“It looks like a tinderbox you know”: Exploring Chinese perspectives on ethnic dynamics in Sarawak, Malaysia
List of Authors
  • Jiin-Yih Yeo , Su-Hie Ting

Keyword
  • Ethnic Relations, Cross-Cultural, Multiculturalism, Personal, National.

Abstract
  • The study examines Chinese perspectives on ethnic dynamics in Sarawak at a personal level and at the national level. The case study involved interviews with three Chinese participants living in Sarawak, Malaysia. They have worked in the civil service, with two who are still in service and another who is retired. The analysis of the interview results shows positive perceptions of ethnic relations at the personal level. Due to their national school experience, the participants felt a sense of closeness with other ethnic groups. This laid the foundation for them to build cross-cultural friendships with friends and colleagues from other ethnic groups. Moreover, early exposure to multiculturalism through their parents engenders positive attitudes and openness towards other ethnicities. Being raised in a mixed-ethnic family can also cultivate a feeling of connection to other ethnic groups. While studying abroad, the participants felt solidarity with fellow Malaysians (in-group) and their shared national identity supercedes racial differences. However, the participants considered ethnic dynamics at the national level to be not satisfactory. They believe race and religion are inextricably linked, and that this connection is sometimes exploited for political gain by creating feelings of “us” versus “them”. Another area of contention is financial assistance not reaching the underprivileged regardless of race. Nevertheless, there are unifying factors like national sports which brings Malaysians together as one. The study proposes a model of ethnic dynamics at personal and national levels based on the Chinese perspective.

Reference
  • 1. Ahmad, M. (2011). Between desire and hope: Ethnic relations and the notion of Bangsa Malaysia in Gadoh. Kajian Malaysia: Journal of Malaysian Studies, 29(1), 75-90. 2. Ahmad, Y., Abd Aziz, M. K. N., Sulaiman, S., Mutalib, S. A., & Rose, N. N. (2018). Cross ethnic friendship among multi-ethnic students and teacher’s role in supporting cultural diversity in school. MATEC Web of Conferences, 150, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201815005057 3. Al Ramiah, A., Hewstone, M., Little, T. D., & Lang, K. (2014). The influence of status on the relationship between intergroup contact, threat, and prejudice in the context of a nation-building intervention in Malaysia. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 58(7), 1202-1229. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022002713492634 4. Aminnuddin, N. A. (2020). Ethnic differences and predictors of racial and religious discriminations among Malaysian Malays and Chinese. Cogent Psychology, 7, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2020.1766737 5. Ationg, R., Zulhaimi, N. A., Ibrahim, M. A., & Hashim, J. (2018). Leaders’ animosity and leaders’ enviousness: An analysis on factor associated with the growing tense ethnic relations in Sabah, Malaysia. Journal of Advanced Research in Social and Behavioral Sciences, 11(1), 75-81. 6. Azmi, H. (2024, April 8). First ‘Allah’ socks, now outrage over shoes as Malaysia’s Islamists drive outcry. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3258204/first-allah-socks-now-outrage-over-shoes-malaysias-islamists-drive-outcry?campaign=3258204&module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article 7. Baharin, M. I., Waheed, M., & Hellmueller, L. (2017). The impact of digital media platforms on the ethnic-based political system in Malaysia. Communication Research Trends, 36(3), 4-16. 8. Bernama. (2023, August 2). 3R issue: Why haven’t we learnt our lesson? Astro Awani. https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/3r-issue-why-havent-we-learnt-our-lesson-430933 9. Caulfield, J. (2019). How to do thematic analysis. Scientific Research. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=2746367 10. Chang, P. K., & Kho, S. N. (2017). A reflection of national integration process and the role of media in Malaysia. Jurnal Komunikasi Malaysian Journal of Communication, 33(1), 395-405. 