MAY 31 — It has long bothered me that depictions of Malaysians on TV or film centre around just three races.
“I suppose we're invisible, mythical fairies,” is my usual sarcastic response to being othered or a random West Malaysian asking me, or some other hapless East Malaysian, how long we have been in Malaysia.
It has dawned on me that people from Sabah and Sarawak cannot just passively hope to be included in the common narrative.
We need to be as annoying as possible.
There are many things in Malaysia I find highly annoying.
Our car-centrism and neverending traffic jams. PAS. The PosLaju delivery man pretending he stopped by my house when in actuality he didn't want to deal with the LDP highway right next to it and went elsewhere.
The near-daily statements from the Sarawak government that range from their idea to build some really tall flagpole to suggesting concerts be held in their state instead is more than just business as usual.
It is a good reminder that Sarawak, well, exists.
I am 45 years old and still have to deal with West Malaysians who think Kuching is in Sabah and that they can drive all the way to Kota Kinabalu from Miri.
If you, my fellow countrymen, can remember that Kota Baru is in Kelantan and not Terengganu you can learn the capital cities of Sabah and Sarawak.
Until you do, I think it is a patriotic duty for East Malaysians to remind West Malaysians they exist.
I think the recent excursion of East Malaysians in traditional dress as well as the special event held over the weekend at Central Market was far from annoying.
It was a way to enthrall, educate and enlighten people who have never seen East Malaysian tribal wear up close no thanks to the expensive air fares between the two parts of the country.
Yet there were stray voices who complained about why they had to go around “half-naked” or even prove they exist.
See? It's working. Annoyance is the way forward for East Malaysia.
Right now East Malaysia is perhaps the only thing standing between the Madani government bending over backward just to try and out-PAS PAS.
What part of “they will never vote for you” does PKR not get about Kelantan, Terengganu and the more conservative segments of the voter base?
Shore up your support with the moderates. Reassure the minorities they matter and listen to them.
If PAS and PN have demonstrated anything, they are as skilled at the bread and butter bits of governance as I am fluent in Sanskrit.
Religion does not fill stomachs but it makes effective propaganda, but propaganda will not prop up our economy nor will it encourage foreign investment.
Look at Iran where people have resorted to selling their organs to survive (selling your kidney, but not other organs is apparently legal there) even offering up their corneas and testicles.
Is that the kind of future we are heading to? Where soon instead of Instagram ads promoting dodgy skincare, we will see Malaysians offering up their kidneys to pay off their mortgages?
With full stomachs come easily swayed hearts. The government needs to do better than pander and stop relying so much on taglines and raiding fashion watch stores.
It needs to do better as East Malaysians need to make more noise and rightfully demand their seats at the table.
Before I forget, Kotobian Tadau Tagayo do Kaamatan to my fellow Sabahans and Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai to our Sarawakian neighbours.
Be merry and hopeful that we will achieve the equity as fellow Malaysians that we deserve, sooner than later.
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
