Saadiah (back fourth right) and her family are seen during a visit to her husband’s family home.
MIRI: Interracial marriages are commonplace in Sarawak and have led to unique observations of various festivals.
Corriena Sarkawi, who has been married to Alvin Esqandar Chiam for 20 years, feels her marriage has helped her to better understand Chinese culture.
“I grew up having quite a number of Chinese friends and they are very understanding, particularly on food.
“Thus, there is no problem for me to get along with my husband’s family because my in-laws already had Muslim converts in their family,” she said.
Corriena shows her husband some of the decorations she has chosen for the festival.
During Chinese New Year’s Eve, she will definitely be at her parents-in-law’s house for the reunion dinner, which she feels is not just about the meal but the gathering of family members.
“I really enjoy that moment where we not only sit together but also do things together such as cleaning the house, preparing the food, as well as playing fireworks and crackers at midnight,” she related.
She believes that interracial marriages are good for Sarawak as they help to broaden minds and thus enrich communities.
“Sarawak is a beautiful state in the sense of that we have so many races and ethnic communities. Marrying different races or ethnic groups is another bonus, making you learn and accept your spouse and in-law family’s way of life, such as for the Chinese community like their beliefs, what are the do’s and don’ts during CNY, feng shui, and many others,” she said.
Saadiah and her husband decorate their stall at a Chinese New Year bazaar in Miri.
Mohd Azman Abdullah, a Muslim convert, is married to Saadiah Idris, a Malay-Dayak Balau from Kuching.
They have ensured that their six daughters and one son are taught Chinese culture, including speaking Mandarin and the Hakka dialect.
“As long as the practice does not contradict Islamic teachings, there is no problem for me and my family to adopt Chinese culture in our daily lives,” he said.
Saadiah also feels interracial marriages have indeed further enhanced racial and religious harmony in Sarawak.
“At home, my children mostly speak Mandarin and Hakka dialect with my husband. Being a non-Chinese speaking mother, I sometimes felt being pushed aside for being unable to be involved in their conversations.
“But now, thanks to them, I am able to understand and speak in Mandarin as well as Hakka, even if it is only for simple conversation,” she said.
Mimi and Mohamad Salleh show the biscuits she made for Chinese New Year.
For Mimi Matnor, making Chinese New Year cakes and cookies, decorating the house with beautiful Chinese New Year ornaments and plum flowers is a yearly tradition for her family.
“My own family is a ‘colourful’ one. My mother comes from a Chinese family. Therefore every year, it is her ritual of making cakes, biscuits, and giving the house an all CNY-ambience.
“When I married my Chinese husband, it naturally occurred to me that I would do the same thing as my mother. It is no different and I feel happy to be able to enjoy the festival with my family, my extended family, and also my friends,” Mimi said.
She often adds her own touch when making cookies, which her friends and family love very much.
“My children enjoy CNY as much as the Hari Raya Aidilfitri. They would ask when CNY is here because they can’t wait to invite their classmates to visit our home.
“Prior to the festival, they would even give ideas on how to decorate the house, which the redder, the merrier,” said the mother of two with a smile.
For Mimi, the reunion dinner means feasting on the best Chinese and Malay dishes.
“I often invite my parents, and also friends who are interested to join us to feast with us, the joy of sharing the good taste, and chatting away for hours. I really feel that the reunion dinner holds a very strong family value that brings all the members, either immediate or extended family, together. My friends love to join us too,” she said.
Mimi said all her siblings are in mixed marriages as well.
“One of my sisters married a Korean and is now residing in Miri. Another sister married a Bidayuh and my late elder brother married a Kayan. So, not only do we celebrate Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri, we celebrate Gawai too,” she said.
She pointed out that interracial marriages are not an issue in her village, Kampung Pejuang Kelulit in Bekenu.
“It is a normal thing that happens because people of different races and religious backgrounds just happen to fall in love and get married.
“Some even married orang putih (Caucasians) and they are still residing in the village. The issue of racism doesn’t even exist in our place,” she said.
Her husband Mohamad Salleh Tang said his Chinese family was happy when he married his wife 18 years ago.
“My family is very accepting and open-minded. They like her very much. When they come visit us from Kuala Lumpur, they easily get along with each other. The respect and mutual understanding are very important between humans, regardless who they are, it creates peace and harmony.
“This is also a beautiful legacy that my children will live and pass down to the next generation,” he said.