Blended family: (From left) Timothy Ler Swee Jiunn, Elaine, Ji Siew Choo and Davidson.
JOHOR BARU: Having made great strides and found success, Malaysians of mixed parentage still struggle to fit in despite their unique cultural identities.
Zavier Lawrence Kanau, 20, for one, has both Bidayuh and Orang Asli Seletar roots.
He often struggles to answer questions about who he is.
“I’ve always found it difficult to explain my background. Some people have not even heard of the two communities, which makes it harder for them to relate to me,” said the student whose heritage taught him sea diving and highland hunting at a young age.
“Even though we are all Malaysians, many still do not know what occasions I celebrate or what food I can eat, as I come from minority communities they are unfamiliar with.”
The student, an engineering major, grew up in his mother’s seaside village, Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Temun, where he learnt about fishing and diving.
“It is normal for Orang Asli Seletar children to swim and dive from a young age. We often catch crabs together and hunt fish after school.
“On my father’s side, I was taught the traditions of hunting in the highlands of Sarawak, the kind of lifestyle many only see on television. It was truly an adventure,” he shared.
Recalling his younger years, Zavier said many of his schoolmates struggled to understand his way of life.
“In primary school, my friends who grew up in town thought I was lying when I told them about diving in the sea. They had never heard of children doing that.
“Looking back, I find it funny because they were not taught how diverse this country actually is. Malaysians themselves still do not celebrate the diversity of races.
“I hope people will put in the effort to learn more and embrace the diversities around them,” Zavier said with a smile.
Sometimes, being different from others is what makes a person truly Malaysian.
For 29-year-old Elaine Amanda Davidson, whose mother is Chinese and father is Indian, that sense of being “in-between” has blossomed into a special gift.
She can embrace differences, bridge cultures and celebrate diversity in its fullest form.
“My childhood meant navigating questions about my identity. When I first entered a Chinese primary school, it was obvious my friends did not quite understand why I looked different from them.
“Although I spoke fluent Chinese, I knew I did not completely fit in,” said the mother of one.
At the same time, she never felt fully part of the Indian community either, due to her inability to speak Tamil at that point.
“I often say we are uniquely in between. We do not completely fit in anywhere, yet somehow we find ourselves fitting in everywhere,” she added with a laugh.
As she grew older, Davidson learnt to embrace her “dual identity” as a strength rather than a burden.
“It also makes me more open to people’s cultures and differences, and I think we are bridges who can bring together the best of both sides.
“For my family, Chinese New Year means yee sang and ang pow on my mum’s side, while we also celebrate Easter and Christmas as Christians. It is always double the love, double the joy,” she added.
