Aggressors or Victims

"And I think this raises the question of how do we deal with racism? Because if there's one thing that irritates me about the discussion of racism in Malaysia it's that one side is always seen as the aggressor, and one side is always cast as the victim. And if you are a hybrid like me, then you realise that all sides can be aggressors and all sides can be victims. So I was victimised by Malay [Malaysians] and I was victimised by Chinese [Malaysians]. But I had Malay [Malaysian] friends and Chinese [Malaysian] friends.

So, the question of racism is always a personal one. How do you deal with it? You can choose to dwell on the worst, or you can choose to focus on the positive. I was in a situation where I could choose to develop profoundly anti-Chinese sentiments for the rest of my life. But I didn't want that.

And I think that's how we Malaysians will need to move on. Every Malaysian will have a story like this to tell. Because in a sense, the state of racialised politics in Malaysia means we are all victims. So do we choose to live with a discourse of victimhood, or do we grow up, and grow out of this as a nation and embrace the positive that we can find in each other? I chose the latter. That is my personal choice, it is an ethical choice and it is a political choice.. "

Interview with one of the few men whose ideas and insights speak which such profound truth , Dr. Farish Noor. Read more here