Ancient Chinese Philosoply of Lao Zi VS Today's Taoism

Lao Zi was a Chinese ancient philosopher who started a new understanding of nature known as Taoism. Nowadays, most of the people keep Taoism as a religion or belief, rather than an unique philosophy of Chinese ancestor as it was. What are the differences between the Taoism in the past and now in the heart of Chinese people today?

Let us start to figure out what do the Chinese people explain Taoism today. Then, we will explore the understanding of Taoism in the past. By these, we can clearly see the differences between Chinese people in the past and today's society.

Nowadays many people are worshiping LaoZi as a deity or God among Chinese community. There are many names found in their tradition and belief. For instance LaoZi also known as TaiShang LaoJun (太上老君) or Taishang XuanYuan. In fact this kind of religion or belief do not have any relationship to the teachings of LaoZi in Dao De Jing (道德经). In Taoism, the teachings of this ancient sage - LaoZi does not related to worshiping Goddess or Deities. LaoZi argues his ideas on the way or principle of livings. There is no doubt that LaoZi's teachings on the nature beings and common principles of life were really amazing and insightful to many people, but unfortunately many people worshiping LaoZi as God or Deity after two to three generations.

In the conclusions, I argue that LaoZi was a great ancient Philosopher in China. But he is not God or Deity that many Chinese community today worshiping in the temple. LaoZi became a God or Deity today is all because of the admirable hearts of many Chinese people in the past after the death of LaoZi most particularly on his teachings of philosophy written in Dao De Jing. In conjunction of that we as a new generation today should be more caution in our understanding of ancient sages and history.

What does inequality really mean to Malay and Chinese in Malaysia?

Malaysia is a multicultural country with three main ethnic groups - Malay, Chinese and Indian. The population of Malays is around 65%, Chinese 26% and Indian 7.5%, and others 1.5%. In fact, they are remarkably different cultures and religions. According to the reports or some articles, many people grading Malaysia as a harmonious nation although some conflicts happened in the past among ethnic groups. Many believe that Malaysian government has done an outstanding job in building a harmony relationships among ethnic groups. The government also has been implementing numerous effective policies in education to bring all the people to unity.

As it is mentioned, Malay people in Malaysia are the majority group, an indigenous group. In Malay, Bumiputera means "Prince of the earth". However, ethnic Chinese and Indians are more like alien emigrants in Malaysia. Since 1970s, Malaysian government has implemented the both New Economic Policy and Bumiputera policy, whereas Malay people have the rights on better chances to become government officials, better opportunities in admitting to local universities, getting scholarships for their children's education and priority ownership in their business activities. This has became one of the huge conflict issue among both Chinese and Indians, questioning the human rights among themselves.

The map above indicates the population in Malaysia by ethnic groups. Bumiputera population which includes Malay as the main and other indigenous people like Iban, Kadazan and Orang Asli is shown by using blue color, while the states or cities with more Chinese population is displayed by using red color. It is clearly explain that more Chinese people are living in cities like Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, Kuantan, Melaka, Penang, Johor Bahru (nearby Singapore), Sibu and Kota Kinabalu. In contrast, Malay people are more inhabiting in rural areas or kampung traditionally a life with less competition compare to city life. No doubt that most of the Chinese people living in cities are encountering more competition in their live compare to those Bumiputera apparently. This is one of the reason that leads to hard work among Chinese community in Malaysia naturally.
No wonder many people particularly Malay asking about the prosperity among Chinese people,and in somehow do not really happy with this inequality. However, Chinese people also fighting for their equal rights in getting job as government official, equality in entering local university, priority of business ownership to Bumiputera and so on.

What does inequality really mean to the Bumiputera and Chinese in Malaysia?

To answer the question above, it is important to understand the types of inequality. Basically according to Joseph Rowntree Foundation, there are 5 types of inequality - political inequality, differing life outcomes, inequality of opportunity, treatment and responsibility, and shared equality of membership in the areas of nation, faith and family.

From the types of inequality stated, let us make a comparison between Bumiputera and Chinese regarding their understandings of inequality. Bumiputera mainly refers to Malay in some extend fighting for their inequalities visibly. For examples, Malay people questioning the differing life outcomes and income disparity. However, Chinese people in Malaysia fighting for the equal treatment from their government intangibly. For instances, the equal opportunities in admitting local university and equality in business chances. Furthermore,  Chinese people also debating about their equal rights as Malaysian instead of using the term Non-Bumiputera for Malaysian Chinese and Indian. It is pity to say that Malaysia is most probably the only country in the world that discriminate her own people by ethnic groups although this minority groups of people are born and raised up in the country. In some extend, the term non-Bumiputera in Malaysia means "non-Malaysian". 

For summary, Malaysia is seemed to be a harmonious nation with unique multiracial society whereas Malay, Chinese and Indian people are living together and share the same politics, education and economy. But there are still some conflicts among ethnic groups in Malaysia especially between Bumiputera and Chinese people. By the way, Indian people also encountering some conflicts with Bumiputera community, mainly the Malay but it is not emphasized in this article. Inequality in various perspectives are extremely different among Bumiputera or Malay compare to Chinese people in Malaysia. In details, Bumiputera or Malay people questioning the inequality of their income and prosperity compare to Chinese people. However, Chinese people keep fighting for their equal rights in the employment of government officials, equality in admitting local university, and same opportunities in business. Both of the Malay and Chinese people in Malaysia have their own understandings of inequality. It will be good if both the Malay and Chinese people can come together more often to understand each others' perspectives towards building a better nation of Malaysia.