Of late, I have been watching many documentaries. Two BBC documentaries stand out from the crowd. These two in particular addressed the question of national unity in a multicultural society.
France.
The first was, A Nation Divided? The Charlie Hebdo Aftermath. It portrayed a female Muslim British journalist interviewing people from both the right wing nationalists and the French Muslims from immigrant families post-Charlie Hebdo. Through the documentary, one thing was clear - unity in France meant assimilation. You are not truly French, unless you put your loyalty to France above all else. It is banned to portray any religious symbolism in schools, universities or any official government building. Thus, the cross and the hijab is banned.
To the French nationalists, being born in France is not enough to make you French - your parents and grandparents have to be born in France too. In the documentary for instance, a highly educated French woman who loves the country she was born in had to change her Muslim name in order to obtain a job interview. Thus, there is alienation of those who do not fit the mould - primarily those who choose to hold dear to their "un-French" identity. On the surface, this method to unity makes little sense: to avoid inter-cultural strife, we shall strip everyone from any unique or alien identity; for if we are all the same, we shall not fight right? Maybe we can empathise with this in another way. Maybe post-French revolution everyone shared the same values and beliefs? But with a population of millions - that statement seems a tad far fetched.
In short, France's answer to unity: assimilate or leave.
Russia.
The second documentary was the first episode of Reggie Yates' Extreme Russia. This time, another British journalist followed a right wing nationalist party in Moscow. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has become home to millions of immigrants - many of whom are Muslims from Central Asia Republics. Halfway through the documentary, the journalist covered a nationalist march where he was warned by another Russian journalist of the dangers of being a black man in this setting. "These people kill people," he warned whilst laughing; but you can tell that he wasn't joking. The British journalist was ridiculed by the marchers because of the colour of his skin - quoting allegiances to Ku Klux Klan, Nazis and white supremacy when he was spotted amongst the crowd. Also, it won't be a nationalist march if there weren't anti-Islamic slander too - so that was chanted loudly as well.
Immigrants were shown to be often brutally physically attacked by the people who hold this purist ideology. Knife crimes leave many immigrants in hospital where treatments were withheld because of their status. Another point of hostility comes from the fear of "blood mixing" between Russians and immigrants which will contaminate the "pure" Russian breed. One of the interviewees said, "You can't wash white clothes with colours. It is not right." At the end of the documentary, it was clear what the Russian nationalists want - a pure, white Russian community. And they would stop at nothing to obtain it.
Thus, Russia is one step ahead from France in that their answer to unity: no assimilation, just leave.
Malaysia.
France.
The first was, A Nation Divided? The Charlie Hebdo Aftermath. It portrayed a female Muslim British journalist interviewing people from both the right wing nationalists and the French Muslims from immigrant families post-Charlie Hebdo. Through the documentary, one thing was clear - unity in France meant assimilation. You are not truly French, unless you put your loyalty to France above all else. It is banned to portray any religious symbolism in schools, universities or any official government building. Thus, the cross and the hijab is banned.
To the French nationalists, being born in France is not enough to make you French - your parents and grandparents have to be born in France too. In the documentary for instance, a highly educated French woman who loves the country she was born in had to change her Muslim name in order to obtain a job interview. Thus, there is alienation of those who do not fit the mould - primarily those who choose to hold dear to their "un-French" identity. On the surface, this method to unity makes little sense: to avoid inter-cultural strife, we shall strip everyone from any unique or alien identity; for if we are all the same, we shall not fight right? Maybe we can empathise with this in another way. Maybe post-French revolution everyone shared the same values and beliefs? But with a population of millions - that statement seems a tad far fetched.
In short, France's answer to unity: assimilate or leave.
Russia.
The second documentary was the first episode of Reggie Yates' Extreme Russia. This time, another British journalist followed a right wing nationalist party in Moscow. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has become home to millions of immigrants - many of whom are Muslims from Central Asia Republics. Halfway through the documentary, the journalist covered a nationalist march where he was warned by another Russian journalist of the dangers of being a black man in this setting. "These people kill people," he warned whilst laughing; but you can tell that he wasn't joking. The British journalist was ridiculed by the marchers because of the colour of his skin - quoting allegiances to Ku Klux Klan, Nazis and white supremacy when he was spotted amongst the crowd. Also, it won't be a nationalist march if there weren't anti-Islamic slander too - so that was chanted loudly as well.
Immigrants were shown to be often brutally physically attacked by the people who hold this purist ideology. Knife crimes leave many immigrants in hospital where treatments were withheld because of their status. Another point of hostility comes from the fear of "blood mixing" between Russians and immigrants which will contaminate the "pure" Russian breed. One of the interviewees said, "You can't wash white clothes with colours. It is not right." At the end of the documentary, it was clear what the Russian nationalists want - a pure, white Russian community. And they would stop at nothing to obtain it.
Thus, Russia is one step ahead from France in that their answer to unity: no assimilation, just leave.
Malaysia.
This brings me to reflect on my own beloved multicultural country. In Malaysia, we have the Malays, Chinese and Indians making up the majority of the population with other smaller cultural pockets such as the Sikhs, Kadazans, Ibans, etc. As far as I understand it, unity in Malaysia does not end at mere acceptance, for it is a national prerogative to celebrate each other's differences. Major religious holidays no matter what religion you are from are national holidays: so we don't only celebrate Eid ul Fitri, we also celebrate Chinese New Year and Thaipusam for instance.
I am of the belief that if there is total free speech, there will be anarchy; social chaos. There will be marches and protests against each other's race as seen in the West where things of the sort are lawful. It is easier to be angry than be tolerant, it is easier to alienate than to integrate. But Malaysia chose the road less travelled.
Languages are preserved through National-Type Chinese and Tamil schools of which one doesn't have to be of that ethnicity to attend. Growing up in an integrated primary school, race was no concern of mine for I had Malay, Chinese and Indian friends - many who have stayed my companions to this day. However, racial relations remain delicate and Malaysians knowing what happened on 13th of May 1969, have learnt the price we will pay if we outwardly offend any particular group of people. Then there is the 1948 Sedition Act which initially aimed to protect against events such the 1969 riots with one of its clauses criminalising acts that "promote feelings of ill will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Malaysia".
In a nutshell, in Malaysia, identities (race, religion, etc.) that you hold dear are preserved and celebrated with perimeters in place to uphold your right to do so. Culture is not something to hide in your home, nor is there one cookie-cut out Malaysian - in my country, diversity is what is beautiful. We are not perfect, but I feel this in particular is something worth to be proud about.
So the recipe to unity in Malaysia?
Be yourself and embrace that you are one important piece completing the multi-shaped jigsaw that is Malaysia.
So the recipe to unity in Malaysia?
Be yourself and embrace that you are one important piece completing the multi-shaped jigsaw that is Malaysia.
