From ‘Disgust over Eve and Ivy cyber rants’, 10 Oct 2012, article by Ian Poh, ST
INTERNET users are calling for action to be taken against two other people who posted controversial comments on Facebook. They said the posts’ authors should be dealt with in a similar way to Ms Amy Cheong, the woman fired on Monday for making racially offensive remarks about the Malay community.
One of the two Facebook users, who called herself Eve Tan, also posted derogatory comments about Malays, branding them “low educated” and “lazy”. They were apparently made last month in response to a question on the Health Promotion Board’s profile page. When others challenged her, she replied: “Get real, just see the truth.”
Another Facebook user calling herself Ivy Lim has also come under scrutiny for comments posted on the site. She had written: “Looks like all th(e) Malays can’t get over it. Poor thing!”
…Mr Nazry shared a screenshot of Ms Tan’s controversial comment and captioned it: “A fine example of complete ignorance portrayed by our very own Singaporeans.
“It truly, truly disappoints me that some of us are no longer sensitive and tolerant to the feelings of other races. Whatever happened to racial harmony/tolerance?”
Close call for those who ‘Liked’ this
Hence ‘$50 void deck weddings’
I do agree that this is a ‘fine example of complete ignorance’, because you’d have to be a complete moron to post such things on Facebook in light of how ‘netizens’ react to touchy race issues these days. In a separate post, Eve Tan gave some dubious statistics about how Malays make up the majority of prisoners and underaged smokers. Facebookers like her aren’t the only Singaporeans caught expressing the ‘hard truth’ about local Malays. There’s another more important and renown personality who knows a thing or two about the Malay psyche, and if he had a Facebook account, I wonder if he would be publicly slammed in the media or summoned by the police for ‘investigations’ as well.
Last year, LKY’s Hard Truths was branded as ‘haram‘, or forbidden to Muslims, by the Malaysian government (You may still get a copy from the nearest bookstore). According to Wikileaks, he called Islam a ‘venomous’ religion. He also urged Muslims should let go of some strict religious observances and be more sociable when eating with others, a statement regretted by both his own son and Minister Yaacob who had to apologise on his behalf. The AMP (Association of Muslim Professionals) criticised him for implying that Malays are lagging behind in terms of educational levels compared to Chinese and Indians. But like Amy Cheong’s comment on Muslim marriages, perhaps we should step back and reflect before grabbing the flaming pitchfork and raze Eve and Ivy’s houses to the ground.
In 2009, a 10 year report on PSLE maths reported a plunge in performance for Malays in that subject from 1999 to 2008, along with poorer results overall compared to Chinese and Indians. Teachers cited the reason for poor math as Malay students seemingly resigning to this as a ‘personal flaw’ by nature, as well as their not being able to afford tuition like the other races. Even with free tuition sponsored by Mendaki, there were ‘indifferent’ parents who did not bother sending their kids for classes. PSLE may not the most reliable marker for the success of an ethnic group, but this does highlight the complex interplay between educational level, family income, a system that has become heavily dependent on tuition and a perceived less-than-enthusiastic attitude towards academic performance.
It’s not so easy to back up ‘facts’ about Malays committing crimes though. The Singapore Prison Service Annual Statistics offers no data on ethnic proportion in jails in 2012, although in 2004, the Chinese still made up the majority of inmates (> 40%) with Malays in second place. What has been reported, though, is that the number of Malay drug abusers arrested has increased by 6.8% compared to drops among Chinese and Indian addicts in the first half of this year (vs the first half of 2011). In 2010, stats were released to Khaw Boon Wan showing that the number of Malay smokers aged 30-39 was DOUBLE that of Chinese or Indians. You can also find data to justify your claim that ‘Malays are too fat’ or have more births out of a wedlock, but I wouldn’t expect to get reliable information on teenage pregnancies, violent crime or PSLE/O Level failures, and perhaps for good reason.
