A few weeks ago, I received a call from a man whom I did not know. However, he did know me. Or so he claimed.
He had seen an article online somewhere about gambling machines being misused in golf clubs and assumed I wrote it.
I was quick to correct him that it wasn't me who wrote that article. He apologised but did say he followed my writings.
Then he went on to introduce himself. Apparently, he was an independent candidate during the last general election but lost.
He said that he enjoyed reading my columns and agreed with a lot of what I have to say. I felt honoured. Then he suggested that I enter politics! Ugh!
Then came the utimate statement that always annoys me to almost the point of wanting to commit murder.
"It's really refreshing to hear a Malay say the things that you say," he said.
"Who ever told you I was Malay?" I asked him.
"Well, from your name, of course."
My mother's name is Sophia. Does that make her Italian? My daughter's name is Athena. Does that make her Greek?
Why do people in Malaysia always break everything down to race and ethnicity?
Would it matter if I were Malay, Chinese, Indian, Masai, Pashtun, Turk, Uzbek or whatever for my thoughts to be 'refreshing'?
So I asked him why did he contest in the recent general election as an independent?
"Oh, I'm sick and tired of the same old politics that have been going on in Malaysia. I want to change things. And I'm sure you support this change as well. From your work, I'm sure you would also support a Prime Minister who isn't Malay."
And there he goes again with the race factor. So I began my barrage against his idea of wanting to change the old politics with his brand of 'new politics'.
He can claim all he wants about how he wants to change the system but it means nothing if his mentality is still about breaking things down to racial profiling.
It makes no difference if a person is Malay, Jakun, Murut or Penan, as long as that person is Malaysian, he can have the opportunity of becoming the country's Prime Minister.
I do not subscribe to the belief that race comes first when it comes to being Malaysian. I believe that all Malaysians are equal no matter what their race is.
If someone is chosen to be the Prime Minister, or any other state authoritative figure, he is representative of all Malaysians.
What crap is it when we pit a Malay against a Chinese and an Indian to ensure a particular race's interest are protected!
We pit one candidate against another to see how best he or she can protect the interest of every single one of us, as Malaysians.
"But that's what I believe in too!" said he.
No! If you can say that it's "refreshing to hear a Malay say what you say", then you can easily say that Chinese are selfish money hounds, Indians are smelly drunks and Malays are lazy bums.
Enough with the race thing. Can we actually see things without having to filter everything through racist eyes?
Do notice that I haven't named this individual who called me up. It's not because I want to protect his identity.
The actual reason is that I've forgotten his name. But trust me, it sounded really Malaysian.
Zan Azlee
Wed Jul 03 2013
![Whats in a name? Racial profiling! Whats in a name? Racial profiling!](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-07/81372867490_295x200.jpg)
-Filepic
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).