KUALA LUMPUR – DAP regrets that former Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has used the analogy of the Chinese community using chopsticks to highlight the challenges in assimilating the non-Malay population in the country.
The Secretary-General of DAP, Lim Guan Eng, who slammed the former Prime Minister’s statement said that the non-Malays should be integrated and not assimilated while claiming that the comment has offended the Chinese.
According to him, the residents in China or Taiwan are not the only people who use chopsticks but the cutlery is also used in Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.
“As Tun is a proponent of the Look East policy that encompasses these countries, Tun has never brought up eating by using chopsticks as an issue.
“Does that mean a Malay using chopsticks or fork and spoon to eat loses his Malayness? In fact, many non-Chinese Malaysians and Westerners are proud of their ability to use both chopsticks as well as fork and spoon without any loss of their national identity,” he said.
He added, eating with chopsticks does not make anyone less a Malaysian.
Furthermore, Malaysians Chinese born in this country are proud of our loyalty to Malaysia and have no wish to return to a China growing with wealth and prosperity, even if we are given an opportunity to do so.
“The Chinese community in Malaysia have always identified itself with Malaysia and never with China. Even the 2 million Malaysians who migrate, just like other Malays and Indians, choose Western countries because of better pay prospects and equal opportunities,” he said.
Cynically, he also questioned Mahathir for not identifying the Chinese community here with the Western countries.
Besides that, 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.
He also criticised the politicians for refusing to accept what they are and are more interested in who they are and where they come from.
“The Chinese community see themselves 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,” said Guan Eng. -MalaysiaGazette
