I grew up in a small village called Kampung Kopisan Baru in Gopeng, Perak, This was in the 70s and 80s. My neighbourhood consisted people of all races - Malays, Chinese and Indians. Most of the people in that village worked in the tin mines nearby and so they were not only neighbours but colleagues and good friends as well.
Here was a place where we could pop into our neighbour’s house in the middle of the night and unashamedly ask for some food because we had unexpected guests. We could go off on a trip with the safe knowledge that our neighbours would keep an eye on our house without us even asking.
All the children went to the same school and they too were friends with one another. My closest friends in school consisted of people from all the different races and religions and we were so comfortable with each other that we’d often end up in one of the houses after school, doing our homework or playing games. The parents would warmly welcome all the children into their homes and being respectful of one another’s culture and believes, would ensure that the food served was acceptable to all. There was no prejudice or fear in the way we interacted with each other. We saw and accepted everyone as our friends and all the elders always looked out for all the children, once again irrespective of race or creed. It was no surprise to see a Malay man boxing the ears of an Indian child who had misbehaved, only because he cared (it was an unspoken rule that the elders had a right to punish or scold any child who were caught misbehaving … and this also meant a further punishment when we got home). At the same time, we would probably come across a Chinese woman gently applying ointment to the knee of a Malay child who had injured himself while playing.
When there was a wedding in the village, everyone would be invited and all the ladies would come together to prepare the meal. It was joy to see all the Mak Ciks, the Achees and the Ah Sohs sitting and chatting together while doing the cooking. When there was a funeral, everyone felt the loss and all would come to pay their respects and to help out in any way they could. The best time was during the festival season – trays of goodies would be sent to the neighbours with invitations to join them for lunch or dinner and this would be reciprocated when the neighbours celebrated their festivals. We respected one another’s religion – there was a mosque, a church, a Hindu temple and a Chinese temple all within walking distance of each other.
In school, when the Muslim children were having their Ugama lessons, the non-Muslims were free to go to the library or to the canteen. But most of us preferred to remain in class and do our homework. At the same time we would catch snatches of the lesson going on and the Ustaz or Ustazah would sometimes draw us into a discussion. They would ask us to explain about our religious beliefs or rituals and never once were we disrespected. In fact it was a learning experience for everyone.
Now when I look back, I wonder if it had all been a dream. Did we really co-exist in peace and harmony back then? Why I am having my doubts now is that after all these years, we are suddenly being urged to strengthen racial integration. Children regardless of whether they are at primary level or University students have to be taught or persuaded to integrate with one another. Where did we go wrong? Who is to blame for all this? Children as I know, are innocent. They are not prejudiced and can see beyond the colour of one’s skin. However, they are easily impressionable and if we fill these young minds with hate and mistrust, then we have failed in our duty not only towards our children but also to the nation. This August we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our independence. Can we truly say that we have progressed these past 50 years or have we in reality moved backwards? Can we truly call ourselves Malaysians? This is certainly food for thought.
Here was a place where we could pop into our neighbour’s house in the middle of the night and unashamedly ask for some food because we had unexpected guests. We could go off on a trip with the safe knowledge that our neighbours would keep an eye on our house without us even asking.
All the children went to the same school and they too were friends with one another. My closest friends in school consisted of people from all the different races and religions and we were so comfortable with each other that we’d often end up in one of the houses after school, doing our homework or playing games. The parents would warmly welcome all the children into their homes and being respectful of one another’s culture and believes, would ensure that the food served was acceptable to all. There was no prejudice or fear in the way we interacted with each other. We saw and accepted everyone as our friends and all the elders always looked out for all the children, once again irrespective of race or creed. It was no surprise to see a Malay man boxing the ears of an Indian child who had misbehaved, only because he cared (it was an unspoken rule that the elders had a right to punish or scold any child who were caught misbehaving … and this also meant a further punishment when we got home). At the same time, we would probably come across a Chinese woman gently applying ointment to the knee of a Malay child who had injured himself while playing.
When there was a wedding in the village, everyone would be invited and all the ladies would come together to prepare the meal. It was joy to see all the Mak Ciks, the Achees and the Ah Sohs sitting and chatting together while doing the cooking. When there was a funeral, everyone felt the loss and all would come to pay their respects and to help out in any way they could. The best time was during the festival season – trays of goodies would be sent to the neighbours with invitations to join them for lunch or dinner and this would be reciprocated when the neighbours celebrated their festivals. We respected one another’s religion – there was a mosque, a church, a Hindu temple and a Chinese temple all within walking distance of each other.
