Swine Flu and Racism in Malaysia

I know, the title of this post just doesn’t make sense to most of you, but I was stunned to hear racist statements coming from fellow Malaysians who are shallow in their thinking. Why? We all know the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and now spreading fast to other parts of the world, especially in North America. The thing is swine flu caused by H1N1 virus (almost similar to H5N1, Avian Flu) is not something new. Most animals can be infected with respiratory disease just like human. Similarly, swine flu is a respiratory disease normally found in pigs and caused by type A influenza viruses.

Prior to the sudden outbreak in Mexico, reports on swine flu infection on human were documented but they were very rare just like avian flu. What causes the major outbreak is still under investigation, though some experts have suggested that pig farmers in Mexico are trying to cut cost by not using influenza vaccine to prevent swine flu on their pigs.

Now, what pisses me off is that in Malaysia, some people are trying to link swine flu with pork eaters (to be exact, non-Muslims) by spreading racist statements. I personally heard a mid-30 woman said (translated) "Never mind, we won’t get swine flu because we don’t eat pork. Let them die with their pork!" And another guy supported her by saying "Yeah, who ask them to open so many pig farms, now they deserve it!". The most annoying statement followed after that (which I don’t want to translate) "Babi betul lah babi ni, sama juga orang babi! Bagi mampos semua!" I was very very angry yet I just keep quiet because I was not in the mood to confront them at that time, was busy with some urgent matters.

But tell me, don’t you think those statements are racist? And coming from two people who are supposed to be educated, reflect just how far our nation has grown into. First and foremost, swine flu virus is airborne, meaning it can spread through air and not transmitted by food. Just because you don’t take pork, doesn’t mean you’re safe from swine flu! Second, why are those people so happy when other people are suffering from the disease? You think they want it to happen? My goodness…. Maybe they are just among the very few who have such shallow thoughts, but hearing it just hurt your ears especially in a nation that promotes racial harmony and tolerance. At the very least, we show some sympathy towards those are infected and not diverting it to some petty issues like pork eaters or pig farmers. Sad, but it’s perhaps a reality that we need to face.

You can refer to CDC website on Swine Flu or Mnistry of Health Malaysia for more info.

(Pictures courtesy of AFP)

Tags:health, malaysia, politics, pork, Racism, Swine Flu

48 Comments

nkt, August 10, 2009 @ 1:53 am Reply

I agree with the person who created the post. All humans have same body and are prone to the asame alments Disease does not differentiate which religion you follow. Certain ailments are linked to your lifestyle or food habits like heart desease or certain types of cancers. Or some you may be resistant to certain desease s(Hepatitis B) but can carry and communicate it to the others.
So better take care and prevent yourself from getting the swine flu.
JannahWannabe, August 12, 2009 @ 1:04 am Reply

Now, let me put it this way. Man’s ways have always hurt him & exposed ALL around him to diseases, and death. God’s commandments are the only way to ensure the safety of mankind – Muslims or non-Muslims.

The origins of many present day ailments are due to human distortions – homosexuality (AIDS), pork farms (Swine flu), drinking wine (cirrohsis, family break up due to addiction & other violence), usury/interest=banking (recession, manipulation), smoking (cancer) etc.

Having said that, it is pitiful that the plague is here. And it is far more pitiful that innocent people are bearing the brunt of it. May God give relief to all. Let’s get back to God’s manual for our living.

God’s Law – the Quran is for us to live a civilized, life of a high station in this world, so that we can reach the best place in the next world. Allah is free for all to embrace!
JannahWannabe, August 12, 2009 @ 1:07 am Reply

I want to personally apologize on behalf of the Muslims for the inconsiderate comments. There are all sorts of people, hillbillies, the politically correct, and the just plain mean.

What I meant to say was – God’s Laws – to refrain from pork, wine, interest, unnatural sex, smoking etc all help us become better more harmonious beings. Its a small world, we should have some universal healthy laws. Islam!

Again, no reason for meanness on the streets! Its very bad taste!!! Especially when death is involved!
Josh, August 14, 2009 @ 12:04 am Reply

In reference to the title of this topic – I think by starting this kind of topic you create more tension between the races. People always say stupid things, that is human nature and it doesnt only come from a particular race or religion. Anyone can say stupid things like what you wrote here. So if I were you, I would stop writing things like this and just shut your mouth and deal with it like a grown up person.
KeeMan, August 14, 2009 @ 12:17 am Reply

Josh,

By stopping writing things like this and keeping our mouths shut = dealing a problem like grown up person?

