New Mandala readers may enjoy these social commentaries on the peculiarities of Malaysia — especially relating to race and religious relations — which use short films as a medium. You will get more out of them if you understand Bahasa Malaysia or some of the Chinese dialects — Cantonese, Hokkien, etc., or Tamil. Enjoy.
Malaysia in short films
November 25th, 2009 by Greg Lopez · 2 Comments
Tags: Malaysia
2 responses so far ↓
1 Susie Wong // Nov 25, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Thanks for the chocolate!
When I watched the film I couldn’t help making a comparison between Singapore and Malaysia. It seems to me countries that pursue diversity policy and economic growth produce peaceful harmonious society as well as high purchasing power among their citizens. It simply creates a prosperous country where everyone can buy chocolate without expecting panhandling or making race and religious out of a chocolate.
By the way, it’s in Mandarin Chinese.
2 Gregore Lopez // Nov 25, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Hi Susie,
Your interpretation of Yasmin Ahmad’s is interesting. In my mind, the young Chinese boy, refused to sell/give the chocolate to the Malay girl – although he likes her – because of the hounding of his mother – who reminded him that he was not welcomed in this (Malaysia) country. So, I’m not sure how you came to the above conclusion.
In reality “Peace” is only on the surface – with a citizenry that is outright fearful of its government (as in the case of Singapore) and a citizenry that is blatantly brutalised by the government for speaking up (as in the case of Malaysia).
However, your view is representative of many Malaysians & Singaporeans who have come to accept injustice as fait accompli to “prosperity”, “peace” & “stability”, of many foreigners who are taken by Malaysia & Singapore’s sophisticated advertising campaigns and the illegal immigrants who finds Malaysia a paradise compared to the brutality he/she has to suffer in his/her home country (I’m referring to refugees from Burma, or the abject poor from Malaysia & Singapore’s neighbours.)
I’d humbly recommend that you watch all 15 videos and also have chats with Malaysians of different race and background to get a better understanding of Malaysia.
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