Those who have been reading my blog for a few years now might remember that back in 2007 I wrote a post calling out Malaysia’s Information Minister for things he had said about children of mixed parentage. Basically, the Minister at the time, Zainudin Maidin (aka ZAM), didn’t want to see such children in local advertising because they’re “not Malaysians”. The post I wrote in response to his ridiculous remarks generated a lot of comments; in fact, while there were posts in my old Blogspot days that had generated more (unfortunately those comments have been swallowed by the Internet), that particular post remains the most commented post since my switch to Wordpress. Most of the comments were equally critical of ZAM, but some displayed racism that matched and perhaps even surpassed the things he’d said.
Well, how have things progressed in the nearly three years since then? The Information Ministry has been merged with the former Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry to form the Information Communication and Culture Ministry (which can’t seem to decide whether it wants a comma after the word Information). The new Minister, Rais Yatim, who thinks Malaysians’ use of the Internet, social media, and ‘bahasa rojak’ (the mixing of Malay and English in daily speech) are all very bad things, is unfortunately no less an embarrassment to the country than ZAM was. And unfortunately Rais is no less racist.
Recently that bastion of Malay nationalist journalism, Utusan Malaysia, front-paged an article in which Rais made comments about mixed marriages, in response to a question about the marital troubles of Malaysian actress Maya Karin. Now before we move on to Rais himself, let’s all shake our heads at the fact that Utusan chose to put that as its lead article that day, and that the paper had even seen fit to ask Rais to comment on something which was none of their business, and certainly none of his. Shame on them.
Now, on to Rais. Like I said, what happens in Maya Karin’s marriage is really none of his business. Yet there he was, using the question to deliver a little rant about the perils of entering into a marriage with someone of another race and/or nationality. Not only that, he singled out westerners, particularly white westerners. As Utusan is a government mouthpiece, it’s unlikely they just asked him about this out of the blue and he was simply giving his opinion on the spot. When asked about the matter, Rais didn’t just give his opinion; he backed it up with results of a study undertaken by local sociologists in which it was found that seven out of every ten mixed marriages end in divorce.
Well, I have some big problems with not only what Rais said, but in the so-called evidence he put forth to back up his claims. First off, let me state that I’m not saying mixed marriages are all fine and dandy. There are bound to be divorces. Just as I didn’t completely disagree with ZAM’s criticism of the prevalence of so-called mixed-race actors in local advertising, I don’t completely disagree with Rais’ assertion that mixed marriages will fail at a higher rate than marriages between people who are from the same race/ethnic group/country. But having said that, I have big problems with what he said anyway, just like I had big problems with what ZAM said. Aside from what I’ve already mentioned, here’s where Rais went wrong:
The study he referred to is outdated. According to the Utusan article, the figure of only three successful marriages out of ten is based on research that covered only the years 1995 to 1998. That was 12 to 15 years ago. Not only is the research outdated, it wasn’t done long enough for researchers to come to any reliable conclusion.
The geographical scope of the study was even more limited than the temporal scope. It seems Rais was only referring to marriages in the state of Johor and the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur. That’s a very insufficient sample.
‘Artistes’ are hardly representative of the general public. Everyone knows actors and singing stars generally go through spouses like Planters goes through peanuts. I’ll be the first to admit I have no hard statistics to offer up in support of my claim here, but I daresay this is the case in many countries, not just in the west. In pointing to failed marriages among Malaysian celebrities as proof that mixed marriages don’t work, Rais is really barking up the wrong tree. Sure, the study he’s relying on involves more than just celebrities, but highlighting them at all to prove his point is pretty silly.
He’s almost right, but completely wrong. I’ve long said that marriages between Malays and non-Malays can only work if both partners have similar ideas about religion and culture. Rais is saying the same thing, but I think he overstates the number of cases in which this doesn’t happen. Of course, considering the shortcomings of the study he uses to back that up, it’s almost impossible to say. So how can I say he’s wrong? Because since Leen and I moved to Malaysia from Canada we’ve come to know many couples in similar situations to our own. We have indeed met couples whose marriages were a bit rocky, and people whose mixed marriages had already ended. But those were the exceptions. Most mixed couples we’ve met were happily married at the time and remain so today. Sure, some of them will fail, but that is the case with all marriages. Actually, there may be higher rates of divorce with mixed marriages, but…well, see below.
