Are Chinese Malaysians Second Class Citizens?

That the Chinese Malaysians are treated as second class citizens is not quite hard to see.

We find it hard to get into the civil service. And for the few who do, promotion is hard to come by.

Our bright students also find it hard to get into the local varsities. And for the few who do, many are not given the course of their choice to study.

Many also find it hard to obtain public service scholarships.

So, many of the Chinese students are forced to go overseas on F&M (father and mother) scholarships to pursue their education.

We are also discriminated against from obtaining certain classes of permits and licences.

We have to pay for the full cost of buying a house whereas the Malays and other bumiputera community are entitled to a discount, including the rich Malay and other bumiputera fellows.

Chinese firms and companies are expected to employ 30% Malay or other bumiputera employees, but there is no corresponding requirement on Malay owned firms and companies to employ Chinese staff.

Successful applications to build places of worship like churches and Chinese temples are far and few between and all kinds of excuses are given for denying the applications.

But despite all this, the Chinese Malaysians are a successful community because of their resilience, industry and business savvy.

And although the Chinese make up only about 25% of the total population of some 28 million, we contribute some 90% of the country's income tax according to former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir whom many perceive to be anti-Chinese himself.

And for one reason or another, they will often remind the Chinese Malaysians to "balik Tiongsan" (go back to China) whenever they are wont to.

Ah....

We are not against affirmative action to help our Malay and bumiputera brothers and sisters, but surely Chinese Malaysians deserve some respect and appreciation too?