A social stereotype

The Ah Beng has gone global and is now internationally recognised as a cultural figure in Malaysia and Singapore.

How many times have you and your friends sat at the neighbourhood mamak stall, and a souped-up car with a thumping stereo passed by, and your friends remarked: “Wah, so Ah Beng!”

The poor Ah Beng. Much maligned, misunderstood, hated, derided, feared. But who is the Ah Beng, anyway?

There are a few traits associated with the Ah Beng. Perhaps the most visible and readily identifiable is the dyed hair. Then there’s the abovementioned souped-up car with a loud stereo blasting “feng tau” music.

He also has strange habits, such as squatting by the roadside, at the bus-stop, outside shops; and mixing his brandy, even wine, with soda.

His habits and traits seem to rile some people up. Take, for example, a guy I spoke to about what an Ah Beng is. With an expression of contempt, he said: “You just have to attend a big wedding dinner, and see how an Ah Beng mixes his Otard with F&N Orange, or his red wine with 7-Up. I mean, that’s the wrong way to appreciate a good drink!”

Yes, the Ah Beng stirs some pretty volatile emotions in some people, for some reason. While researching for this story, I asked several people if they have friends who fit the Ah Beng profile, and at every turn, I was met with a loud, vehement “NO!”

One guy who loudly proclaimed to be in with the cool crowd and far from the Ah Bengs, has a very telling hairstyle and loves Canto-pop band Beyond. It seems that not only do people not want to be identified as an Ah Beng, they do not want to be seen as associating with one either.

So who is the Ah Beng?

From Jinjang Joe to Ah Beng

Believe it or not, there is even a Wikipedia entry on Ah Beng. Yes, he has gone global, now internationally recognised as a familiar cultural figure in Malaysia and Singapore. He was formerly known as Jinjang Joe. Ah Beng’s popularity and origin can perhaps be attributed to Singapore. But now there is increased frequency of its use in our country as well.

According to Wikipedia, the Ah Beng usually speaks Hokkien or Cantonese, or Manglish or Singlish. “They are often stereotypically portrayed to be anti-intellectual, superficial, materialistic and shallow ... and are seen as being excessively flashy and show-offs,” says the online entry. “Ah Bengs are often seen decked out in gaudy floral shirts, tight jeans and sneakers, and often carry around plastic combs.”

Quite simply, the Ah Beng is a social stereotype, often associated with the lower-income group and seen as uncouth and uncultured. He is usually identified as having a low-paying job, and sprinkles his speech with Chinese swear words.

The floral and loud clothing may not be as ubiquitous nowadays, and the Ah Beng is now more interested in Japanese street fashion; rather than kapchais, it’s souped-up Mitsubishis inspired by Initial D.

Some observers have even identified this male bravado as a symptom of socio-economic frustrations, much like the Mat Rempit culture. In Singapore, the Ah Beng is also seen as an anti-thesis and a reaction to the prim-and-proper, Anglicised form of education of the middle and upper classes.

Singapore seems to have a more pronounced obsession with the Ah Beng, as he appears in many TV sitcoms and movies there. The latest Singapore film to portray Ah Beng characters is The Days, about two brothers involved with a gang of delinquents.

Singapore actor Mark Lee, well-known in the island state for his various Ah Beng roles, was quoted in a Straits Times report: “Singaporeans like to watch them because some people think they are gangsters and do not dare look at them directly. So we like to see them in the movies. They do things (other) people cannot do.”

In the same report, Adrian Pang, another familiar face on Singapore TV and in movies, said: “He’s an easy target for mirth and merriment on the one hand, and a symbol of Singapore gritty ‘realism’ on the other.”

Are you Beng?

But the question is, is it really fair to label anyone with dyed hair, long fingernail on the last finger and a loud, brash way of talking, as an uncouth Ah Beng?

Fortunately, not everyone complains about the unrefined Ah Beng. There are those who do not buy into the stereotype.

Thomas, a publicist in his late 30s, says: “I have quite a few Ah Beng friends, and contrary to popular belief, most of them are smart and decent people. It’s just that they don’t know how to dress or just happen to like the ‘style’.

“One of my friends, a 19-year-old Ah Beng, is an award-winning entrepreneur.”

Eileen, a businesswoman in her 40s, remembers how she was rescued by an Ah Beng when she was harassed by a stranger at a bus-stop. “Despite what people say, I think Ah Bengs are a respectable bunch,” said Eileen.

A literate Beng

Take the case of Ming, in his late 20s, who works in broadcast. He loves karaoke, is a regular participant in singing contests, has a penchant for Canto-pop by the likes of Eason Chan, and once even sported blond hair. The only thing he doesn’t do is drive a souped-up car. So, with all these traits, he is an Ah Beng, right?

Well, think again.

Ming doesn’t mind being called an Ah Beng, but he prefers the term “literate Beng”. To him, it simply means he’s more literate than most people, is very fluent in English, but doesn’t forget his Chinese side.

“I identify a lot with how a Beng is, deep down – the values of friendship, loyalty, the dislike of authority figures, the inability to tolerate people who are full of crap,” said Ming.

Ming added that he used to be more Beng in appearance, in terms of hairstyle, rather than clothing. But he has since toned down because, well, he’s getting older. For him, it was a way to express himself.

Like Jason – the blond-haired VCD seller who is into Tagore’s poetry – in the movie Sepet, Ming has fine tastes in music and movies. Apart from Stephen Chow movies, he also likes Pulp Fiction, No Country for Old Men, Little Miss Sunshine and Million Dollar Baby. His music preference is wide-ranging, from Canto-pop to Don McLean and the Beach Boys. Ironically, he can’t stand techno.