I don’t see the correlation there.

And like i stated very clearly I’m not against Muslims, and if you read the comments given by them, they are open to such revelation.
Bob, August 18, 2009 @ 2:05 pm Reply

Welcome to Malaysia, my friend. Racism has always existed here, and virtually impossible to get rid of, especially since racism is encouraged and promoted throughout society. I have already accepted racism as part and parcel of everyday life. Human mentality is the hardest thing to change, and racism itself has been so strongly ingrained into us Malaysians. Talk about racial harmony? *yawn* Lets talk about something new now, shall we?
- Sara, November 11, 2011 @ 11:07 pm Reply
  
  Aha, I don’t believe you have lived in other parts of the world. Try China, Japan and even good ole USA :)) Malaysia is the 10th WORLD ALCOHOL consuming country in the world. If you go there, you will see people dressed like they were tanning at the beach. Very inappropriate for city life. Considering the Muslims are rather bashful, don’t eat pork and are teetolaters, this country is oozing in provocative (mostly non_Muslim wear) outfits, pork consumption abounds and alcohol flows freely. I would think that is highly tolerant of the Muslim majority. You win some, you lose some. Enjoy what privileges you get, be grateful, and work with the locals. Don’t go around tattling about the good people of any city you live in. Enjoy!
Anya, August 19, 2009 @ 8:52 pm Reply

I think it’s a perfectly acceptable title for an article. It’s eye-catching, and if anybody bothers to actually read through the article, it condones racism. Good work!

@ Bob, I agree with you.

It takes some serious ignorance to say statements like that. It’s embarrassing for the races and religions of these people, seeing how its represented by people like that.
Anya, August 19, 2009 @ 8:55 pm Reply

A friend of mine said (after reading this post);

“When it’s swine flu, it’s everybody else’s fault, but when it’s BIRD flu, it’s fine..”

Just goes to show how messed up people are with their attributions. Down with racism!
MissFizah, August 29, 2009 @ 7:48 am Reply

Yeah I guess shallow thought people annoys us sometimes or should I say most of the time. Racism isn’t new and certainly not just in Malaysia. Recently, I faced the same situation but totally different motive. Its best not to mention it here as it will create unnecessary hot topic, nonetheless we ought to think futher than our scope of thought. If its so hard to exclude religion or race, just respect other human being coz we gotta abide to law of nature.
Raul de Souza, September 3, 2009 @ 5:26 pm Reply

It is a sad affair that after 52 years of Independence, we still come across some idiots who link swine flu with pork eaters. They idiots are also Malaysians , and I cant help except to laugh thinking about the them. These barbarians should live in cave eating raw food.
- Sara, November 11, 2011 @ 11:10 pm Reply
  
  Raul de Souza, and your course of action is to denigrate a people? Very civilized indeed. And eating raw food would make many sushi lovers happy, just for the record 🙂 Chill, and enjoy! Life is short, travel a lot and take it easy!
melayunoteatpig, September 16, 2009 @ 10:53 am Reply

waaaa…racist issue..i like it..bila laa nak terjadi pergaduhan kaum nii….31 mei race war 2…… hehehe …. singkirkan kaum minority ^.^..inilah cita-cita aku
KeeMan, September 16, 2009 @ 11:37 am Reply

hahaha…singkirkan kaum minority? Mampuslah Malaysia.
Terrence, October 19, 2009 @ 1:39 pm Reply

Nice article.
Terrence
wow gold
Alif, December 2, 2009 @ 8:54 pm Reply

Did you know??in Indonesia…approximately 100 chinese girl being raped and tortured until die in 1998 crisis…you should be proud to be Malaysian..actually…what i want to know is…you are Malaysian rite?why do you have to be like a China citizen…why do u have to study chineese language??Why do there are so many ethnic school like chinese,indian, and others in Malaysia,,,i think that we should just open one type of school that is sekolah kebangsaan which use Bahasa Melayu as their tounge language…if you all chinese or indian just being the rakyat Malaysia..i think none of this racism will happen…just look at the army…how many chinese people in the army??how many chinese people in the police??i have never seen untill now chinese wearing malaysian army uniform.are all agree that if i said if war happen in Malaysia..the chinese or indian people will run rather than protecting Malaysia..you all not have patriotism in your heart…you all still think your a migrant..if you..chinese or indian want Malay to respect you…you just have to be Malaysian…thats all…not being china or India citizen..ok??
Alif, December 2, 2009 @ 9:03 pm Reply