11. Chin, Y. M., Lee, Y. F., Jawan, J., & Darshan, S. S. (2015). From individual choice to collective actions: Ethnic consciousness in Malaysia reconsidered. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 38, 260-274. https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.2013.863958 12. Dalege, J., & Degner, J. (2013). The apple does not fall far from the tree, or does it? A meta-analysis of parent–child similarity in intergroup attitudes. Psychological Bulletin, 139(6), 1270-1304. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031436 13. Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2011). Population distribution and basic demographic characteristics 2010. https://v1.dosm.gov.my/ 14. Duda, R. M. (2016). Contributing factors to attitudes and beliefs about diversity [Bachelor’s thesis, University of New Hampshire]. https://doi.org/UNH Scholars’ Repository. https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1291&context=honors 15. Hassan, W. Z. W., Harun, C. S. C., Muslim, N., & Alias, J. (2021). Instilling the understanding of values of interaction in managing extreme attitudes towards designing a harmonious ethnic relations in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(11), 1875– 1899. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v11-i11/11667 16. Hughes, D., Rodriguez, J., Smith, E. P., Johnson, D. J., Stevenson, H. C., & Spicer, P. (2006). Parents’ ethnic-racial socialization practices: A review of research and directions for future study. Dev. Psychol, 42, 747-770. 17. Husin, M. M. (2023). “Final warning” on those inciting race, religion, royalty issues, says Anwar. Sinar Daily. https://www.sinardaily.my/article/201060/focus/national/final-warning-on-those-inciting-race-religion-royalty-issues-says-anwar 18. Hussain, N. H. (2023, August 28). Undi 18 bukan dasar kepartian - Syed Saddiq. Sinar Harian. https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/276089/berita/politik/undi-18-bukan-dasar-kepartian---syed-saddiq 19. Jawan, J., & Ahmad, Z. (2006). SKP2204: Hubungan etnik—Panduan pengajaran dan pembelajaran [Ethnic relations: Guide to teaching and learning]. Jabatan Pengajian Kenegaraan & Ketamadunan. 20. Jawan, J., Boyman, S. N., & Kadam-Kiai, S. B. (2020). Dynamics of ethnic relations in Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 28(3), 1959-1973. 21. Kamarulzaman, Z. (2024, March 20). Sock-gate triggers friendly fire. Malaysiakini. https://www.malaysiakini.com/newsletter/699978 22. Kao, G., & Joyner, K. (2006). Do Asian and Hispanic adolescents practice panethnicity in friendship choices? Social Science Quarterly, 87(5), 972-992. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6237.2006.00411.x 23. Koh, S. Y. (2015). How and why race matters: Malaysian-Chinese transnational migrants interpreting and practising Bumiputera-differentiated citizenship. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 41(3), 531-550. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2014.937327 24. Lee, H. A. (2017). Fault lines-and common ground-in Malaysia’s ethnic relations and policies. ISEAS Perspective, 63(1), 1-9. 25. Lino, M., & Mohd Hashim, I. H. (2020). Cultural tolerance, positive relationships and well-being in Malaysian multicultural communities. GEOGRAFIA OnlineTM Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 16(4), 235-249. https://doi.org/10.17576/geo-2020-1604-17 26. Masrukhin, A., & Sriyanto, H. (2022). Students’ perceptions about perspectives and attitudes in inter-ethnic relations at the University of Malaysia. Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, 4513-4516. 27. Mcleod, S. (2023). Social identity theory in psychology (Tajfel & Turner, 1979). Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html 28. Mohd Tamring, B. A., Gregory, N. A., & Romzi, A. (2020). Ethnic interaction experience of Chinese ethnic students: A case study in Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Solid State Technology, 63(6), 1-13. 29. Muslim, N., Hassan, W. Z. W., Basir, A., Alias, J., & Umar, A. (2012). The relationship between demography and the students’ level of knowledge, understanding, acceptance and perception on Islam and Malay provisions in the constitution from the perspective of ethnic relations in Malaysia. World Applied Sciences Journal, 18(9), 1232-1242. