After the general election of 2013, and the annihilation of MCA and SUPP and other government Chinese parties, the Malay newspaper Utusan Malaysia infamously shouted in the headlines, “ApaLagi Cina Mahu?”
After a marriage of over 50 years between UMNO, MCA and MIC, it was obvious that the shout was one of absolute oblivion to the marriage relationship and total ignorance of the marriage partner. Otherwise, it was a groom that did not bother to understand his bride, and started shouting that he had been hard done by only when someone wooed her away!
So out comes the knife against the Chinese. “Lack of loyalty,” these and an assortment of allegations that can only be regarded as racism were spewed.
However, the Chinese psyche is a simple one.
When I was young after each school term we would visit out grandparents and our uncles. The questions would be asked, “How did you do in your exam?” And if we did well twenty sen or fifty sen would be the reward. The instruction from grandparents would be, “This is for your future, when you go for higher education” or “For the future rainy days.”
Hard work has been second nature to us. We do not expect handouts and we can work ourselves out in the system. Challenges and roadblocks are part of life’s lesson.
This is just ingrained into the Chinese psyche.
So after the education period of our lives, the Chinese would embark on protecting himself and to avoid the “future rainy days.” He would start his accumulation of wealth with that objective. A Foochow friend once told me that others may admire the multimillionaire timber tycoons, but they live with the phobia of going back to their childhood days of abject poverty and they continue their work with dogged determination to avoid that.
The Chinese are made up of a number of dialectic groups and each dialectic group has its own association. Each association then goes about providing education assistance, solving the problems of their group through scholarships and aids.
In Kuching for example, the Teochews set up Kuching High School. The Hakka lease their land out for the operation of Chung Hua Primary No.4. During the days of the Rajah, and the British Colonial era, they went to the missionary schools in droves.
Chinese philanthropists bequeath to the schools and other dialectic associations. Wawasan Open University of Penang and lately Sunway are beneficiary of this sense of duty to give back to their society.
Jeffrey Cheah, the philanthropist behind the Sunway Group famously said, I aspire to inspire before I expire.” Other philanthropists set up their own foundation to give out scholarships for needy students.
So long as you leave them to their business and their education, the Chinese are not very interested in politics.
Even if you look at the Sarawak Chinese political parties, their focus is generally on education. The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) versus United People’s Party( UPP) fight is an example.
SUPP president Senator Sim Kui Hian works towards the recognition of the Chinese UEC exam by the Yayasan Sarawak, State Government and ultimately by the Federal Government while his UPP counterpart Dato Seri Wong Soon Koh goes about soliciting for funds from the corporate sector, of up RM50 million to be distributed toschools and society.
It is interesting to note that the tussle between the Dayak based parties Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras), there is no such movement to woo the members and public with education. Education does not have such a central role in their societies. Then there is the understanding of powers. The Chinese, although respectful of authorities, demands results. If you are a representative of the Chinese then you are expected to carry that responsibility. It is your responsibility to bring up issues of Chinese problems to the powers that be.
If you do not carry out your responsibilities or are perceived not to be carrying it out, then you will be tossed out. You are there for the community. Even the late SUPP stalwarts Stephen Yong and Ong Kee Hui had faced the wrath of the electorates in their times.
The Chinese civilization has been urban based for so many centuries so their instinct for survival in the modern setting comes as second nature. All these social dynamics are working towards pushing their society forward.
We must not forget that many of our fellow Malaysians of other races were dwelling in kampungs or in longhouses not more than three, four decades ago. So they have to grasp the intricacies of living the urban lives. Time is not a strong factor in the kampong so this is translated in their urban lifestyle. Similarly, they do not have to plan very far ahead, so live a day at a time.
Plus the fact that many of them suffer from the lack of or the delivery of a proper education in the kampungs it is not surprising that they suffer in the urban area where education is crucial for sustenance.
Thus, what the government should do is to push these other communities of society to learn and follow what the Chinese have done, with some modifications.
Till recently there has been so much reliance on government to help, the Malay, Iban and Bidayuh societies. Subsidies and handouts were the order of the day. Their society did not have the self-help mechanism, perhaps because they have to start from ground zero.
Now, their communities with their graduates must then start-up funds to put into their own society and work on the restructuring of their social behavior.
Thus, the launch of the Yayasan John Jinep (John Jinep Foundation) with fanfare is an encouraging sign for the Bidayuh society. The stated objective is to provide education assistance for the Bidayuh. It is hoped that they will extend to vocational training especially in the agricultural areas where they are still living in large numbers.
The earlier established Tun Jugah Foundation however, seems to be more towards the preservation of the Iban culture.
In West Malaysia the more well-known Malay charity is the Albukhary Foundation. Its website boasts itself having assisted 1,022 poor Malaysians to go for the Haj, given 1,477 students in over 50 countries scholarships and setting up 200 tuition centres.
Like the Chinese community, these other races must start to share in and contribute to society. The haves must start raising the have-nots. The Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association must step up to the plate. Slowly, they will have to become role models for the younger generations to follow.
The Malaysian Chinese society has plenty of role models. The earlier generations had Wee Boon Ping and Wee Hood Teck in the business circles. The Marina Chins, Foo Kok Keongs, Poon Fook Lokes and the Soh Chin Auns in sports triggered the imagination of the 70s, 80s and 90s generation.
Being the confident society that they are, the Chinese are not cowered to take role models from other society as well. Tony Fernandez would be a role model for many aspiring Chinese business especially for his creativity. They are not afraid to learn.
The Malay, Iban and Bidayuh leaders also have to fire up the imagination of their respective communities to push their young ones along. Are we getting enough mileage from the successes of Pandalela for her race and her community? We do not hear her giving leadership or motivation talks in school or in the business circle. After the euphoria of her Olympics dive, and after feting her for her achievements, perhaps she should be recruited to stimulate her community.
Bumiputera leaders should also start a savings campaign to encourage savings for the rainy days and looking at life in the longer term, not just living for the day.
However, we are only at the beginnings of exciting times. The launching of the Yayasan John Jinep should only be scratching the surface. The Iban socialites and well-to-do should now be challenged to set up their own foundations as well as those Malay millionaires set up foundations to assist the Malays. This can only spurt local development in society.
Remember, it is more blessed to give than to receive!
Write Straight, Write Sharp!