Another things…i always want to be friend with the chinese…but sometmes…i think that they insult me…they always start a group of disscussion with only their ethnic…when i want to join themmmthey will laugh and talk with each other with chinese language…so…this what i think that they maybe insult me…that why many Malay have a little racism in their heart,,,ok?
KeeMan, December 2, 2009 @ 9:50 pm Reply

Dear Alif,

First of all, I cannot understand why you can take what I have posted completely out of context. If you have read it carefully, I have stated very clearly that I’m disappointed by those people who can make a disease as an racist issue and I stated accurately that it doesn’t represent the Malays as a whole. But for a University lecturer to say such things openly cannot be accepted.

Secondly, I feel very sad because you prejudge me without even getting to know me. You claimed everything about Chinese (though in my post, I didn’t say anything about Chinese being not racist, etc as per your claim). Let me clear things for you:

1. I am educated in a Chinese primary school but pursue my secondary education in sekolah kebangsaan, which 90% of my friends are Malay (even until now).

2. I speak and write fluent Malay or Bahasa Melayu. You said we (the non-Malay) should learn Bahasa Melayu, but did you ever thought of learning Mandarin or Tamil? For your information, I learnt Thai, Tamil and Arab in school just to get to know other races better. (I’m from Kelantan by the way). I have a lot of Malay friends in my chinese school who can speak and write Mandarin. The way they see things are totally different.

3. You talk about lack of Chinese people in the armed forces and police. I totally agree with you. But if you learn Chinese culture, you would know that it’s not because we’re not patriotic, it’s a taboo in our culture to be in armed forces due to China’s long history of war since the dynasty years. If you look at China, most of them who are in the army and police are forced to do so, if not they will be executed. And politically, you should know why the government wouldn’t allow more non-Malays in. (Nanti takut kita memberontak pulak bak kata bekas Menteri Pertahanan).

And by the way, my cousin, my 2 uncles are in the army. Two of them are Sergeants and one is Major.

4. I feel pity that you try to befriend with the Chinese but they ignore you. Perhaps, they couldn’t find a common topic of interest. Well, why not befriend with me? I’m more than happy to get to know you. You can add me on my Facebook.

Akhir kalam, jangan cepat membuat kesimpulan tanpa belajar memahami semua perkara. Kadang-kadang, kalau kita buka pintu hati untuk pelajari benda atau budaya orang lain, kita akan lebih mudah untuk bersatu hati seperti Nabi Muhammad memahami puak-puak bukan Islam zamanNya.
- afida, August 3, 2010 @ 4:47 pm Reply
  
  well said KeeMan!
- Sara, November 11, 2011 @ 11:13 pm Reply
  
  So heart warming to see the olive branch! Viva your friendship, Keeman & Alif!
afida, August 3, 2010 @ 4:53 pm Reply

if we look at the brits, the language is what unites them. Purely English. This is purely language use. The theory of language politeness argues tt we should always include people in our discussions. eg. a group of Kelantanese should refrain to talk in their thick dialect when they see a non-kelantanese in the group. Respecting the other person is more important so the language to be used in this situation shud jes be plain malay. biar semua faham and not get excluded. hence, peace and understnding.
Jonas, August 31, 2010 @ 10:29 pm Reply

to be honest i really have no idea why people have free times to insult people==…
why can’t be like 40 years ago… people play together footballs fishing and etc
haiz… now a days i really cant be fuck of people insulting me… or something
the only things that pissed me off is when the goverment is trying to take every single things away from us
- Sara, November 11, 2011 @ 11:15 pm Reply
  
  Jonas, well said, forget the government, the people need to lead the way. Go make a friend of another community, bring them home, invite them for a meal, listen to their story, and give a shoulder…that’s all it takes…be a leader!