All this talk about ‘lazy Malays’ reinforces the ‘Relac one corner’ stereotype and racist jokes about chauffeurs named Ahmad, and it is one that is entrenched deep in Singapore-Malayan history. In the 20′s you could write freely about how the Malays are ‘cursed with the lazy spirit’ and have a ‘marvellous ingenuity of avoiding work’. Malays continued to defend themselves against the ‘cruel epithet’ that is ‘The Lazy Malays’ into the 50′s. They were described as a ‘leisure-loving, lazy people contented with what little success they have’, formed the bulk of ‘grass cutters, drivers, PEONS and clerks’ and were struggling in school because of laziness and ‘lack of willpower’. It even appeared in school humanities textbooks in 1956, where Malays were described as ‘lazy and indolent’. Malayan historian Sir Richard Winstedt was accused of writing an entry in the Encyclopedia Brittanica that they were ‘lazy, dishonest and immoral’. It was later attributed to an anonymous correspondent and another white fellow called Sir Hugh Clifford (of whom Clifford Pier was named after). Half a century later and despite societal advancements, this mindset about certain races or classes remains as narrow as before.
In 2004, a motivational guru from Malaysia delivered a reality check on the state of the Malays, which he believed was ‘rotting’:
The Malays are hardworking, but not as consistently hardworking like other races. They are only hardworking in things they are passionate about. The successful races are hardworking in whatever they do.
Malay-bashing isn’t just limited to Singaporeans. A Malaysian-Hainanese rapper named Wee Meng Chee, or Namewee, ranted against the Cantonese, Singaporeans and ‘Bumi’ Malays in a song called ‘Kawanku’ in 2007, where Malays ‘ tak suka kerja’ (don’t like to work), ‘tiap hari tidur’ (sleep everyday) and would regret if there were no Chinese in Malaysia because of one less holiday (CNY). Namewee is considered a seditious troubemaker to the Malaysian authorities, and if anyone came up with something similar in Singapore, they would spend a few weeks hanging out in a cell with people who have sex with underaged prostitutes, while their racist rap goes viral on Youtube.
Well, we are all hardworking in things we love doing. Perhaps the Malays love doing some stuff more than others, and even if they’re lagging behind in terms of what we traditionally view as academic success or an illustrious career, look no further than our fertility rate by ethnicity to see what the Chinese and Indians are lagging behind the Malays in. What really matters now, an issue of national EMERGENCY, is being hardworking in an activity that is the complete opposite of ‘work’ altogether.
I haven’t watched Avenue Q at MBS, but I wonder if this song is still on the playlist after recent events.
Filed under: 1920s, 1950s, 2011, 2012, Racism, Religion Tagged: | discrimination, education, Lee Kuan Yew, LKY, MM Lee, muslim, muslims, Politicians, Racism, stereotyping
I believe Eve Tan’s comment was posted in September but only surfaced after the Amy Cheong thing.
Thanks for pointing that out. As disturbing as it is that people post such things without thinking, what’s more terrifying is those who screenshot an off-the-cuff comment, save it in their computers, and wait to publicise it only after someone important takes the fall.
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Comment “Poor thing” needs context before shooting off.
As it can also mean sympathy such as the phrase, Somebody commented that Mrs Watkins was a poor thing (her husband had passed away).
The FB above does not give any context.
You’ve got a point. Maybe Ivy Lim was referring to Amy Cheong. And ‘poor thing’ has no relation whatsover to ‘all the Malays’ getting upset over her comments even if the words were in the same line.
I go to the Ramadan fair at Geylang every year to sample new snacks and dishes. And there is always something new, or some new twist added to old favourites. Malays are creative with food.
Am also impressed with how they adapt modern western clothing to their own dress code.
One needs to relac and daydream to be creative. You cannot be tied down by rules, and others’ expectations and presumptions. Beating away at something is not necessarily the best way to go about coming up with something new. .
Other races can learn something from this. We should certainly tap on others’ strengths, rather than berate them for what we perceive to be weaknesses..
We can also learn that work and A’s are not the be all and end all of life. There is far more to it. Success comes in many forms. Too many don’t see this. Too many equate it with just money.