Victim of ignorance

Stereotypes are never good, and stem from a negative perception. From an anthropological standpoint, it is simply that in trying to define ourselves, we also reject the Other. Prof Datuk Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, director of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Institute of Ethnic Studies, agrees.

“Stereotypes develop over time as a result of ignorance or half-knowledge about the Other. What makes it worse is when it is repeated many times by many groups or individuals. What is myth, perception or illusion becomes reality.

“There is a lot of judgment based on first impression, and it is difficult to stem this kind of perception because it is disseminated at a private level – people discussing on blogs, in coffeeshops, between friends,” said Prof Shamsul.

It doesn’t help that the media and movies help to reinforce the stereotype of the Ah Beng. The Ah Beng is most prominently found in Singaporean movies and sitcoms. Actors such as Adrian Pang and Mark Lee have played Bengs just for laughs; most famously, Gurmit Singh’s yellow-booted contractor Phua Chu Kang has become a pop icon.

While the Ah Beng may be portrayed as a lovable goon in movies, it is still a stereotype that is looked down upon.

“The stereotypical Ah Beng exists partly because of the gap between the classes, and the differences in lifestyles,” said Prof Shamsul. “One doesn’t know what the other’s lifestyle is like, and perceive it as unusual and deviant. People only choose to see what they want to see. This is the danger of ‘half-knowledge’. They don’t bother to find out what the reality is.”

For Ming, he does not really care about being stereotyped. “Stereotypes will always exist because people like to classify things,” said Ming.

He added that some people do underestimate him, but he had proven them wrong time and again. However, after he stopped dyeing his hair, he was no longer looked upon as an Ah Beng.

“But who knows, I might go back to dyeing, Maybe next year. Maybe next month. Maybe tomorrow,” quipped Ming.

Tell-tale signs

How do you identify an Ah Beng? In the Jan 14, 2003, episode of Singaporean sitcom PCK Pte Ltd, titled “Lord of the Bengs”, Mark Lee, the actor famous for playing Ah Beng roles, appears as Lee Kok Peng, Phua Chu Kang (Gurmit Singh)’s old schoolmate and a recurring character from season five to seven, who tutors Chu Kang on the finer points of Beng-ism.

> He can spit into a bowl exactly 3m away with a simple “Kaaakkk ... puuuiii!”

> He drinks coffee (or kopi, the proper Beng way of pronouncing it) from the traditional porcelain cup and saucer, but stirs the contents of the cup violently and makes as much noise as possible ... without spilling a drop. The Beng way of sitting at the table is with one leg up on the stool.

> He has the loudest mobile ringtones around. The songs of choice are either Tarzan Boy or Barbie Girl. The point is to make sure others hear and notice his ringtone.

> He doesn’t do designer coffee brands. He won’t pay more than 70 sen for a cup. “Decaf” isn’t in his vocabulary.

> He is health-conscious and that’s why he sports a long fingernail on his pinkie ... all the better to clean his ears with.

> He has a unique command of the English language. He pronounces “lounge” as “longe,” Mercedes as “Mer-cee-lee” and “never mind” as “near mine.” Of course, the stressed syllable “lah” is of utmost importance, such as in “Steady lah!”

Talking about Ah Beng

Jack Lim

MY.fm deejay Jack Lim has played an Ah Beng gangster in the Jack Neo movie, Ah Long Pte Ltd, sporting blond hair and all.

He says: “I have a two-minute segment on my radio show where I play a character named Ah Beng and my co-host plays Ah Lian. We get into character to talk about entertainment news and various TV and music artistes. It’s all a spot of fun, and listeners love the characters.

To me, an Ah Beng is someone who sports dyed hair, and talks loudly in a mix of Hokkien, Hakka, Cantonese, Mandarin and others. He is into fake brands and matches his clothes badly, but he thinks he is very ‘in’. I used to have red hair too, but I changed after I got an agent to represent me. I agree it is not a good thing to call someone an Ah Beng.”

Nicholas Ong

Nicholas Ong is Jack Lim’s co-host on MY.fm, and he says: “In our entertainment news and gossip column, I play a character named Ah Boon, and along with Ah Beng and Ah Lian, we present the latest gossip.

To me, Ah Beng is a kind of trend for people who have their own fashion sense. But their fashion sense may not be of a very high standard and is very localised. The Ah Beng and Ah Lian think they’re very stylish and good-looking, but they’re not.

They also like to talk a lot of nonsense, and usually want to be someone they’re not. I don’t think it’s very negative to call someone an Ah Beng; it’s more of a peculiar way of addressing someone.”

Pete Teo

Singer-songwriter Pete Teo has appeared in films by James Lee and Ho Yuhang. His travels through East Asia, particularly Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea have given him his own individual perspective on the Ah Beng: “The term ‘Ah Beng’ (and the feminine equivalent ‘Ah Lian’) is particularly popular in Singapore. It is commonly used derogatorily to denote the perceived superiority of one’s westernised cultural conditioning.

"Yet there is nothing inherently superior about the western cultural condition (witness Paris Hilton). Thus the term should never be used, that is, unless one intends to come across as someone completely devoid of the ability to detect irony, or if one is pretending to be Singaporean.”

Ho Yuhang

Filmmaker Ho Yuhang finds it hard to pin down what the Ah Beng is: “A company told me that their brand is for the ‘B-man,’ as opposed to its competitor’s target, the ‘A-man.’

I’ve never heard of these terms, but the B-man is basically the rugged type, but not like those who are into extreme sports. If he jumps off a bridge, it has to be for a good reason, like saving a girl.

I’m not sure what this has to do with the Ah Beng, but definitely the Ah Beng is none of the above! But you can’t say the Ah Beng is not intelligent, or old-fashioned because he keeps up with the latest and most popular. I guess, in short, the Ah Beng is a bloke who doesn’t wear the clothes but the clothes wear him.” - Stories by Allan Koay