www.secfive.org

Recently, some Malay guy around 30 + years old offended me. Here is the story in the form of a complaint letter I have written and sent for the relevant parties. I have changed the names to protect this person.

To Whomever concerned,

I write regarding a recent encounter with an RMIT staff member who is simultaneously also a student in RMIT doing his major in architecture. I also know that he teaches at foundation level in RMIT. I only know this person as “an arse” who is usually referred as “the Cow”.

Having met this person from the labs, i regarded him well as a senior in both age and education and respected the fact that he was an RMIT staff member. I treated him with respect and candour as anyone would expect from any new social encounter and helped him with some IT problems he encountered.

On the morning of 14th December, I met “the Cow” in the labs. He approached me and asked for my input on certain pdf settings and i helped him cordially. He then left to purchase materials and i met him again at about 9:30 in level 7, building 8. He asked if i could help him to mount his 5 A0 printouts on foamcore. I agreed and i spent the next one and a half hour doing this in the construction labs. Having completed the task, he suggested that I help him trim the foamcore edges off. I was reluctant but i decided to finish the job anyways. However he was being extremely difficult and picky and spent a long time on the first and second foamcore in what would otherwise be a simple and easy job. He asked for my input on the measurements and on cutting which I gave. I side commented this that was his work and i respect whatever decision he would decide on, i was just there to help him. Things were not working out with the foamcore he was handling and it was cut slightly off and this led to him becoming increasingly frustrated. Noting this, I told him at this point that I was hungry and would like to leave soon to have breakfast. He told me not to leave yet as he would be done in a while and offered to buy me breakfast. Seeing as to how desperate he was and entertaining the thought of free breakfast, i reluctantly agreed. This was when things took a turn for the worst and he then started rambling on how he has done this a dozen times, that he was good with it and what we should have done instead and what not. After his lengthy observations, i commented that it was because he was being picky and that it was usual for the cutting to be off by a few mm as mounting is not perfect.

Having said that, he snapped and asked for me to repeat what i said. Reluctantly i told him again what i felt, and at this point he started calling me immature and childish in a condescending, hurtful and spiteful tone among other things that i have forgot in the heat of disappointment with his display of such attitude.

Having felt thoroughly insulted and offended that my 2 hour worth of samaritan effort and labour ended without gratitude and instead with an insult to my character and integrity; I left saying that I was sorry he thought that way, and that he was being inconsiderate.

Reflecting back, it seems that I was naive to have been so readily helpful towards “the Cow”. But I would still like to hold the opinion that I would rather study and work in a positive environment with a jovial social atmosphere although this recent incident has severely cast doubts on that.

I am writing this as i felt that he had diminished my integrity and worth, as well as insulted my character and goodwill. I am shocked and perturbed by his actions and up till now, I still do not have a peace of mind over this incident; leaving me frustrated and disappointed first over myself for letting myself suffer such indignity and second over “the Cow”. The purpose of this letter is to ease my pain and suffering through expression and second to inform the relevant parties of this incident. To this end, i will send this letter to :

1. RMIT HE Design and Social Context,
2. RMIT DSC Foundation,
3. RMIT International Students Information and Support.

I will respect RMIT's decision. I only wish to voice out.

Sincerely,
Yang.

First off i'd like to apologize for the things i am going to say. It is as acidic as it is sensitive in nature. I decided not to put it in my letter in light of how serious it would be if I did. But this is the main source of frustration I felt that spurred me to write this letter in the first place.

I realized this person only approached Malaysians and did not entertain other people of other cultures. He spoke in a condescending tone as polite as he was to the effect that it made me felt as though I had a social obligation to him due to an inherent class or race difference between us. Whether this racial nuance was self perceived or actually intended is a matter up to debate. But the intended class difference in his mentality was to me very obvious. It was as though I was being persecuted for my race and nationality. It is this arrogance instilled in him due to race and nationality that I find so disappointing and upsetting – more so from an educated man.

I’d hate to make another racist and secondly sexist remark; but it does seem to me that the average overseas Malay guy is extremely socially naive – as smart and competent as they maybe – resulting in a disconnection from the rest of the social communities around. I say this with a background of being Malaysian and having grown up in a Muslim monarchy state. I respect them, but to ignore the fact that in general they are introverted with regards to other cultures and ways of life is not the mark of an educated man but that of a bigot regardless of how noble your intentions maybe.

It does seem inviting to think that their mentality is buoyed by the idea that they are too seriously and religiously absorbed; and that they denounce other cultures and religions and am inherently upset that they have to put up with it.

I do, however, find Malay girls very polite, intelligent and becoming of themselves. Perhaps this is because in their culture, it is oriented such that the roles the females play are submissive in nature whereas the males play a dominative role although I am neither fit nor interested to comment on this sensitive issue.

Regardless of whatever cultural or social idiosyncrasies they practice, this is Australia and I refuse to be subject to Malaysian conditioning of which I am not a part of. I am myself. For any one person or social denomination to identify themselves so strongly with their nationality, religion or race is not only racist and discriminatory in nature, but it is the stuff of Nazi Germany, Maoist China or Muslim terrorists. It is arrogance in its purest form and I denounce it.

I’d like to add that I respect these cultures but If they were to impose them on me for the fact that I hold a Malaysian passport, I would most definitely rebel and resist for it trespasses on my essence of being. It insults my very existence and I will have none of it.

People need to be able to see and accept their own failings; and in the process shed off such mindless prejudices as race, nationality and religion, if they were to seriously intend to advance themselves as either a society or as an individual.