Racial Remarks : i don't know how to explain it properly. A act of words to symbolist a race in some way, most of the time symbolist a race in bad way.
I am from Malaysia. A multicultural country, occupied by few different races. Malays are majority, and other faces like Chinese( 35% of population ) and Indians are minority. In this kind of environment, racial remarks are common. Some remarks known for joke and some others really hurts.
As a young Malaysian Indian, i been heart many racial remarks as i stated above. I also used some for fun, just to make jokes which does not hurt other race friends. Other race of friends sometimes use curtain terms, sentence or slangs. They thing, by doing that they actually manage to mingle-up with other race Malaysians. Sometimes yes, it accepted as a joke and create some friendship. BUT most of the time it hurts, really hurt your heard in silent.
Lately, using racial remark issue reduce dramatically among Malaysians. Yet indirectly or without they even realize Malaysian still hold or using it. If you a Malaysian, you only can notice it if you sensitive ENOUGH. Nowadays many indians does not look and sound like typical Indians. That is very good. I look like typical Indian due to my skin color. But im a true Malaysian for sure, that cannot be reflected physically rite. So this make people make some racial remark, or they just don't realize, or can be said they triggered to to use some words which irritate me as a INDIAN in origin.
Some of the experience i been encounter :
1) Few years back, when i enter degree level one. Im the only Malaysian Indian in class. All others are other race Malaysians plus foreigners. When we talk, one of the guy in the class, try to be funny by answering me while shaking his head and in Indian slang of english. I feel really irritated.
I straight ask him why he act such way, and he answered:" Indians like to shack their head while talk what". I answer back : " i talk just now, am i shaken my head ? the indian lecturer teach you standing infront there, is she shaking her head?". And than, time past by we talk normally.
Acts which bring to racial remark:
Indian are known for shake their head more compare to other race when talk, those days.
2) I on the way to interview. And im almost there, just not sure which building. I stop and ask a guy, i think he work in office near by. I ask : "Abang building ini kat mane?"/"Where is this building ?". And that guys answer : "Itu sana, ada pahamka tamy?"/"thats the building, did you understand tamby?". I asked him in proper Malay, why in earth that another race Malaysian answer in the Malay which Indians tend to use 50 years back. Is it a indirect racial remark ?
Acts which bring to racial remark:
First generation of Indians which came to Malaysia as migrants have poor communication skill in Malay language.
3) I and my friend(girl) is in fast food shop. In front of me, a Malaysian Chinese guy with girl beside him, place a order, after few second he change the order. And the cashier in the counter with smiling face change the order. My turn, i place the order, within few second i ask the cashier to change order. While changing the meal, while not facing me she said "Mengade gadela". Now how should i conclude this ? Am i too sensitive or im just be a victim of indirect racial remark?
Acts which bring to racial remark:
Some young indian guys like to rise the voice and create irrelevant situation when with group of friends.
4) A music shop newly open in shopping complex which i always go. I enter the shop, want ask for availability of any music class. I am the only customer at the shop at that moment. The shop worker does not ask me how should she can help me, or even say any wishes like "hai" or "welcome". And straight to the counter, and the person there just look at me. Than i ask about the class, and the person just answer what i asking. She did not treat me as potential customer. I on the way out of the shop. And saw other race Malaysian enter the same shop. Now the shop worker wish that person and the person at the counter, stand up. And walk and entertain the person even he just enter the shop to take a look at the new shop. Again, am i too sensitive ? Or my personality too bad? Or am i just be victim of indirect racial remark ?
Acts which bring to racial remark:
Basically buying power of Malaysian Indians are not that good compare to other races. FACT.
There are many other personal experiences, but this few enough to make as example and provide better understanding of what i trying to explain in this post/article.
Racial remark , still ??
Reason i aspect Dato’ S. Sothinathan to win the election:
