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United in xenophobia against migrants – Omar Kutty

February 18, 2016

Lately, the term "national unity" in a Malaysian context has become a paradox. Why?

Because Malaysians from different ethnicity, religion and background unite without any sense of xenophobia against one another, and collectively voice out their xenophobic comments against Bangladeshis.

You may disagree with the sudden influx of foreign workers as we already have documented and undocumented migrants by the millions in Malaysia, but to make sweeping statements against migrant workers alleging that their entry into Malaysia would cause social problems, is unacceptable.

Labelling them as a race of rapists or criminals is beyond unacceptable.

Malaysia, what is happening?

You sound just like Donald Trump who has labelled all Mexicans rapist. Is that acceptable?

Imagine if it happens to you. Imagine if New Zealand suddenly objects job-seeking Malaysians from coming into New Zealand by stereotyping the whole "Malaysian race" as a ganja-smoking population who believe in black magic and leave faeces on the patio belonging to a person you wish to court.

Is that reasonably acceptable?

Malaysians, before you condemn Bangladesh with your racially degrading sentiments, do note that Bangladesh has a Nobel Peace Prize winner by the name of Muhammad Yunus. Rabindranath Tagore and Amartya Kumar Sen, both Bengali by ethnicity, won the Nobel Prize in Literature and Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences respectively.

I personally had the opportunity to encounter situations involving Bangladeshis.

First was during a robbery. Nope, not a Malaysian who was robbed, but a Bangladeshi who has just received his salary, was robbed by a couple of Malaysians while he was cycling. He had no money to send back to his family in Bangladesh, he sobbed his way home.

Another encounter was with a Bangladeshi receptionist in a hotel. I had a conversation with him, what I noticed was that he speaks really good English. I proceeded to ask him about his educational background, which to my surprise, he has a Bachelor’s degree from Bangladesh and a Masters from Thailand in Buddhist Philosophy.

I enquired why he would work in Malaysia with a minimum pay as a hotel receptionist instead of working as an academic in Bangladesh, to which he replied, "The pay as a hotel receptionist in Malaysia is still better than a job in Bangladesh".

You see, money is the incentive. Nobody in their right mind would travel all the way to another country leaving behind their family, for the sole purpose to commit a crime.

Malaysians, there are rotten apples everywhere, among Bangladeshis and Malaysians alike. But it is unacceptable to make a blanket xenophobic statement towards another ethnicity.

If we disagree with the influx of migrants, let’s discuss about it with facts and relevant issues. This is an issue-oriented discussion whether to agree or disagree with the influx, it was never a racial one.

Whether or not you agree with the sudden influx of Bangladeshi workers, bear in mind that they came all the way here for a better life, working with minimal pay. The least you could do is to treat them with dignity, they are no lesser of a human than you.

We often frown upon our politicians who make racist stereotypes and remarks just to further their political agenda.

Let’s not lower ourselves to their level. It’s not worthy of you, Malaysia, you are more than that. – February 18, 2016.

* Omar Kutty reads The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.