Someone I knew made an observation:
Some group of people live a land where food is so easy to find. You can catch a fish, grab one coconut, harvest one banana and lay down on the sandy beaches, all within the yard of your house, for 1000+ years.
Then a group of people came to the land, from a place full of war and conflict, and decided to do everything to enrich themselves without considerations of the 'original' natives, and become super rich. So the natives look at the newer immigrants, looking at their shiny cars and clothes, and decide, we want to maintain our easy-going lifestyle while getting these things, they're so lovely.
What happens is, these people grabbed political power and decided to entrench their so-called 'laziness' to other people of their own kind. Now, after 30 years, those people still hadn't got what they wanted, while the newer immigrants felt they are giving the fruits of their labour to the 'lazy bums'. The conflicts still continue.
This is a tale that my mother told me when she recounted the reasons why she has to flee to Singapore, as her race is prosecuted in Malaysia for their economic achievements. Then I realised the value - and limitations - of 'affirmative action' in Malaysia.
It is not the fault of the newer immigrants, rather, it is just a difference of life that needs to be effectively communicated and understood, as one whole nation. Leaders have to summon enough political courage, to effective communicate to their people, everyone have to recognise their own potentials - and limitations - in the face of past events.
Some group of people live a land where food is so easy to find. You can catch a fish, grab one coconut, harvest one banana and lay down on the sandy beaches, all within the yard of your house, for 1000+ years.
Then a group of people came to the land, from a place full of war and conflict, and decided to do everything to enrich themselves without considerations of the 'original' natives, and become super rich. So the natives look at the newer immigrants, looking at their shiny cars and clothes, and decide, we want to maintain our easy-going lifestyle while getting these things, they're so lovely.
What happens is, these people grabbed political power and decided to entrench their so-called 'laziness' to other people of their own kind. Now, after 30 years, those people still hadn't got what they wanted, while the newer immigrants felt they are giving the fruits of their labour to the 'lazy bums'. The conflicts still continue.
This is a tale that my mother told me when she recounted the reasons why she has to flee to Singapore, as her race is prosecuted in Malaysia for their economic achievements. Then I realised the value - and limitations - of 'affirmative action' in Malaysia.
It is not the fault of the newer immigrants, rather, it is just a difference of life that needs to be effectively communicated and understood, as one whole nation. Leaders have to summon enough political courage, to effective communicate to their people, everyone have to recognise their own potentials - and limitations - in the face of past events.