For someone who doesn’t like things that are mixed, he’s sure got this mixed up. Rais actually acknowledges that one of the factors in the failure of mixed marriages is the difficulty foreign spouses — especially foreign husbands — have as immigrants in this country. He even acknowledges this is all due to rigid government policies. But here’s the thing: instead of saying Malaysians should avoid marrying foreigners because the government he’s a part of makes it difficult for them to live and work here, wouldn’t it be better for the government to actually make it easier for foreign spouses to live and work here? Oh, wait…
Rais is out of touch with current events and trends. The Malaysian government is, in fact, beginning to make it easier for foreign spouses to live and work in Malaysia. The government recently announced it would give Permanent Resident status to foreign husbands, something Malaysian women and their foreign-born husbands have long been hoping for (read here for my latest update on that). The advice Rais is doling out to Malaysians reflects either complete ignorance of his own government’s initiatives, or an unwillingness to accept them. Either way, Rais Yatim is not doing his job properly.
Just the other night I watched an interview Rais gave on TV3 and was treated to further proof that he 1) has a real dislike for westerners and their culture, and 2) is unfit to lead a government ministry. While he did make some valid points (advocating more parental guidance in children’s use of the Internet, for example), most of his comments were absolutely sickening. His skeptical comments about the Internet and social media were nothing new (he’s been saying those things for a while now, resulting in a hilarious backlash by Malaysian Twitter users and bloggers), but I have to admit I was taken aback by what he said about language. That was nothing new either (his preference for the Malay language was quite evident when he once arrogantly scolded a journalist for daring to ask him a question in English not long ago), but he somehow outdid himself this time.
When asked to comment on bahasa rojak (basically ‘mixed language’), Rais really made himself look foolish. Remember I said he doesn’t like things that are mixed? Well, here’s the proof. He looks back on a time when the Malay language — the Johor-Riau dialect, to be more precise — was untouched by other languages. Let’s put aside how ignorant that very idea is in and of itself (I mean come on, he thinks the Johor-Riau dialect was not itself a hybrid of various smaller local dialects, and that it wasn’t influenced at all by other languages? Seriously?). Let’s look at what he said next: He actually lamented the fact that there came a time (a long, long time ago in fact) when the pure, precious Malay language was poisoned by other languages. Yes, that’s what he said. He used the word diracuni — poisoned. This is what he thinks of the influence of other languages on the Johor-Riau dialect of Malay. He displayed a particularly sneering contempt of the English language and the growing tendency of Malaysians to inject it into their everyday speech. He made it clear that Malaysians who speak in Malay should not mix words from other languages into it.
Let’s not even get into the fact that it’s pretty much impossible to speak Malay these days without using at least some English loanwords. Let’s just look at the basic thrust of what Rais was saying. It is painfully obvious that the Minister of Information Communication and Culture harbours unrealistic fantasies of linguistic and cultural purity. It is also obvious that because of these delusions he is out of touch with the realities of language and culture. He is out of touch with the way this country’s national language and its culture are heading. He is even out of touch with the direction in which the government he is a part of appears to be heading, or at least claims to be heading. He is, therefore, unfit to occupy the post he now occupies.
Now, I can express my personal opinion all I want — that Rais should either resign or the Prime Minister should put him out to pasture — but I’m not Malaysian, so who am I to even suggest what the Malaysian government should do? In fact, it seems Malaysians who support the current government don’t take too kindly to foreigners telling that government what it should and shouldn’t do. Well you know what? Anyone who would rub that in my face now can just stuff it. When a Malaysian government minister uses his position to make bigoted comments about mixed marriages and/or mixed-race children, it concerns me because it concerns my wife and children. The sensitivities of Malaysians who dislike the intervention of foreigners into their affairs are duly noted, but the current government should bear in mind that while I can’t vote here, my wife can; our children, if they decide to stay here into adulthood, will be voters too. So will the spouses and children of a lot of foreigners in this country — maybe a lot more than Rais can imagine. And we’re not just talking about foreigners here. We’re talking about anyone who marries and has children out of their so-called race. Does Rais Yatim really think that he or anyone else in this country is “pure”? Please.
