Contributed by Guest Blogger Jennifer Patin
A television station in Malaysia was recently the focus of outrage by members of the country’s Chinese and Malaysian Muslim populations. The station aired an advertisement intended to inform about respectful Ramadan practices, but soon experienced heated backlash against the anti-Chinese racism interpreted from the ads. The ad used a female Chinese actress who displayed ignorance about how to conduct herself around Muslim Malaysians during Ramadan. Chinese viewers were offended that a Chinese person was singled out as a symbol of ignorance, while some Malaysians thought the ad implied that Muslims are not tolerant.
The video can be viewed here.
The indignation that eventually caused the television station to withdraw the ad speaks to the racial tension between ethnic Malays and Chinese Malaysians, which has colored the past and present. Chinese in Malaysia make up a larger percentage of the population than Chinese in Thailand. Chinese that have lived in Malaysia for several generations are still largely considered Chinese by the ethnic Malay majority, which has been criticized for portraying Chinese negatively in books, movies, and media. In the late 1970s, the Malaysian government put laws in place that amounted to affirmative action for the ethnic Malay majority to curb the economic dominance of Chinese Malaysians.
Chinese in Thailand have also experienced discrimination, but seem to be better assimilated into the population. The assimilation of Chinese into Thai society could be for three reasons: valued Chinese contributions to Thailand’s economy; Thai nationalism; and culture and religion.
Chinese merchants were some of the main traders in rice in Thailand in the early 1900s. They made up a significant amount of the labor force, and were depended upon in Thailand for rice and other goods. The Chinese later gained prominence in industries like banking, finance, and manufacturing, where they are still major players today.[1] Chinese traders eventually learned the language and customs of Thailand and were accepted as an essential force in Thailand’s economic growth. Where Chinese contributions to the economy in Malaysia caused hostility that led to changes in the constitution, Chinese involvement in Thailand’s economy was and continues to be regarded as vital.
Thailand underwent a strong period of nationalism around the time of World War II. During this time, the Chinese in Thailand started to change their last names to Thai names and become Thai citizens. By law, Chinese had to use Thai names in order to become citizens. Once the Chinese became citizens of Thailand, they experienced less racial-based discrimination and started to self-assimilate even more into Thai society. Thailand also started promoting Thai education in language and history in schools and began limiting the Chinese language studies. As a result, Thai Chinese pupils communicated mostly in Thai outside of home and became further integrated in Thai society.
Chinese presence in Thailand dates all the way back to Rama I, who was part Chinese. Thais and Chinese have intermarried over the years, celebrated Buddhist holidays together, and influenced each other’s cuisine. Thais are accustomed to celebrating Chinese religious holidays and have never protested against Chinese religious observances. It is even desired by some Thai women to “look Chinese” by having fairer complexions.
Chinese in Thailand have long established their roots, shown their willingness to assimilate, and been largely accepted into Thai society. Their influence is palpable and there are currently no significant signs that racism will blemish Thai Chinese life in Thailand as it has in Malaysia.
[1] Chantavanich, Supang, “From Siamese-Chinese to Chinese Thai: Political Conditions and Identity Shifts among the Chinese in Thailand,” in Suryadinata, Leo (ed.), Ethnic Chinese as Southeast Asians, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1997.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Jennifer!
Not sure if you actually live in Thailand, but I do, and have for more than 5 years. 8 years in Japan before that and 3 years travel before that. I’m also a teacher here in Bangkok, and have had my fair share of political, religious and cultural conversations with more students than I can count. So my opinion of the Chinese in Thailand comes from my personal experience in the country.
Most of my students are Chinese Thai by the way.
IMHO:
This is one of the most Class and Race divided societies in Asia. There is a huge gap between the social, economical, political, and educational status of the Chinese Thai population and the “Pure” Thai population. Guess who’s on TOP? The Chinese!
I’m glad you see the Chinese Thais as ‘assimilated’ because I don’t see it. I see it more like they have “dominated”. The average middle class Chinese or Chinese Thai living in Bangkok is NOT looking to assimilate with “Pure Thais” and when I say “Pure Thais” I mean “Brown Skinned” Thai people.
If you are NOT white skinned with more than a little Chinese blood in your veins and money in the bank, you are basically stuck in the lower strata of society, and you are NOT even considered beautiful; simply based on the tint of your skin.