In school, when the Muslim children were having their Ugama lessons, the non-Muslims were free to go to the library or to the canteen. But most of us preferred to remain in class and do our homework. At the same time we would catch snatches of the lesson going on and the Ustaz or Ustazah would sometimes draw us into a discussion. They would ask us to explain about our religious beliefs or rituals and never once were we disrespected. In fact it was a learning experience for everyone.
Now when I look back, I wonder if it had all been a dream. Did we really co-exist in peace and harmony back then? Why I am having my doubts now is that after all these years, we are suddenly being urged to strengthen racial integration. Children regardless of whether they are at primary level or University students have to be taught or persuaded to integrate with one another. Where did we go wrong? Who is to blame for all this? Children as I know, are innocent. They are not prejudiced and can see beyond the colour of one’s skin. However, they are easily impressionable and if we fill these young minds with hate and mistrust, then we have failed in our duty not only towards our children but also to the nation. This August we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our independence. Can we truly say that we have progressed these past 50 years or have we in reality moved backwards? Can we truly call ourselves Malaysians? This is certainly food for thought.
9 comments:
Pat, I remember being in that kind of environment - in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. I had friends of all races, creed and colour. Socially, everyone's child was under the watch and care of another adult. It is true, if we misbehaved in our friend's house; not only we would get a telling off from the friend's parents, watch out... balik rumah.. we will get a second round of scolding from parents.
Integration was a way of life. Not something that needed to be taught. We all went to the same school, be it Sekolah 1 or 2, it was at the same building. Only difference - morning session and afternoon session. When my family moved to the west coast, I continued to bask in this unique diversity.
I don't know what is happening to our society today. Maybe we have failed in some way to teach the young that first and foremost, we are Malaysians. If we cannot stand as one nation, how can we move on?
"For united we stand, divided we fall..."
Lady Patsy,
something must have gone askewed somewhere along the way -- on the road to progress. we lost our sense of community and racisl integration. we became inward ethnically. i, of course, am very conveniently blaming our moral-less politicians. politicians who take the racist line to win votes in their constituencies. Racist politicians, they were, and I know some still are.
actually, i know what that something is but that is suitable in another discussion.
I was born in Singapore and grew up in Petaling Jaya. Like you and JT, I had friends of all races. My childhood friends, Angeline Chivapathy, Diane Cheah, Rohaya and Hanim are still close to me to this day. There were others whom I were close to back then -- Jin Shen, Durgabhai, Yin Fong, Elaine Lee ,,,oh many more.
I refuse to submit to racial dis-integration and polarisation. The schools are also breeding ground for racial polarisation.
So, as parents we have to be on guard, which is pretty ridiculous but we are left with little choice. I make sure my two kids have friends of different races.
Let's hope the future holds better things for us all.
lady patsy,
let us celebrate 50 years of nationhood.
let us celebrate being Malaysian!
SALUT!
hai lady patsy...came in via syana's. am glad i discover your blog. very interesting read...
:)
IDHAM
Hi Idham,
Thanks for dropping by. I know this may sound childish but I really get excited whenever a new person swings by. But then again, I AM the attention seeker! See you soon
Lady Patsy, thankyou for dropping by a small part (but much loved) of Australia. My home, my world and it welcomes you.
I love this blog about your small village, your own melting pot of different races and religions...I do dream and pray that our world will find this life style your village had...it is a dream and aspiration that will never dim in my mind or heart.
Hey, good luck with your tax :)
All the best
Pam
Pat, you should check out Arif's jottings. Interesting! He gets you thinking.
this is a very touching post indeed. i wish for a different malaysia than what we have now.
Hi Patsy....not too late to reciprocate your visit to my blog. Before I left the teaching profession after 19years, my last three years was at Sultan Abdul Samad, PJ. The HM told me that on Friday the muslim boys strayed instead of going to the mosque at Islamaic College. He put this problem before me because he had no faith in the ustaz. Next week I insisted that all muslim boys, on Friday, came to school in baju melayu plus sampin. Being Prefect Master, I lined the them up two by two and had my prefects in front, beside and behind and marched them to Friday prayers. Two weeks later we had a letter of commendation from the imam that our school was the most disciplined in PJ. You and your group integrated. Twas beautiful. How come not the generation after you. The parents abdicated their influence to the ustaz in school, who went all out to disband the culture that was always Malaysian...no race, no religion, just Malaysians. Nuranina hit it spot on.....us parents play the role, we cannot leave it to the school or religious system.
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