Internalising the eternal

This exam period has been an eye opener for me. Conversations with a Malay member of the History Honours cohort and reading Alfian Saat’s wonderfully poetic The Racist Apology, has made me realised so much on how I deeply I feel on the injustices levelled towards the Malay community. Firstly, without truly taking into cognizance an unequal historical legacy, and secondly through its perpetuation by those in power. All this, all of the abject essentialising of race is further exacerbated by a hoodwinked Malay media: Suria and Berita Harian. So many voices that could be heard, but not looked at, instead you demean a family who had just lost a loved one and contentiously critique the wiles of motorcycle riding. Are you bloody stupid or just plain ignorant? What if it had been your parents in the accident or someone dear to you? Would your words have come as loosely? You use the power vested in you to rebuke all the responses to your innately dumb article and then not give them the space to reply in return. Your role is to give a voice to the community, to right imbalances, and not put every little achievement on a pedestal and at the same time reproduce problems after problems about the Malay community. We are already battered by centuries of orientalist denigration, we do not need you: Mr Minister of Muslim Affairs, Berita Harian or Suria to add to that.

In the end as I told my Honours mate, ultimately it should be our bounded duty to return back as academia, apply all that we have learned and continually battle the injustices, right the wrongs, for if not us who else is there? The Malay scholar bonded to the government, slinking in his stacks of books to get that huge future paycheck? The passive undergraduate who chases for that 1^st class and do not involve themselves in efforts towards the community? There is power in words, in academia, but even then there’s no one concerted effort towards a positive direction. Words have to come together with action, for if not how can we affect change to those who matter? The less than average student, the poor mother with 7 children or the school dropout.

Sitting aside brilliant minds, hearing refreshing opinions, learning of powerful discourses and ultimately having like minded individuals around makes for a surreal experience. This act, to those in the position to embrace, must see it as one that shouldn’t be just a consideration, but as a duty. Cleavages, ignorance and passivity within the community wouldn’t help, and would just hinder attempts at problematising myths. Without a concerted direction, this community would always be seen as the laggard, the perennial underachiever. I write thus with poignance at the sense of injustice, at reckless displays of authority which could be countered through the existence of alternatives, in giving voices to the silences of history. Ultimately, I feel for this community and my affiliation to it is a welcomed obligation. In the end that is all that matters.

P.S: Read Alfian Saat’s Racist Apology if youre able. Google it. Its as eloquent as it is critical.

Selamat Hari Raya

To one and all, Syawal is ending. Therefore, Selamat Hari Raya to those who I have not wished it too.

Photos of Raya will be uploaded after exams, or if God-willing, as soon as I’m able.

Something has changed, I’ve never worked this hard before for a semester.

Apologies for the inactivity of this blog. Something has changed, I’ve never worked this hard before for a semester. Salams.