“Si Dom Mai Saway” “Black is NOT Beautiful”. It’s almost a Mantra here in Thailand. If I had 30Baht for every time I’ve heard that, I could go to Chinatown and buy a lot of noodle soup.
I little Thai boy or little Thai girl, unfortunate enough to be born born Thai with Brown Skin in this country, grows up with a deep sense of inferiority, resentment and a marked lack of opportunity especially in Bangkok. This in a country where most people are Thai-Thai and Brown Skinned, NOT Chinese-Thai and white skinned. Though you wouldn’t know it in Bangkok.
The level of discrimination and bias is really quite unbelievable, and it’s Chinese Thai on Thai discrimination pure and simple. The haves and the have nots. The “Whites” and the “Blacks”. The Us and the Them. The city people and the country people. It’s the same old story around the world, why would you assume Thailand would be different.
***You wrote:
“there are currently no significant signs that racism will blemish Thai Chinese life in Thailand as it has in Malaysia.” You got that right! Kind of!
If you mean that the Chinese Thais are NOT likely to be VICTIMS of Racism…I agree. But you fail to mention that it’s the Chinese Thais themselves who ARE the RACIST ones, against other Thais. Although most of them don’t realize it, because after all, “Si Dom Mai Saway” “Black is NOT Beautiful”. Right?
Regards,
William from the USA
William,
It’ s funny when you see brown skin Thai you jump to conclusion that is a real Thai!, then you see pale Thai you say that is a Chinese!
First of all, do you know Mon people? do you know Thailand was once Khmer empire? do you know Isan region was once part of Laos?
OK, let use your little brain to think where are those Mon/Khmer/Laotian people now?? DO YOU KNOW WHO IS REAL THAI?
Do you know the history of Thailand???
There is no discrimination among Thai, Chinese-Thai, Thai of Chinese descent or wherever. But Thai people as a whole tend to look down on brown skin Thai who is of Mon/Khmer/Laos descent.
William ,you’re right You have lived here long enough to see that fact. I’m Chinese Thai myself but most of us are willing to assimilate and consider ourself Thai rather than Chinese.
I thought I might weigh in. There is a certain amount of
truth on both sides of the argument.
I have friends who are also, like myself, ethnic Chinese.
Come on. Let’s be honest. Our parents want us to marry
within our ethnic Chinese communities.
In Malaysia, frankly, I do not know how a Malay, Tamil,
Orang Asli or Dayak can obtain a business loan. Read the
sign boards to the shops on any high street and the
story is clear. No one is wrongly posting Chinese family
names on the VAST number of businesses. The ethnic-Chinese
families that own them do that.
We can live in denial and watch the resentment build or
we can be honest with ourselves and build bridges.
With the rise of Mainland China, tensions and resentment
will only grow, I’m afraid as our communities, rightly or
wrongly, will be considered to be given favorable treatment
in business and cultural ties with the PRC and our nationalism
may even be called into doubt in matters of sovereignty like
the islands in the South China Sea in the Philippines, Malaysia
and Vietnam.
I thought I might weigh in. There is a certain amount of
truth on both sides of the argument.
I have friends who are also, like myself, ethnic Chinese.
Come on. Let’s be honest. Our parents want us to marry
within our ethnic Chinese communities.
In Malaysia, frankly, I do not know how a Malay, Tamil,
Orang Asli or Dayak can obtain a business loan. Read the
sign boards to the shops on any high street and the
story is clear. No one is wrongly posting Chinese family
names on the VAST number of businesses. The ethnic-Chinese
families that own them do that.
rang Asli or Dayak can obtain a business loan. Read the
sign boards to the shops on any high street and the
storythe VAST number of businesses. The ethnic-Chinese
families thais clear. No one is wrongly posting Chinese family
names on t own them do that.
We can live in denial and watch the resentment build or
we can be honest with ourselves and build bridges.
With the rise of Mainland China, tensions and resentment
will only grow, I’m afraid as our communities, rightly or
wrongly, will be considered to be given favorable treatment
in business and cultural ties with the PRC and our nationalism
may even be called into doubt in matters of sovereignty like
the islands in the South China Sea in the Philippines, Malaysia
and Vietnam.