Hybrid Chinese

Hybrid Chinese, that’s me …
Upon stumbling a few articles and news on skilled migrant workers in the local media and all were discouraging the government in taking in migrant workers into the country, thus suppressing domestic talent. It started me thinking, where is my home? Technically (and proudly so), I’m a Malaysian. But my Chinese roots started me thinking where I can call home, as a Chinese.

Our education has instilled in us that Malaysia is a society of multi-race, what we call masyarakat majmuk. We’ve seen many countries where a racial dispute breaks the peace and domestic economy underachieved. Many Malaysians appreciate how we can live with each other from the city to the smallest kampung. Just recently, a Malay man’s daughter was to wed in a Chinese ceremony as he was respecting his minority friends, who were Chinese. However, we all know the famous event on May 13, 1969 left a scar that Malaysians will be reminded of. This strengthens the appreciation of what we’re living in now. There are still minority (or maybe even majority) of Chinese feels that we’re treated unfairly. Any of these thoughts or questioning the privilege of bumiputras is deemed an ethnic incitement but it never dither it from crossing our minds, home and business loans, education, subsidies and the list goes on.

Now why are we not given equal treatment? We’re not the “original” i.e. foreign, migrants, tidak tulen (not pure) and I liked to call myself a Hybrid Chinese. I started looking if a term exist for a Hybrid Chinese, and it’s actually called Overseas Chinese (“OC”). Anyone who is not from Mainland China, are OC. Some even debated if you’re not from the Han Chinese ethnic group, you’re not Chinese. During the mass Chinese Diaspora in the 19th century, my great grandfather came to Malaya from the Choon Kow in the district of Huai Ann of the Fujian province. So, he was Chinese and after three generations, I’m not.

With the figures above, apart from Republic of China (and Taiwan), Singapore has the majority of population being Chinese. Can these countries be called home to Chinese (because it makes up the majority)?

No, I’m not Chinese, Overseas Chinese, but a Hybrid Chinese called Peranakan or Baba / Nyonya or Malaysian Chinese and feels really good to own a sense of belonging. (at least it says so in wikipedia). The village once served as a home of origin to my great grandfather and grandfather is not where I’m from as I’m a Malaysian Chinese.

I’ve not lost sense of my roots but re-discovering myself and for my future generations where they will call Malaysia home.

Food in exchange for that pinch of local spice

Today is exactly three months of my secondment here and coming from any Malaysian, I’m sure you won’t be surprised that the one (and maybe to others THE most) thing I’m missing most is the local Malaysian food. From the hokkien mee in Jalan 222 to the weekly routine of Taman Desa fish head noodle and most definitely, mummy’s cooking. Even the simple roti canai with the fish curry and the morning smell of hot steamy santan rice flooded with sambal sotong or kerang are just thoughts that I’ll be holding for another nine more months.

Food are relatively priced here, with your average lunches starting from $5 to $15 at food courts, pubs, pizza or sandwich places. Between $15 to $30, you can have a good steak, ribs and fresh seafood. Beyond that, it will be find dining or more – such as Tetsuya, which is offering a ten-course meal for $195+ Given the unconscious mental calculation of converting every dollar spent to Ringgit (I really can’t help it!) I limit myself to indulge once a week lunch and dinner experimenting new restaurants or outings with friends. Even so, always look for the good deals and discounts.

The Thai restaurants here are almost a ratio of 2:1, being two restaurants on every street in CBD and surrounding suburbs. Other popular Asian restaurants are Chinese (which makes up of HK, China, Malaysian Chinese, Thai Chinese and whatever Chinese as long as their eyes are slightly oriental, I prefer calling them sepet) and I’ve seen a few Malay or Malaysian restaurants too. Of course you’ll have Australian cuisines, Italians and a few odd Middle Eastern and Lebanese restaurants.

So, am I spoilt with the selection? No. I’d give any of the above in exchange of the familiar aroma of the fresh nasi lemak and mummy’s cooking. Generally the portion here is generous. An economy rice for three dishes in Paddy’s Market is about $8 and it heaps up like a mountain. Trust me, the portion is enough for two of our Malaysian chap farn. Then every Asian food, especially curries are so (ridiculously) sweet. The Asian food here is localised to the taste and not spicy at all. If anything is spicy, it’s just spicy and there’s not much taste. I can’t say much about the Australian dining experience though as I’m still having trouble identifying what is Australia’s speciality?

Given all the food experience this three months, I have to share with you my experience today. It’s winter and something really hot and soupy would do good. I went to the food court, where there is at least 20 odd international stalls. And I picked the oriental like (cause I can’t figure out what version of Chinese it was) and ordered a spicy soup noodle with bbq pork (char siu). Again, it was overwhelming on the bowl with the char siu right at the top and to my disappointment, it was served with mee hoon instead of the usual wantan noodle (egg noodle). Anyhow, what was really surprising, the vegetables in that very bowl. The usual choi sam and bean sprouts was fine but as I ate along, there were broccoli, carrots, french beans, baby corns and (seriously, how odd can it get with) cucumber?! I was practically eating vegetables in hot water (mind you, I can’t even call it soup coz there’s no taste of any soup stocks at all). When I turned to the lady next to me, she must have ordered soup with vegetables as it was covered with nothing but vegetables!

What can I say? They like vegetables in salted (giving it a bit of credit la) hot water.