One glaring fact emerges from all these discussions — we know very little about each others’ races.
We are also not culturally tolerant. We may be multi-racial in fact, but certainly not in spirit. There is a fondness too these days for trying to move up by putting others down.
This is as good a time as any to really look at our values and what is truly important in life.
Yes, that song is still on. And it is spot on. Of course we are all a little bit racist deep inside. But we must be matured enough to know when the sensitive line will be crossed, and be responsible enough to not shoot our mouths off in public.
Yes..’we know very little about each others race’…& with the little knowledge we have we have ‘decided’ to criticize & stereotype..cos we are ‘ignorant’…calling Malay as ‘lazy’ = they might just be ‘contented’ with the ‘minimal’..living in moderation….therefore making them the lowest community in statistic to commit suicide….there are 2 Secretaries in my office (lets not mentioned the race)..1 still single at around 50 years old…she told me..”could not find a partner that has all the 4 Cs’ (condo, credit, cars, cash)..the other is lucky…she is married with a man with all the 4 Cs’ but home only once a year..she told me..”the longer he stay away is better..I only love his money”..I am not finished with examples…at my daughter’s tuition center ..I overheard a conversation (lets not mentioned the race) between mum and son..”you must study hard…so can be rich and have lots of money”…another my son’s friend (lets not mentioned the race)..always spend time at my house..sometimes having dinner with us..so I was worried that his parents might be concerned too..but he said..”don’t worry aunty..they are too busy making more money..always home after 9pm..they never noticed when I am not at home..” my response to him is “Well I am “lazy” ..I like to be home before my husband and cook him a feast..be home early like today to enjoy with you boys playing the game board..and yes I am ‘low-educated’ & maybe (Eve could also add this ‘poor’)….but with the very minimal ‘money’.. we have..we managed to help 35 orphanage monthly with their daily food supply..yes …I have 35 orphanage !!! and yes I am a Malay..my son’s best friend is a Chinese..has his dinner at my house almost everyday & I love him like a son too..regardless of his race..worried that he has no ‘parents’ to nurture him properly..
the song is at least a little bit introspective. amy cheong was anything but introspective in her comments!
I personally think that us Malays need to turn the other cheek. It’s only uneducated banter..
I think the Malay community should unite in light of all this and prove others wrong. Why live up to the stereotype of Malays being “lazy” and “uneducated”? Work harder, study harder, play harder.
What’s the use of getting all enraged about it? Take is as constructive feedback, reflect and move on.
Albeit saying that, perhaps this started from colonial rule when the British encouraged the Chinese to prosper as traders whereas they made the Malays continue to become peasants and fishermen. Vicious cycle.
All these hoo ha drives everyone nuts! Get real! Singaporeans complain about anything! Malays, Chinese Migrants, Mainland Girls cheats, Conned Singapore men etc etc.
Look at home, and check the latest news, Singapore girls does oral sex, corruptions, cheats and lies.
Singapore girls be it locals are just no better, Sex in public, housing board walkway etc
I know of a lady that conned people and she works in the family chain of optical shops in Singapore with loads of money! So Singaporean Chinese girls are basically liars and cheats too!
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when u judge sucess materially you lose the capability to be humane as you see things in a profit motive. u bring up your kids and drive them to be rich but not caring, you teach your children to be calculative but not considerate, you claim superiority but infact you are inferior as there is an old saying in India that only a fool claims to be smart
If malays are lazy and low educated if compared to the chinese then let’s compare chinese to europeans in europe, they are more successful more powerful richer and smarter if compared to the chinese why is that? is it because they have better IQ then the chinese? well the answer is yes!. face it chinese singaporeans your ancestors are from china the country where the people are paid to work with a cheap salary and make to work like slaves result? poor quality products nothing that comes from china is good quality.
Yet somehow China has the 2nd largest economy in the world despite “poor quality products” and a “lower IQ” than europeans. Perhaps there is a reason why all the clever Malays leave Malaysia and never look back is because of the poor work ethic and lack of social morals?