Moving to nip racism in the bud

Moving to nip racism in the bud

Seah Chiang Nee, The Star, Asia News Network/Selangor, Malaysia

A Chinese woman was serving food to an Indonesian maid at a
hospital canteen when, midway, she laid the plate aside to serve
a well-dressed gentleman.

She then turned back to continue filling the maid's order. It
happened quickly, as though it was a normal thing to do. When I
complained to her that it was not the right thing to discriminate
against a maid, she apologized profusely -- to me.

Years ago, a Philippine lady executive told me how she would
be given the cold shoulder whenever she wore informal clothes.
"To Singaporeans, every Filipina is a maid who has to enter
through the back door," she said.

Among even educated Singaporeans who use public transport,
complaints like "dirty, smelly" Bangladeshis are frequently
heard.

After years of education, one would imagine that racism has
become a thing of the past, at least among the educated class.
Guess again!

Even among the elites, racism sometimes raises its ugly head.
Years ago, when Choo Wee Khiang was People's Action Party Member
of Parliament, he made disparaging remarks about Indians and
"Little India".

He told Parliament: "One evening, I drove to Little India and
it was pitch dark but not because there was no light, but because
there were too many Indians around."

Few Singaporeans, including Indians, dared to criticize a PAP
MP, considered a "powerful man" not to be trifled with. He later
apologized.

At the back of some minds lurks an arrogance of race
superiority or looking down on the inferior. Some talk about it;
others act on their bias.

Chua Cheng Zhan, 21, was a Singaporean government scholar who
was groomed for high government service.

The mathematics student at Northwestern University, USA, wrote
in his online diary: "Somehow, the Singaporean Association here
in my school has become an Indian association. So gross, some
more non-Singaporean.

"Ya. I discovered I'm so racist. At the club (under lighting
in which everyone is supposed to look good), I still find Indians
and Filipinos (dark ones) so repulsive and such a turn-off."

Chua was admonished by the government department which granted
him the scholarship.

Some see it as racism; others call it class distinction in
which the better-off look down on the poor and under-achievers.
Many of these examples reflect racial bias and/or class
distinction among Singaporeans who look down on people less
successful than them.

It also explains why so many Singaporeans, of all races,
mistreat or abuse their maids as well as laborers.

The last time Singapore had a racial riot was in 1964, but
since then things have been tranquil. A whole new generation has
passed out from schools and universities, more argumentative and
articulate.

The various races had been brought up with increasing
familiarity with each other that it often clouds racial
sensitivity. The city has become more sophisticated,
cosmopolitan; the warnings of a race blow-up are forgotten or
ignored. Racism has also widened to include foreign residents.

Singaporeans have made insulting remarks about "ugly, rude"
Chinese mainlanders here. And some Western restaurants are
sometimes accused of discriminating against locals in favor of
Caucasian diners.

But it is still the Malay-Chinese issues that pose the biggest
threat. The potential dangers become stark under the threat of
Jamaah Islamiyah bombings, which could result, it is feared, in a
backlash against innocent Muslims.

The government has put in place plans involving religious and
community leaders of all races that will mitigate race violence
if the bombs do go off. Since independence, one of Singapore's
priorities has been to build cohesion among its races. It's one
of the few countries in the world that observes a Racial Harmony
Day every year.

The city's schools and housing estates enforce ethnic quotas
based on the race populations to prevent racial enclaves. The
system ensures the majority Chinese live with a certain ratio of
Malays and Indians and vice-versa. As a result, children grow up
with at least some racial mixing both at school and their
residential blocks.

For many years, community leaders had been organizing cross-
visits to celebrate each other's New Year festivals. The result
has not eradicated idiotic race remarks by young people who
believe that the Internet and free expressions give them the
license to say what they want.

Hate messages have become a norm on the Net. It has reached a
proportion that is forcing the government to plan strengthening
the Sedition Act because the penalties don't match up to the
crime. After 40 years, it raises a question mark on Singaporeans'
maturity.

The writer is a veteran journalist and editor of the
information website littlespeck.com.