Just imagine if Malaysians actually follow the advice of their Minister of Information Communication and Culture. They might take his ’stick to your own kind’ rhetoric too far. Why, we might end up seeing disturbingly high numbers of incest cases among rural Mal…oh, wait a minute. I guess Rais should really be careful what he wishes for. And the people of Malaysia should be careful who they vote for.
Tagged: English, family, language, links, Malay, Malaysia, twitter, Youtube
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12 Comments
the restraint you show is remarkable, because to me there is more to this than simply being the “outsider” who maybe shouldn’t comment. i’m east malaysian married to a malay and in the past often held back on my opinion about the new life i was beginning in the early years of our marriage. however, i chose to be a part of this culture and society, leaving possible work opportunities overseas in order to build a real life creating a family and contributing to my husband’s community. I say it is his community because despite the fact that we were both living in the kl metropolis, our real day to day lives were to be as part of a very malay, urban community. despite our modern lifestyle in the entertainment industry, it is determined by the sentiments of the very malay industry and society we have established ourselves in. and i chose to take that on, despite having the alternative opportunity to live a very different life as a non-muslim KLite in the same industry (if i hadn’t married him and converted in the process).
So i do feel that i have a right to comment on the world i have chosen to live in.
He is a disappointment because when he first came into office i heard him give a rather inspiring speech about bringing the malaysian film industry to world attention. his language was intellectual and sophisticated, and if i’m not mistaken he has been very well educated overseas. the turning point for me was his childish rebuke of Sharifah Amani’s gushing comment that she would speak in english as she sounded stupid in malay in her excitement during her acceptance of an award. he came down so hard on her in the press, so meanly, it was hard to bear.
anyway, i believe he cannot be simply ignorant. perhaps senile. i rather think that he has either a political agenda or a very personal mean streak which manifests itself via his political statements. he seems to react to issues defensively by taking on the stance of a moral leader. it’s like massive ego coupled with racial or personal insecurity: it’s not leadership via inspiration, but rather leadership by control that results.
he also seems to speak to a very ingrained sentiment in his electorate - that of “us” versus “them”. when we first married i would hear appreciative comments of how lovely it was that i “masuk melayu” (became malay) in order to marry (rather than the correct “masuk islam” - entered islam). despite how close to terrifying that misguided notion was to me at that moment, i understood that for those little makciks making those comments, it was sentiment speaking. it was a way of saying things which belied the true nature of that particular community’s way of thinking, perhaps ignorant, misguided, but certainly not of ill intent.
however, it is a sentiment easily aroused into hate if manipulated by an authority figure with some control or even some charisma. scary, scary, scary!
By “he” I mean yoRais.
hey jordan, my husband and i have been toying with the idea of going back to msia. i’m still not too keen on that idea because my husband is, as yorais puts it, a “white westerner” and things will not be easy for him.
anyway, i got really upset after reading that on utusan. now i guess we’ll just have to put that plan on hold.
Well… I am a Chinese, 25 yrs old, my mum was from Taiwan father was from Penang. Am I a Malaysian? Yes, I am Malaysian! I was born here and I eat sleep poo there… Is my home.
Now I am stucked!!
My girlfriend is a malay chinese mixed.
I am a baptist christian.
We fell in love for 5 years already but we cant get marry.
I wish I could change the law system in Malaysia so we can live together.
Jordan, I don’t dispute the quoted mixed-marriage breakup rate at all. There was probably 3 mixed marriages reported in the newspapers between 95-98 and similarity two divorces. Therefore arriving at a success rate of about 30%. The study probably looked at nothing other than front-page celebrity mixed marriages/divorces.
Perhaps I should return the gift that Rais and his wife gave me when I got married to my then husband. Who was French. They seemed happy enough for me at the time. Of course I was the PM’s daughter….
And by the way, if Malay is being poisoned by any language, it would be Arabic. I really can’t stand all these people who start a speech in Arabic and then don’t even translate it. (Oh but you understand Arabic, don’t you Jordan?? Better than me.)
And isn’t Rais’ own Ministry known as Kementerian Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan? Now that’s alreayd rojak, kan???
