Engl121t

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Malay Sketches

The issue of identity is very sensitive in multi-ethnic settings. People place so much

importance on identity, especially in communities founded on multi-religious and multiracial

societies. Singapore is a clear example of the community in question. In the book Malay

Sketches, Alfian Sa'at exposes the several dynamics that influence inter-race interactions and

Malay identity in Singapore and how they influence several aspects such as education, social

mobility, politics, economy, leadership, and religion. The book explicitly explains the life of a

minority community of Muslims in Singapore within a global city-state. Throughout his writing,

Sa'at attempts to bridge the gap between religion, race, and language popular in a multicultural

city. Sa'at further shows that the Singaporean government's wide-ranging policies and ideologies

have influenced discrimination in several aspects.

The concept of nation-building in Singapore incorporates several numbers of conceptual

ideas consistent with the national ideology across the country's history. Two of these ideas

include multiculturalism and meritocratic elitism. The interaction of multiculturalism and

meritocracy ensures the existence of a Singaporean system built on fairness and explains the

roles of the minority communities consisted of non-Chinese. According to Barr and Low, this

system claims to ensure that minority communities enjoy every privilege, which encourages

them to take part in the nation-building process (161). However, Sa'at proves that discrimination

Surname 2

is rife in Singapore, despite the expected behaviour. In the short story, The Convert, Sa'at shows

the life of a Chinese man who converted to Muslim after marrying his wife, Hawa. Sa'at

incorporates symbolism to explain multiculturalism through the exquisite design used on Jason's

bridal garment. Jason is thrilled by design used to make the cloth. His wife-to-be, Hawa, tells

him, "The silk is from the Chinese, the gold threads from the Indians, and the craftsmanship is

Malay." The statement shows that a combination of different cultures produces a unique identity.

However, the irony is that discrimination is widely practised in the country. Hawa tells Jason that

Muslim men cannot wear silk but can use the cotton songket to tie around their waist. A few

months after marrying Hawa and changing his name from Jason to Jamal, he receives a letter

from his superior that transfers him to a different department without any explanations. His

superior told him that he would still keep the First Sergeant's title but would receive Infantry

Specialist training. His superior downplays the discrimination by telling him (Jamal) that the pay

will remain unaffected. Jamal thinks that the reason he was demoted is that he changed from

Chinese to Muslim, evidenced in the statement, "I never went around telling all of you to call me

'Jamal'. I'm still Jason" (Sa'at 20).

In the story, Losing Touch, Sa'at shows that most Singapore individuals are quick to

criticize cultures and offer little accommodation. The author explains that when she received her

prize that recognized her among the Top Malay-Muslim Students, she did not shake the

President's hand and bolted from the pulpit, leaving the President with his hand hanging mid-air.

The author reveals that she was aware of the protocol, which involved greeting the President, but

her dress (a tudung and a baju kurung) prevented her. Moreover, her religion does not allow her

to make physical contact with a male president. The President understands the girl's position and

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Surname 1 Student's Name Professor's Name Course Date Malay Sketches The issue of identity is very sensitive in multi-ethnic settings. People place so much importance on identity, especially in communities founded on multi-religious and multiracial societies. Singapore is a clear example of the community in question. In the book Malay Sketches, Alfian Sa'at exposes the several dynamics that influence inter-race interactions and Malay identity in Singapore and how they influence several aspects such as education, social mobility, politics, economy, leadership, and religion. The book explicitly explains the life of a minority community of Muslims in Singapore within a global city-state. Throughout his writing, Sa'at attempts to bridge the gap between religion, race, and language popular in a multicultural city. Sa'at further shows that the Singaporean government's wide-ranging policies and ideologies have influenced discrimination in several aspects. The concept of nation-building in Singapore incorporates several numbers of conceptual ideas consistent with the national ideology across the country's history. Two of these ideas include multiculturalism and meritocratic elitism. The interaction of multiculturalism and meritocracy ensures the existence of a Singaporean system built on fairness and explains the roles of the minority communities consisted of non-Chinese. According to Barr and Low, this system claims to ensure that minority communities enjoy every privilege, which en ...
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Tags: Issue of Identity Malay Sketches multi racial communities Interacial expressions Multi Religious country