.jpg)
By Mihar Dias October 2025
There’s a cheeky post making the rounds on social media lately. It claims to sum up, in just five points, what the Chinese in Malaysia want:
• Wear shorts when they go out.
• Have bak kut teh anytime.
• Buy 4D when their hands get itchy.
• Go Genting once in a while.
• When thirsty, drink Tiger beer. https://theinterview.asia/column/%E6%95%99%E4%B8%BB%E6%98%AF%E6%88%91/123417/
And there it is — the grand agenda. https://www.mca.org.my/2/Content/SinglePage?_param1=21-082025-153395-08-202521&_param2=TS#:~:text=06%2D08%2D2017,exploring%20Belt%20and%20Road%20opportunities.
No grand conspiracies to take over the government, no secret plans to dominate the economy. Just comfort, food, a bit of luck, and a cold drink. Hardly the stuff of political manifestos. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210308-malaysias-harmonious-approach-to-life
Yet somehow, this light-hearted list still manages to offend the easily offended — a national pastime we’ve perfected. Somewhere in a ministry, one can almost imagine a serious meeting debating whether bak kut teh diplomacy might erode national unity.
But if we’re going to poke fun at stereotypes, let’s spread the humour evenly, shall we?
The Malays, it’s said, just want peace — and a nasi lemak stall that opens before dawn. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210308-malaysias-harmonious-approach-to-life
Throw in a foamy teh tarik, an early balik kampung, and maybe a government bonus to sweeten things up. The dream scenario? A Friday off and a petrol subsidy. Oh, and for the neighbour’s dog to keep quiet during Subuh.
The Indians? They’d like people to stop assuming they’re all either lawyers, security guards, or banana leaf restaurant owners. Some are professors, some are engineers, and some, like the rest of us, are just trying to get through the day without another “sensitive” issue on social media.
Our East Malaysian friends? They just want a decent road and an airfare home that doesn’t cost as much as a trip to Tokyo. Throw in internet that doesn’t drop during a thunderstorm, and you’ve achieved true Bornean happiness.
The truth is, every group has its quirks — and its grievances. But when you strip away the clichés, we all want the same few things:
• Honest politicians who actually show up to work.
• Prices that don’t rise faster than our salaries.
• Public transport that doesn’t leak.
• And the freedom to wear, eat, and believe whatever we like without someone lodging a police report.
The real irony of Malaysia isn’t our diversity — it’s our shared hypocrisy. We preach tolerance but practice suspicion. We shout “unity” in speeches but whisper stereotypes in coffee shops. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20210308-malaysias-harmonious-approach-to-life
Deep down, we’re not separated by race. We’re separated by who we think we are not. The Malay thinks the Chinese has it easier. The Chinese thinks the Malay has it better. The Indian thinks both are ignoring him. And the East Malaysian quietly wonders if anyone remembers they’re part of the same country.
So maybe that viral list isn’t so ridiculous after all. Maybe it’s a mirror — a reminder that most Chinese Malaysians aren’t plotting anything sinister.
They just want to live in peace, eat their bak kut teh without guilt, and take a short trip to Genting without someone checking if their religion allows it.
In the end, Malaysians are united in one thing — we all love to complain. Whether it’s about traffic, tolls, prices, or politics, everyone’s a critic. But if we could laugh together at our absurdities instead of fighting over them, we might just find that the real Malaysian dream isn’t about race, rights, or religion — it’s about living our lives without drama.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to Genting. Strictly for sociological observation — and maybe ask somone to bet a ringgit for me!
Mihar Dias (mihardias@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.
