3rd Note

By Marcella Gider

Race and its meaning can be defined and interpreted in many ways than one. An online dictionary defines race as a local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics or in plain English, describes as a group of people who have the same culture, history, language, etc.

But just like any other events that have been happening in our country lately, I suspect the word race has sneakily gone under the knife and had its meaning altered to a level that has caused much confusion and headache.

Say hello to the all new race!

In the wake of the recent controversies that saw the predicament of 18-year old Marina Undau as well as the inaugural Miss Dayak Sarawak pageant 2009 (now renamed Miss Borneo Beautiful 2009), I am inclined to offer my unsolicited opinions on this matter.

Let’s start with the ‘not so privileged’ girl. To say that I was seething with rage upon reading the news is an understatement. If 9As and 1B cannot guarantee you a place in our local university, then I seriously don’t know what will. Maybe being bright alone just does not cut it. Suddenly, being born to an Iban father and a Chinese mother seems so wrong, almost as if Marina’s parents are at fault. Are we now treating those of mixed parentage as second class citizens? Last I checked, race clearly does not and never will determine your education level, regardless of the colour of your skin.

Sources from the Internet claim that definitions of Bumiputera vary depending on its usage. By now we should all know how the Bumiputera of our State are defined by the Malaysian Higher Education Ministry – if both parents are indigenous natives of Sarawak, thus the child is considered as Bumiputera. It’s a totally different ball game for those in the Peninsular and Sabah where the definitions are different as night and day.

Can you concur with me that by having three contrasting and inconsistent interpretations of Bumiputera for the three regions, it defeats the purpose of the 1Malaysia concept? Double standard doesn’t have a place in the concept now, does it? And people wonder why 1Malaysia is not my cup of tea.

At the risk of inciting hatred against me, sometimes I wish the term Bumiputera does not exist. Yes, there are many privileges but many a time, the term is used for exploitation in the broadest sense. With the exception of Marina and many others who are facing the same difficulties, admittedly, you can get away with anything simply for being a Bumiputera. As a result, we become, due to lack of a better word, complacent. If it’s any consolation to Marina, her voice had helped to bring to light the real dilemma and consequently, stern actions are being taken to rectify this problem.

If I may digress for a while, let us zoom in on the issue of the Miss Dayak Sarawak beauty pageant. Have we turned into an overly sensitive society that we take offence in every single race related subject? This whole unwanted controversy is tantamount to being highly allergic to say, nuts or dust. It seems to agitate those infected to the core! Does it make the Dayak community any lower by introducing themselves as Dayak?

The phrase “birds of a feather flock together” in a negative connotation might be the reason why some parties are mad enough to chew nails! With all due respect to those who are “just looking after the interest of young Dayak ladies”, it is my sincere hope that we do not perceive others as having bad intention to tarnish the good name of our Dayak community.

A beauty pageant is what it is – to bring out the best in women by providing the platform for them to showcase their intelligence and skills, broaden their networking opportunities and build up terrific self confidence in one self.

Imagine our world without discrimination – if only we look at race as a tool solely to remind us of our roots, not a prerequisite to gain scholarship, not a cover-up to climb up the corporate ladder, not a pretext to start a business or buying a new house. Race shouldn’t be used as an excuse to segregate and deny people from their opportunities. Go ahead! Be unabashedly Dayak, or Melanau, or Chinese, or Malay, or Indian, for that matter. You have every reason to celebrate the race that personifies you.

Marcella Gider is an Assistant Manager, Conference Division of Sarawak Development Institute (SDI). 3^rd Voice is published fortnightly and was initiated by AZAM and SDI. Feedback can be sent to deborah@azam.org.my