IN the wake of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stating that applications from Indian Muslims for Bumiputera status would be assessed individually, a netizen has wondered shouldn’t the Peranakan Chinese, too, be accorded a similar status given the Baba Nyonya heritage represents a true ‘assimilation’ of both Malay and Chinese cultures.
Given that they have a distinct culture which is not Chinese nor Malay, ng(Gua+Pi) (@xgpingx) who claims to be from a Luk Kreung ancestry (Siamese and Chinese) reckoned that “forcibly categorising Baba Nyonya descendants as Chinese is a form of cultural genocide”.
“You may not agree with me but you will never change the fact the Baba Nyonya, Sino-Kadazans, the Peranakan Jawi (Straits Indians) and Hokkien Siamese like me have Bumiputera heritage in our blood,” he penned on his X account.
Meanwhile Baba Nyonyas are still categorised as Chinese after being stripped away of their Bumiputera status. https://t.co/h544E9fh2X
— ng(Gua+Pi) (@xgpingx) December 7, 2024
Referring to a Sinar Daily report, ng(Gua+Pi) further claimed that the Peranakan Chinese were stripped of their Bumiputera status as the “Baba” ethnicity status recognised in their birth certificates during the 1940s but was omitted soon after.
This was in a reaction to PMX’s statement at the recent Muslim League’s 70th dinner celebrations in Penang following revelation by the Malaysian Muslim League president Datuk Seri Najmudeen Kader that problems related to Indian Muslims’ registration as Bumiputera have only surafced recently.
Najmudeen who is also the Penang Muslim League president had argued that Indian Muslims qualified as Bumiputwra by having embraced the Malay culture and adopt the Muslim way of life. Currently, there are about 1.1 million Indian Muslims in the country.
Beyond the Baba Nyonya community, ng(Gua+Pi) also shared that there are other ethnicities in Malaysia who are products of assimilation between Bumiputera and the non-Bumiputera ethnics.
Notable groups include:
- Kristang (European + Malay)
- Jawi Peranakan (Indian + Malay)
- Sino-Native (Sabah Dayaks + Chinese)
- Sino-Dayak (Sarawak Dayaks + Chinese)
- Luk Kreung (Siamese + Chinese
Political tool
Meanwhile, renowned political commentator James Chin (@jameschin110) chided PMX by “thanking him for deepening the rift between Muslims and non-Muslims” via his preparedness to assist Indian Muslims secure Bumiputera status for economic and political benefits.
“Many of these Indian Muslims have in fact registered their children as ‘’Malay’’ for many decades,” reacted the professor of Asian Studies at University of Tasmania on his X account.
Dear DSAI, thank you for deepening the rift between Muslims and non-Muslims. These Indian Muslim want to be categorised as bumiputera for the economic and political benefits. Many of these Indian Muslims have infact registered their children as ”Malay” for many decades.
It is… pic.twitter.com/4tpC7co8k2— James Chin (@jameschin110) December 8, 2024
“I would have rather that you grant Bumiputera status to all poor Malaysians regardless of race/religion. Bumiputera is an administrative category rather than a constitutional one (the word Bumiputera does not appear in the Federal Constitution). Then you can claim to have gradually built a cohesive and united Malaysia.”
Another netizen who calls himself a liberal secularist for a progressive plural Malaysia reckoned that “this Bumi non-Bumi nonsense must go”.
This proves that “bumiputera” is not real but a mere segregational term used to hierarchically grade M’sians based on their race & religion. This bumi non-bumi nonsense must go. https://t.co/Xz3dgGh9vh
— Annoyed Malaysian 🇲🇾 (@annoyedmsian) December 7, 2024
“This proves that ‘Bumiputera’ is not real but a mere segregationally term used to hierarchically grade Malaysians based on their race and religion,” fumed Annoyed Malaysian 🇲🇾 (@annoyedmsian).
This led to a pro-Pakatan Harapan (PH) current issue observer pointing out that little wonder “why some of the second-generation Indian Muslims, Indonesians, Pakistanis or Middle Eastern origin citizens end up having Bumi status due to religion and marriage”.
This is why some of the two generations of Indian Muslims, Indonesian Pakistani, Middle Eastern, etc end up having Bumi status due to religion & marriage but 6 generations of non-Muslim Malaysians who had worked hard for the country are still treated as second-class citizens. https://t.co/8CnbAM3Y3G
— Hector of Sector 470 (@BigJoe470) December 7, 2024
“But six generations of non-Muslim Malaysians who had worked hard for the country are still treated as second-class citizens,” lamented Hector of Sector 470 (@BigJoe470).
One commenter demonstrated that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. – Dec 9, 2024
Main image credit: George Twon World Heritage Incorporated
