on another blog.
Evelyn
Here’s to Your Health!
evelynmmaxwell.com
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Thank you so much, Evelyn. You’re very kind. To your health too!!
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Great thought provoking post Kally 🙂 color of skin according to geographical conditions, weather and land forms and most of all for identification. If everyone was of the same color how would we identify each other. Fingerprints of each hand is different. God made these identification marks but science is using it for different purposes now. so hate comes no where. we are born out of Almighty’s love and born to love each other——– peace, love and sunshine to you my friend witih my love and hugs ❤
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Fascinating. Hmmm … to read here another perspective to this global social disease called racism! I see now that the problem is not unique to an African Canadian who loves playing ice hockey. I pray this problem gets solved wonderfully like the diverse instruments of a symphony orchestra cooperating in harmony to perform Beethoven, Mozart or a Beatles song. Lets “Give Peace A Chance” and remember the spirits of Ghandi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela! “Let Love Rule” like Lenny Kravitz sings! if all of will look at each other with a child like focus on the magnificent intrinsic beauty of all peoples we can banish racism into lost archives of history.
Okay let me get off of this soap box now.
Thank you for this blog entry Lady Kally!
I have a Dream! i see you do too!
Peace and love reign on Earth again I pray!
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Thanks for sharing your lovely thoughts! Giving my article a different dimension!! I do hope to see you more often here. 🙂
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Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Very helpful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was seeking this certain info for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
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Just what I was searching for, thanks for posting.
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Hi! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to give it a look. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Wonderful blog and terrific style and design.
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Wonderful post! I like all of your post.
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Thank you, Cheryl for such huge compliment!
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This is an excellent post. My grandkids are mixed so this is a subject I take seriously. Over the years racism has gotten so much better but it will never disappear….so sad!
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