The Melei Dilemma

During my teenage years, I made it quite obvious that I didn't like the Malays and at times I would even imply that I resented being Malay myself. It was mostly because I grew up in an environment in which where I regularly saw the Malays around me getting involved in disgraceful and backwards behaviour such as getting involved in street races and proclaiming blind allegiance towards God and royalty.

I don't remember exactly when but near the end of my schooling years, I stumbled upon Dr. Mahathir's "The Malay Dilemma", a book that critically analysed the Malays and the factors of their failures. The book changed me forever. It taught me many things but one lesson stands above others. It taught me that there was a way to criticise my own race in a manner that would actually allow them to improve. It made me realise that true criticism must go beyond lambasting people and listing their inadequacies. True criticism must come with a tone of understanding, enforced with trustworthy proof or facts, and if possible, concluded with sincere recommendations or advice.

The self-criticism of the Malay race was not first initiated by Dr. Mahathir and it certainly hasn't ended. It might even be said that even more Malays are critical of their race today than in the past. The Malays are now wealthier, smarter and more digitally connected than prior generations. This increases their self-awareness and when there is more self-awareness, they are in a better position to see the problems that manifest within their collective psyche. However, being able to see the problems does not mean that everyone knows how to deal with them, let alone react to them in a sensible manner.

There is no pride in knowing that you are associated with people who are stereotyped as intellectually timid, backwardly feudalistic, religiously volatile and economic-illiterate. And so the Malays who are constantly bombarded with examples and evidence of these stereotypes will feel inclined to dissociate themselves from the negative identity of the stereotypical Malay. The safest and easiest way to remind others around you that you are not the negative stereotypes of your race is to first show self-awareness and second, to criticise the stereotypes. On a personal level, perhaps this is helpful in establishing an identity but to say that it is beneficial on a racial level is thinking too highly of oneself.

As how you wouldn't casually utter "stupid" at a child in hopes that he will be motivated to study, you wouldn't shout "stupid!" at the Malays hoping that they would read more books. Though the analogy of equating the Malays to children may sound condescending, I believe we are all as simple as children when it comes to motivation and self-improvement. If we are given the proper encouragements and shown proper guidance, we improve as steadily as well-taught children. Human nature may be complicated but the basics of our growth rarely change.

And so the modern Malays cannot shy away from self-criticism. In fact, it is vital that they continue to criticise themselves if they wish to become better. But they must learn to distinguish useful criticism and self-elevating insults. They must learn that the economist who builds libraries for poor Malay children is doing infinitely more than the comedian who laughs at those children's parents for opening burger stalls. To each his own.