FELICITATION on the birth of your second son Aaron Yusuf Macvay:-) very nice birthdate too = 07-03-10…
Jordan, thanks for writing this article, it’s much needed.we love mixed marriages,we love ‘rojak’, we love ‘pot-pourri’ - when we decided to get married eight years ago,it was the best decision made in our lifetimes and we’r happily blessed with our child of mixed-parentage, and we can’t wait for her to practise her rojak language of french+malay+english :-). aren’t we all citizens of the world…ultimately;choosing a life partner is very much matters of the heart,power of love,l’amour est aveugle :-). why can’t the govt just leave us taxpayers alone, non??
A bientot
Congratulation Jordan. Great article. My opinion is, Rais should check first what is the output from ‘normal marriage’(not rojak). Do all marriages have a happy ending? If yes why our Mahkamah Syariah still stuck with dozens/hundred/thousands of divorce cases?
If he try to compare with celebrity (Maya Karin etc…,) that is the most stupid reference that he chooses. They are celebrities for God sake, even the Wedding of the Year is not the guarantee of ‘happily ever after’.
Understanding… give and take and etc… are the some of the points to be consider. If we refer to the Syariah cases, problematic couples like to use did not have understanding. So can I conclude that no understanding is the main factor for marriage failure instead of “ROJAK MARRIAGE”?
—p/s try my very best not to use rojak words . 10 jari hamba hulurkan..
First and foremost, congratulations on the new arrival.
Rais’ gripe at mat sallehs marrying local women is understandable if you look at it through the malay-male chauvinism goggles. Malay men are not good enough for Malay women, they have to go and marry mat sallehs instead. That same mat sallehs (ignore nationality) that the malay men called Tuan all those years ago. Being colonised hurts the psychi, for a long, long time. These malay women marrying mat sallehs is abit like shoving two fingers to his malay male pride.
The MalayDragon predicament above is worse - there is religion to worry about.
Asalaamu Alaikum
Not sure if you remember me but I think I emailed you when you were still in Canada. I’m a Canadian woman married to a Malaysian guy (I’m a rare species). I’ve been following Bin Gregory’s blog lately and he pointed out your blog to me. Check out my blog at:
http://www.oldmuslimwomanintheshoe.blogspot.com
I was in Malaysia (KB) for 4 months back in 2000.
Salam Jordan and congratulations on the happy arrival of second boy. Been reading your blog for years but this is the first time I am commenting.
1- Mixed marriages - that’s not Rais’ b….y business. Has he said anything about Malay men marrying minah sallehs?
2- People who speak more than 1 language often/usually/always use rojak language, especially if they live in multi-ethnic countries like Malaysia. That is prevalent throughout the world. In linguistics this is called code-switching. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s quite a natural phenomenon, and the rojak varieties are neither wrong nor impure, nor should they be looked down upon. They just are. In fact, code-switchers are actually demonstrating linguistic intelligence, one of the many intelligences in Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple-intelligences, which incidentally, the Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia has incorporated into the school curricula. And in my observation, code-switchers code-switch largely in informal situations. Is the learned minister telling us how to speak when we’re at home or with friends? And please tell me, which language in this world is truly pure? Latin, perhaps?
Hello Jordan
finally caught back up with your blog after all these years !
Congrats on your 2nd child, I remember the jokes you told us on your blog about alisdair name !.
Now I’m in similar situation as you ( malay wife, western husband ) as our first daughter will be born in a few weeks. But we were a little sad, because we are currently working in Qatar and the Mysia rules says our duaghter can’t have Mysia citizenship. However my wifes former boss being the brother of one of the ex minsters told her recently not to worry as things look like they were going to change.
anyway as for us poor old westerners with no PR its hard I know, I nearly had 5 years and then we uprooted to middle east for a great job for my wife !.
This Rias really talks out of the proverbial backside eh ! will he make the same comments about other races that had intermarried in Malaysias long past ? Are they not part of the Malaysian identity ? This attitude he takes I think border on the nazis delusion with race purity( thankfully such people start die out when they go down this road ).
One of the reasons my wife married a matsalleh was because she felt restrained by Malay male mentality ( she had been previously married to a Malay ). She couldn’t strive for excellance in her field without some over inflated ego like Rias “throwing his toys out of the pram”.
Thankfully not all Malay / Malaysian men are like that just the ignorant one.
Cultural / racial identities evolve, the proof in the history of any language - look at english, look at malay. Those that don’t die out, so hopefully Rais will go with them.
Regards