Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
Ahhhh Ramadan month… a month of spirituality and introspection for Muslims. It’s also a month during which non-Malays who look Malay have to hang on to their ICs or try to look as non-Malay as possible.
Bulan puasa is quite policed over here – serving a Malay food during this fasting period is considered grounds for punishment and Malays who do not observe puasa can face fines of up to RM1,000 and being jailed for up to 6 months.
Naturally, this means that non-Malays with more ambiguous features might be policed as well.
Here are the experiences of 4 non-Malays who were mistaken for Malay during the bulan puasa:
1. We were kicked out of a restaurant
My father and I were looking for a restaurant at a nearby mall to have our dinner. We decided on one, but unfortunately it was relatively close to iftar.
At first we were allowed into the restaurant. We were seated at a table that didn’t have a reservation sign. There were quite a few tables that were already reserved.
And then one of the staff approached us. “Are you Muslim?”
Obviously we answered no.
Then they asked us to leave. Since it was close to iftar, they wanted tables free for only Muslim customers. This is what they told us: “This table is reserved for only fasting Muslims.”
Unfortunately, most other restaurants refused to accept us. We had to have our dinner way after buka because of that.
This isn’t the first time it’s happened to us and it’s very disheartening each time. Since then we’ve had to always adjust dinner plans to be long after or before buka puasa to avoid the risk of being rejected.
2. The universal Chindian experience
I was out having some makan around teatime when someone asked if I’m Muslim. I’m Chindian so honestly I’m quite used to this, though I must say it happens to me quite rarely. Maybe because I live in a more diverse area.
But it does happen.
The person didn’t really believe me so I took out my IC and showed it to them. That’s when they eased off and told me they had to check because I look Malay. I told them that it wasn’t an issue.
Like I said, I’m used to it.
3. I get stopped at roadblocks if I’m with a non Malay guy
I’m a young woman who looks quite ethnically ambiguous. From a young age I was mistaken for Malay, but officially my race is under the lain-lain category. It doesn’t help that my first name sounds really Malay!
Anyway, I’ve noticed that I always get stopped at roadblocks during bulan puasa if I’m alone with a non Malay guy. I think the police think that I’m a Malay woman dating a non Malay guy each time.
This is how it always goes:
The police will stop us even though the road tax is valid. We pull to the side and the police will ask us to tunjuk IC. The guy I’m with (sometimes a friend, sometimes a guy I’m dating) will pull out his IC and they’ll barely look at it.
But then when I pull out my IC the police will look at it puzzled. “Adik bangsa apa?” they’ll ask.
“Serani,” I’ll answer, as always.
“Serani tu apa?” That’s what I get most of the time. And they usually follow it with “adik bukan Melayu kan?”
Once I confirm I’m not Malay, they’ll let us go.
It’s so tiring because I’ve experienced this for years. Why can’t ladies hang out with men of a different race? We’re not always f*cking them. In my opinion, this sort of experience is not only divisive but also paternalistic.
4. The amount of policing I experienced in school really pissed me off
As a person who looks Malay but isn’t, bulan puasa is a pain for me to go through. The earliest I remember it affecting me was back in primary school.
A substitute teacher was in charge of my class. I think I was in standard 2 then? I was having a drink of water and the teacher scolded me. At first it was because at my age I should be fasting, according to her. But the moment she paused for breath in her lecture, I quickly informed her that I’m not Malay so I’m not fasting.
She immediately changed tack and said I should be respectful to the Malays who are fasting and that I should exit the class to drink water so they cannot see me.
I remember in my later schooling years that non-Malays were expected to keep their bottles of water outside the class.
Anyway, every year without fail I’ll be stopped during Ramadan because people expect me to justify why I’m eating. It gives me a taste of what it must be like for Malays who don’t fast – they don’t really have a choice but to be policed on their fasting, regardless of the reason that they’re not fasting (like health issues or menstruation).
It’s often said that we live in a diverse society so tolerance must be widely practised
Source: barenakedislam.com
Yet sadly, this concept of tolerance seems to go only one way. We see this especially with local news like how a school canteen is closed throughout Ramadan. Or how in Kelantan, food sellers who serve halal food can only open after 3PM, regardless of whether they are Muslim or not. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in fines. Or even how senior citizens have to submit to spot checks on whether they have cigarettes on them before 2PM. Non-Malay children have also traditionally been forced to eat in the toilet.
One must wonder whether Malays are given any choice when it comes to practising their faith as Muslims here in Malaysia. Because it seems like even non-Malays are affected by the extreme policing that Malays are forced to experience.
For more stories like this, read: The Non-Muslim’s Guide To Understanding The Concept & History Of Halal In Malaysia, Meet This Poet Who Writes Erotic Poetry In Bahasa Malaysia, and This Tweet About Alcohol, Cigarettes, And What Is Haram Went Viral – My Opinion As A Malay.
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