I read with interest the article by Tan, because, like Singapore which is a multi-racial society, I live in Malaysia, where, other than the 3 major ethnic groups, namely the Malays, the Chinese and the Indians, there are also other “minor” ethnic groups like the Dayaks, the Melanaus etc of East Malaysia. So it is not too incorrect to say that Malaysia is even more “multi-racial and multi-cultural” than Singapore.

In Tan’s article, he lauds the “cultural sensitivity” manifested by non-Chinese Singaporeans namely the Malays and the Indians who, during the CNY (Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year)holidays, relieve their Chinese counterparts in work-places in order that they (the Chinese Singaporeans) can go on leave to celebrate the CNY. This is fair enough: I would approve of the actions of Tan’s fellow countrymen who seemingly make sacrifices in taking over the places of their Chinese co-workers. Likewise, when the other ethnic groups are celebrating (e.g. the “Hari Raya” or Aidifitri celebrated by Muslim Malays at the end of Ramadan; the Festival of Lights or Deepavali celebrated by Hindu Indians ) the Chinese are doing what their Malay and Indian colleagues are doing - taking over the jobs of their Indian or Malay co-workers when they go on leave.

To me, this is but a very small “contribution” made by the various ethnic groups in a multi-racial society ; such an “arrangement” is just a necessary part of working life in a multi-racial/cultural society and I do not think I would classify such mundane action on the part of the different ethnic groups as displaying “cultural sensitivity”. To my mind, cultural sensitivity entails a noble code of behaviour and actions which one ethnic group exercises in appropriate circumstance in order to avoid unhappiness and misunderstanding that might ensue if such actions and behaviour were not manifested.

When an ethnic Chinese Malaysian chooses to live in an area where many of his neighbours are Muslim Malays, he exhibits cultural sensitivity by not keeping dogs - for in the eyes of the Muslim Malays, dogs are not “clean” (“Najis” or excrement ) to the Muslims. But if he chooses to keep dogs, then it would be culturally very prudent of him not to allow his dogs to loiter around the neighbourhood - e.g not allowing the dogs to ease themselves anywhere near the homes of his Muslim neighbours. Another instance of cultural sensitivity would be when an Indian Malaysian is present in a canteen or food court and the Chinese and Malay Malaysians choose not to consume beef before the eyes of the said Indian - if he is a Hindu, for Hindus forbid beef-taking. In fact, Hindus regard cows as sacred and never eat them.

And if I may cite an instance of cultural insensitivity in a Western setting, that would be a situation whereby a non-Caucasian(a Chinese American, for instance) speaks in Mandarin to another Chinese American in the work-place, in the presence of all the non-Chinese American colleagues. The fact that all the other non-Chinese do not comprehend a word of what these two Chinese Americans say to each other will likely evoke feelings of ill will.

My view towards cultural sensitivity is this: cultural sensitivity should be a two-way traffic. The example cited by Tan in his article - that different ethnic groups take turn to “make sacrifices” in allowing one ethnic group to go on leave while the others stay on to work - this is obviously a two-way traffic which, as I said earlier, a necessary arrangement though I would not personally elevate this arrangement to the status of a noble action worthy of the title “cultural sensitivity”.

If one studies closely the socio-cultural scene of Malaysia today, one will discover that, in some culturally and religiously sensitive situations, some groups are not practising the ‘two-way traffic’ that I advocate(and, for that matter, that all people who believe in the principle of mutual respect and equality of human beings would advocate). Even in the way one dresses, there has been some form of cultural domination, sadly speaking. For a start I shall refer to one such case of cultural domination which is now prevalent in the Malaysian schools. Nowadays, students of all ethnic groups are required to wear longs and track-bottoms even during their physical education classes(regardless of sex and age). To the Muslim Malays, it is only proper that the body be covered in accordance with the teachings of Islam. This of course, is fair enough, at least to the Muslims. However, when the authorities decree such dress code, do they bear in mind the principle of equality and mutual respect that is absolutely essential in a culturally sensitive milieu that we Malaysians live in? To the non-Muslim Malaysians, it is culturally domineering on the part of the authorities to more or less coerce them into wearing longs and track-bottoms when they would much prefer to wear T-shirts and shorts which, to them at least, are more appropriate and more suitable for local climate, which is usually hot and humid.

Another case of a cultural one-way traffic occurred in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. One evening, a young couple (non-Muslim Malaysians) was happily walking in a public park when the two of them were confronted by enforcement officers who issued them a summons, citing behaviour that was “against public morals”. All the two young persons did was to hold hands and walking close to each other. To the non-Muslims, such behaviour could hardly be described as “against public morals” although the Muslims might have a different view.

All said, although I do feel a little envious of Tan of Singapore, I feel that the situation in Malaysia is not entirely hopeless. But to make cultural sensitivity a two-way traffic we still have a long way to go; we need Malaysians of all ethnicities-be they Malays, Chinese, Indians or otherwise - Malaysians who possess a global outlook and world-view, and who are intellectually and culturally enlightened.