I was thinking. How was it the Huzir Sulaiman’ short article on the unheard Malay middle class, generate a lot of response?. It was accepted with hushed reverence by non Malays pushing for whatever they wished for. I read it’s publication was also alerted from as far as
No, I am not going into another round on commenting on Huzir’s article. Its proper place is as an inconsequential detritus of history in a journalistic oil-trap or silt trap.
Ok, I just want to touch on the quartet which huzir’s article quoted and built his case. What did they represent? They represent success, wealth, social skills, - whatever measures of success. Therefore, almost everyone assume that what they say, carry more weight compared to say, a voice from the periphery. People instantly associate, more wisdom from the rich and powerful.
Perhaps this predilection is what led to people being bamboozled by the rich and powerful. There’s an innate tendency on the part of even the elite to idolize men who are making a lot of money, and assume that they know what they’re doing.
And so we go on putting faith in the Ponzi scheme by the American Pak Man Telo. Here, we pay rapt attention when superstars of the financial world( who got rich by the way, through leveraging on OPM) like Nazir Razak, Wok Lodin, the Queks, the Tehs, the Goh Tongs and other super salaried denizens, speak. Even on mundane things. From them, the act of urinating is considered an art form.
"they represent success, wealth, social skills, "
ReplyDeletethey represent privilege...same lah macam hisham, mukhriz, but a few levels down sebab the bapa/mak only snr govt servants not ministers/pms/etc ;)
"People instantly associate, more wisdom from the rich and powerful."
ReplyDelete"There’s an innate tendency on the part of even the elite to idolize men who are making a lot of money, and assume that they know what they’re doing."
"From them, the act of urinating is considered an art form."
...and what do you think of KJ now Dato'? A shrek from Ogre or his urine is an art to treasure?
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI understand those exertions, Sak, that have compelled you to revisit Huzir, albeit, fleetingly on a Saturday morning. The Huzir crowd will torment our sensibilities. They are not to be blamed, actually. Unless the parents keep a tight intellectual leash on them - keep drilling into their skulls this concept of Malayness, that one has is morally responsible to aid those requiring safety net, mentoring; that you keep your Power 50 circle but also nourish 50 Have-Little individuals; the Malayness shall dissipate. Being eloquent they might well train their sights on the wider gallery, and this appreciative crowd will applaud.Surely, in the name of non-racialist impulse.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, there is an inherent desire in most people to subtly elevate the social status of their parents as pedigree gives one a headstart. "Kalau tak kerana di tipu si kawan dia, tak taulah berapa punya kaya bapa aku. Kau tahu separuh dari tanah di Kulim tu dia punya dulu. Last sekali dia satu sen pun tak ada. Tapi dia happy dan ikhlas." How often has this rendition been played out in the collective consciousness. This is a motivational force and is perfectly okay.
The "Kalau Tidak" literature represents a desire to prop up one's pedigree to showcase some vague Middle Class traditions. Each time I hear this narrative, I will produce some of the most soothing quotations. "Now, you go on and effect change for your descendants. If you can't your kids will forever be marginalised".
I think you need to have a conversation with the Huzir crowd, Sak. To placate their nsecurities, and yes, manage our anxieties. I think he must have been alerted to this blog and therefore he should expand on this subject for his Column tomorrow. Does he not discern a disconnect between the near-Aristocracts that he hobnobs with and the Sakmongkol Constituency? Does he not feel for the poor, souls who are less familiar with KL than the legions of foreign workers? Are his four privileged friends not the ones accentuating the racialist tendencies by suggesting how un-Malay they think they are?
Huzeir represents the elite group of Malaysians that is a minority: the rich, beautiful, caucasian/eurasian and well-educated.
ReplyDeleteWhich idiot would not want to know or admire or idolize something that is not common, nor matter how banal it is?