This has playing in my head for weeks. I know certain personal thoughts are meant to be kept inside, or vetted out in a legitimate manner, at least. I may be playing with fire or creating new enemies as I continue to type this article, furthermore I’m about to post this on my public blog, something that I have never done before. Everything that I am about to type is from a neutral point of view. I do really hope I’m not about to offend anyone - if I do, I sincerely apologize. And of course, I do not expect any outcome from this article itself. Treat this as a read-through, if you like.
There are now three major clubs that represents Malaysian students in Christchurch. CMSA (Canterbury Malaysian Student Association), PETSOC (PETRONAS Students of Canterbury) and the newly formed UMNO Christchurch.
1. A Revision of Timeline
Rewind 5 years ago. There was only CMSA - meaning there was only one club that represented Malaysian students all around Christchurch. 5 years ago, PETRONAS and JPA started posting scholars over here in Christchurch thus increasing the density of Malaysian students. As more PETRONAS scholars arrived in the Garden City, PETSOC was formed. PETSOC was and is still devised to oversee the welfare of the PETRONAS scholars. The welfare mentioned includes accommodation, daily dinners, meeting with officers, etc. However, PETSOC was a subsidiary of CMSA. Meaning, it was still only CMSA.
2. A day before yesterday
More scholars arrived. PETSOC became an own entity, formed 4 years ago in 2003. Two clubs then. CMSA and PETSOC. PETSOC role was only to oversee her members’ welfare.
3. Our timeline
CMSA is still where it was. PETSOC has opened her membership to non-PETRONAS scholars. UMNO Christchurch was formed.
4. 5 years from now
I’ll wrap this up later.
Being a year in Christchurch does not grant me much seniority. I think I should speak now, with myself risked, because I am afraid when the time comes, I will no longer have the chance to speak. I really do hope that by all means I’m not showing any disrespect to you as I carry on typing.
I cannot possibly disagree that all three clubs play different primary objectives. Now let us look beneath the surface. They will be clashes in social and sports events. For instance, UMNO Christchurch has announced its attention to organized a Ski Trip this year. From what I know, CMSA organizes Ski Trips annually. So this year, we may have two ski-trips organized by two different bodies representing we Malaysian students. Frankly, I wouldn’t want to go for two Ski Trips as I am just a university undergraduate plus I’m not a ski-ing addict.
More clubs, meaning more gatherings. But will those gatherings put all of us Malaysians together? Possibly we have CMSA, as it generally represents all Malaysians. Again, let us look at wider perspective.
If CMSA and PETSOC organizes 8 events each per year, UMNO organizes 4 in Christchurch as many of her activities are held elsewhere. All together, we have 20 events. Based on university calendar, there are about 20-25 free weeks minus the study break and the upcoming Bersatu Games. 20 out of 25. Me, being a member of the three clubs, will really need some consistency to attend all the events. This is a stake of quantity vs quality. Personally, I will prefer to spend my time mingling with ALL Malaysians occasionally (maybe every month once or twice) rather than spending all my weekends to meet different groups.
Quality. I will define what it means to me now.
Flashback to Saturday’s UMNO-chaired Newcomers Orientation. Sorry people if I’m pointing my fingers, or else I am not able to adress my keynotes. The Bumi newcomers are among themselves, similar to the non-Bumis. Put their past schooling background aside, but having 3 clubs that increases quantity will do least good to increase the quality we direly claim. (Sorry people, I really did not want to highlight this, but this is what everyone witnessed that day. An undeniable fact.)
Flashback to the visit by Tok Pa, our Malaysians Higher Education Minister. It’s baffling to me, at least, that there were only two non-bumis who played a part in hosting (organizing, performances) the event and I was only roped in when one of friend had something else to attend. To me, this is not racism at all because I do not believe the good friends I know are such people, in fact they are awesome people who I look up to. The problem ito me is the chemistry which invented the event. Both bridges, just do not meet, although all parties have tremendous quality in them. (Sorry to the people, who I may have offended).
It was a great honour to me for being given the opportunity to produce the video presentation for the event. The toughest process was not the production. The toughest part was the photos. Hardly I can find pictures where I can see all Malaysians in one perfect family picture. Perhaps, it was one of the saddest feeling to me being a Malaysian while producing a video for a grand Malaysian event. When will actually all bridges meet?
This is not racism to me, it’s chemistry. Racism never occurs here among us Malaysians. In fact, the people that I know are all friendly and always helpful. Frankly, I absolutely enjoy their company, ABSOLUTELY. We just never find ourselves an opportunity to be one. When will our bridges meet?
4. 5 years from now (continued)
A Malay scholar and a Chinese scholar just arrived in Christchurch. CMSA, PETSOC, UMNO - which one to be active in? What will we have in the near future? JPASOC? MARASOC? I do not deny the possiblities.
Everyone wants to be comfortable, including myself sometimes. But again, why can’t we let the bridges meet?
Sorry CMSA. This may be a stab to you. I’m sorry if this is offensive. Non-Bumis will most likely join CMSA for most of their members are Non-Bumis. Bumis and Non-Bumis will stay away from CMSA for these very few reasons that I can highlight below.
- The inconsideration of alcoholic consumption of non-muslim members in social activities. Of course, every one has their own rights. But tolerance is an entirely different matter.
- When was the last time CMSA organized a Hari Raya get together for all Malaysians? Or wish the Muslims CMSA members Selamat Hari Raya via the CMSA-mail?
- When was the last time CMSA showed that it is welfare body overlooking the welfare of Muslims? For instance, prayer times etc. Of course, you have MUSA to operate on this - MUSA is a club for all Muslims in Canterbury Uni. But it really takes effort to create the sense of belonging. CMSA should at least oversee the welfare of Malaysian Muslims, regardless of MUSA’s existence.
- It’s a good being a big club having a lot of members. To me, strong ties are formed when people sit down and make unanimous decision. Boasting that many members, how many do really feel belonged to the club?
Sorry CMSA. I do not mean to offend. This is what I believe, at least.
PETSOC just opened her membership and UMNO was newly formed. A Bumi student will certainly feel comfortable and will be more active in both clubs mentioned. The non-Bumis will shy away from these two clubs - again, due to the comfortable zone.
In 5 years, what will we see? Just like in Sydney, Melbourne, UK and Auckland where its Malaysian Students Association are mostly non-Bumis while UMNO and PETRONAS affliated clubs are filled with Bumis. In Auckland itself, there is a clear division among UMSA, PETUNIA and UMNO Auckland.
Of course, it too far-fetched to predict what will happen 5 years from now. Many will say, "I do not bother. I did my best during my time in my respective club, it’s up to the next generation." Frankly, I will say this is sheer irresponsiblity. You do not build Rome to see it burn, nor you build Pyramids to see it collapse before you. You are laying the path for tomorrow. Sorry if I offended you, again.
I’m taking nothing out of this. I just want to see bridges meet, from all angles to prevent what has happened in Australia, UK and Auckland to occur on us. Of course, you will be wondering why we must we start first? If everyone waits for everyone to cross the brigde and meet - never will anyone meet. Just my long two cents.
Sorry to those people who I have offended. I sincerely apologize. No hard feelings yeah?
There is never racism nor stereotype among we Malaysians. We lack the chemistry. The chemistry that bridges us all. When will we meet?
