DAP has expressed its dismay over former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s use of the chopstick analogy to illustrate the challenges in assimilating the non-Malay population in the country and how there was still a tendency for communities here to identify with their country of origin.
According to party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Dr Mahathir is wrong to focus on assimilation instead of integration and that using chopsticks instead of adopting the Malaysian way of eating with their hands is one of the reasons leading to separation among the people.
“This is not only simplistic but offensive to the Chinese community here,” he commented.
“Dr Mahathir should be reminded that in addition to China and Taiwan, countries like Japan, South Korea and Vietnam use chopsticks as well. As he is a proponent of the Look East policy that encompasses these countries, Dr Mahathir has never brought up using chopsticks as an issue.”
Lim went on to question if a Malay using chopsticks – or even spoon and fork – loses their ‘Malay-ness’ and pointed out that many non-Chinese Malaysians and Westerners had proudly demonstrated their ability to use chopsticks without losing their identities.
“For Dr Mahathir to talk about assimilating the non-Malay population, he forgets about the non-Malays among the Orang Asli and native population of Sabah and Sarawak,” he remarked.
“Is Dr Mahathir saying that the non-Malays in the Borneo states such as Ibans, Dayaks, Melanaus, Kadazan-Dusuns and Muruts must also lose their characters and identities to assimilate?
“Even Dr Mahathir’s ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ recognises the diversity that is Malaysia and talks about the Malaysian people regardless of race and religion.
“Rather than assimilation, the focus should be on integration of the rakyat similar to the integration of Sabah and Sarawak with Peninsular Malaysia to achieve unity in diversity.”
Lim further noted that eating with chopsticks does not make anyone less Malaysian.
“Malaysians of Chinese descent born here are proud of our loyalty to Malaysia and have no wish to return to a China growing with wealth and prosperity, even if given an opportunity to do so.
“The Chinese community in Malaysia has always identified itself with Malaysia and never with China. Even the two million Malaysians who migrate, just like other Malays and Indians, choose Western countries because of better pay prospects and equal opportunities but yet Dr Mahathir does not say that the Chinese community here identify with Western countries.”
Added Lim, helping one of two Chinese tycoons is like helping any tycoon from other races and cannot be equated with helping the Chinese contributors.
The contributions of the Chinese community should not be questioned or discriminated against just because of the different language, customs, names, lifestyles or even the way they eat.
“The problem is when politicians refuse to accept what they are and are more interested in who they are and where they come from,” he added.
Lim also pointed out that even Dr Mahathir’s example of former American president Dwight David Eisenhower who was appointed the commander-in-chief of the Allied army forces that won against Germany in World War II underlines the difference in that Eisenhower not only sees himself as an American but was fully accepted by others as an American.
“The Chinese community see itself as Malaysian but unfortunately there are those who are unwilling to accept this fact.
“The time has come to put past prejudices and such divisiveness behind by accepting the Chinese community as Malaysian citizens with full rights as enshrined in the Malaysian Federal Constitution.
“Then only can we work together to realise our full potential to make Malaysia fairer, more prosperous, free and upholding justice for all,” Lim concluded. – Dec 13, 2021
