Malaysia, a country with nearly 7 million Chinese residents, of which Chinese once made up half of the total population, still accounts for one-fifth of the total population. The Chinese are a country that has achieved a leading position in the business world with their hard work and wisdom. But after independence in 1957, the political scene remained in the hands of the Malays.
Malaysia, a country in Southeast Asia, has historically been the new home of many Chinese merchants and laborers who went south. Merchants from Fujian and Guangdong have been active in this land since the Tang Dynasty, and by the Ming and Qing dynasties, a large number of Chinese remained here for various reasons. These ancestors created a world in a foreign country with their hands, and the formation of the Chinese community in Malaysia began with these stories.
The development of Chinese in Malaysia can be said to be an inspirational history. Despite all the difficulties, they relied on hard work and wisdom to rise quickly economically. By the 70s of the 20th century, the average income of local Chinese families was more than twice that of Malay families. Such economic disparities have made the success of the Chinese in the business field particularly prominent, but it has also quietly planted the spark of racial contradictions.
After independence, political power was mainly in the hands of the Malays. The Malays pursue a policy of ethnic protection called "Malay supremacy", which largely restricts the political and economic rights of non-Malay groups, especially the Chinese. Under the policy, although the Chinese had an economic advantage, their political influence was greatly limited.
Against this backdrop, discontent in the Chinese community has gradually accumulated. Attempts to fight for more political rights have been thwarted by external and internal challenges. In 1965, Singapore was forced to separate from the Federation of Malaysia and become an independent state due to serious differences with the Federal Government of Malaya over racial and economic policies. Singapore's separation is not only a geographical separation, but also a profound manifestation of racial and political differences.
At that time, the Chinese community in Malaysia once again felt deep helplessness and frustration. They have lived in this land for hundreds of years and contributed countless sweat and wisdom, but it has always been difficult to gain their rightful place in the political arena. Now, when 98-year-old former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad attacked the Chinese again, it all seemed to be back to square one.
Mahathir, this name is well-known and well-known in Malaysian politics. During his tenure, he implemented a number of controversial policies, especially those that had a profound impact on the Chinese community. Despite this, when the years passed and he was nearly 100 years old, he still did not give up his provocation against the Chinese. This makes one wonder what made this old politician always pay such a high attention to the Chinese, is it just because of differences in political positions or differences in racial attitudes?
Here, we have to mention a key word - "Game of Thrones". In Malaysia, politics is inextricably linked to race, and the struggle for power often revolves around racial policy. Although the Chinese have achieved remarkable economic achievements, they have never been the protagonists in the political arena. This inequality not only limits the political development of the Chinese people, but also invisibly exacerbates the tensions between the races.
Looking back at history, from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, there was an influx of Chinese to Malaysia, many of whom fled war and poverty. They have planted the seeds of hope in the hot land of Malaysia and cultivated the fruits of prosperity. These achievements have not translated into political discourse. Even with their enormous economic influence, their political position remains shaky.
Under the suppression of racial policies, the discontent of the Chinese community has subtly heated up. In 1998, Malaysia's financial crisis broke out, and the economic situation deteriorated for a time, which made the racial contradictions in Malaysia even more acute. The economic dominance of the Chinese community is perceived by some extremist forces as an invasion of "outsiders", and this labelling mentality deepens the racial divide.
Even under all kinds of pressure, the Chinese Malaysians did not give up their efforts to fight for their rights. They continue to improve their social status through education, cultural exchanges, etc. In the Internet era, Chinese young people are using various platforms to speak out, hoping to improve racial relations in a more peaceful way and seek true equality.