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.
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.