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.wasj.2012.18.09.1471 30. Muslim, N., Jalil, F., Bari, A. A., Noor, M. M., & Mastor, K. A. (2011). Tahap penerimaan pelajar terhadap peruntukan orang Melayu dalam perlembagaan dari perspektif hubungan etnik di Malaysia. Jurnal Kemanusiaan, 9(2), 105-125. 31. Muslim, N., Kasmo, M. A., Samian, A. L., Mohamad, Z., & Hassan, Z. (2012). Students’ perception towards malay provisions in the federal constitution in the context of ethnic relationship in Malaysia. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, 7(3), 165–-76. https://doi.org/10.3923/rjasci.2012.165.176 32. Rajandran, K., & Lee, C. (2023). Discursive approaches to politics in Malaysia. In K. Rajandran & C. Lee (Eds.), Discursive approaches to politics in Malaysia: Legitimising governance (pp. 1-16). Springer. 33. Sabah State Government. (n.d.). Sabah’s people and history. Retrieved April 10, 2024, from https://sabah.gov.my/en/content/people-history 34. Sarawak Tourism Board. (2024). Ethnicities of Sarawak. enewsletter.sarawaktourism.com/ethnicities-of-sarawak/ 35. Statista Research Department. (2023). Share of population in Malaysia from 2019 to 2023, by ethnicity. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1017372/malaysia-breakdown-of-population-by-ethnicity/ 36. Tamam, E., & Krauss, S. E. (2017). Ethnic-related diversity engagement differences in intercultural sensitivity among Malaysian undergraduate students. Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 22(2), 137-150. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2014.881295 37. Tamam, E., Tien, W. Y. M., Idris, F., & Hamzah, A. (2008). News media socialisation and ethnic tolerance among Malaysian youth. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 16(1), 65-74. 38. Tamam, E., Wendy, Y. M. T., Idris, F., & Hamzah, A. (2006). Relationships of exposure to public affairs news with cognitive, attitudinal and behavioural dimension of ethic tolerance among Malaysians youth. Kajian Malaysia, 24(1), 171-184. 39. Ting, S. H. (2022). Parents’ role in the ethnic socialization of youth in Malaysia. Youth, 2(1), 67-79. https://doi.org/10.3390/youth2010006 40. Ting, S. H., Hasbi, N., & Abdullah Bandar, N. F. (2024, April 27). Social interaction and ethnic attitudes of Malay and non-Malay Sarawakians. Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Business, Education, Innovation and Social Sciences 2024 (ICBEISS2024). 41. Vaquera, E., & Kao, G. (2006). The implications of choosing ‘no race’ on the salience of Hispanic identity: How racial and ethnic Backgrounds intersect among Hispanic adolescents. The Sociological Quarterly, 47(3), 375-396. 42. Wan Husin, W. N., Halim, N. A., & Zul Kernain, N. F. (2021). Students’ perceptions on ethnic tolerance in Malaysia: A study in three public universities. Ethnicities, 21(1), 98-119. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468796820951991 43. Yaacob, A., Awang-Hashim, R., Valdez, N., & Yusoff, N. (2019). Illuminating diversity practices in Malaysian higher education institutions. Asia Pacific Journal of Educators and Education, 34, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.21315/apjee2019.34.1 44. Yip, T., Seaton, E. K., & Sellers, R. M. (2010). Interracial and intraracial contact, school-level diversity, and change in racial identity status among African American adolescents. Child Development, 81(5), 1431-1444. 45. Yow, C. H. (2017). Ethnic Chinese in Malaysian citizenship: Gridlocked in historical formation and political hierarchy. Asian Ethnicity, 18(3), 277-295. https://doi.org/10.1080/14631369.2016.1155044 46. Yusoff, I. (2004). Politik dan agama di Sabah. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. 47. Zainal, K., Abu, D. T., & Mohamad, Z. (2010). The effect of ethnic relations course on the students perceptions towards ethnic relations among first year students of one public university in Malaysia. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(2), 3596-3599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.558