Righting the Wrong

Forgotten Malaysian History

(Restoring Voices, Reclaiming Truths)

Ranjit Singh Malhi (2026)

The history syllabus we studied is completely different from what is present in the current school curriculum. There is a clear attempt to minimise the roles and contributions of various sections of society. There is a clear effort to rewrite the country's history to serve certain political agendas. This country would not be what it is today if not for the blood, sweat, and hardships endured by various immigrants who landed on this land.

Ranjit Singh Malhi is a senior academic who has been in the business of writing history books, like forever. Over the years, he has lamented that the Malaysian history taught in secondary schools has progressively downplayed the role of the Non-Malays in the country's early history. The contributions of the non-Malays to subsequent development, defending the nation against enemies of its independence, and their own economic progress are gradually being erased. 

Penang Waterfall Temple
Established in 1914, long before the Malayan
Land Codes were established.

At this age and era, this book feels more essential than ever. Evidence of ignorance about Malaysian history is evident from the recent fiasco surrounding the legitimacy of numerous unregistered Hindu temples across the country. The confrontational buffoons who are on a witch hunt to demolish all Hindu temples they consider illegally built are products of Malay-centric, whitewashed history lessons. This book aims to set the record straight: the history of Malaya is not solely Malay-centric.

Some time ago, many Malaysian historians mooted the idea that Malaysia was never 'colonised' by the British but merely 'administered' it. When the British enacted laws for Malaya on how it should be governed, as they did on several occasions, they effectively ruled us. 

The word 'pendatang' (newcomer) is a slur in Malaysia used against non-Malay people. It is absurd to continue using such a phrase, as some non-Malays have been here since before the 16th century. Clearly, they are more deeply rooted here than some first-generation Indonesians who claim to be more Malay by virtue of their religion. 

The Malays are a group of Austronesian seafarers from Taiwan who migrated through the Indonesian archipelago, from Sumatra, and then settled in the peninsula, mostly in the 19th and 20th centuries. The various tribes of people from the archipelago—such as the Malays, Minangkabaus, Javanese, Kerinchis, and Mendalings—each claim to be more 'son of the soil' than the others. It may be that the 1931 British census showed that non-Malays outnumbered Malays, which led to them being grouped together under the umbrella of Malay.

Lately, Yap Ah Loy's contribution to transforming Kuala Lumpur into a thriving city has been overshadowed in the name of 'Ketuanan Melayu' (Malay Supremacy). The names of Raja Abdullah, Sutan Puasa, and Abdullah Hukum are being mentioned. Raja Abdullah may have brought Chinese miners to work in Ampang. Sutan Puasa owned a piece of mining land. It was Yap Ah Loy who helped rebuild Kuala Lumpur after a fire and floods. 

The Orang Asli's role as the peninsula's earliest inhabitants is often overlooked. They arrived on the peninsula around 10,000 years ago. During the era of the Malay Sultanates, the Orang Asli were enslaved, causing them to retreat further into the wilderness. They played a vital role in maintaining security, especially against the communists. The skills of the Senoi Praque need no elaboration.

Kpl Baharuddin @ Senoi Praque

The Indian culture has been a powerful civilising influence on the Malay kingdom. This is reflected in their cuisine, language, wedding rituals, and royal ceremonies.

The author goes on to highlight the contributions of various communities in nation-building. The Javanese are depicted as a model of agricultural excellence. After being recruited as labourers across various geographical locations, they developed entrepreneurial skills and hard work that allowed them to become independent rubber estate smallholders. They retained their language and culture, living in Kampong Jawa, a common sight in many towns. Many Javanese have become Malaysian political leaders, not as Javanese but as Malays. 

The existence of the Melaka Chettis, a unique Hindu Peranakan community, dates back to the 15th century. Originally traders, they have now expanded into many professional fields. Their culture combines Tamil Hindu, Malay, and Chinese influences. Many speak Bazaar Malay at home. The community even produced a dondang sayang singer. Their traditions, dress, and cuisine are a blend of Indian and local flavours. They are among the original inhabitants of Malaya. 

The Baba-Nyonya, part of the Peranakan Chinese community, also shares a rich heritage with the Chettis. They have incorporated elements of Western culture into their traditions. They demonstrate allegiance to the Crown to distinguish themselves from the ‘off the boat’ Straits Chinese who arrived later. The former spoke a Malay-Hokkien blended language, while the latter spoke Hokkien or other dialects. The Baba-Nyonyas have their own distinctive cuisine and attire. Many from this community went on to become national leaders, including Tan Cheng Lock, the first president of the MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association); his son, Tan Siew Sin, the first Malaysian finance minister; and others. 

Jean Abdullah

The Portuguese Eurasian community traces its ancestry back five centuries to Melaka. They still carry their surnames. We are aware of many sportsmen, musicians, politicians, judges, and even a ‘First Lady’ for a brief moment through Jeanne Danker Abdullah. 

South Indians contributed immensely to Malaysia's subsequent economic and infrastructure development. The history textbooks conveniently omit the part where hundreds of thousands perished in the elements during the transformation of tropical jungles into rubber plantations. Then the hands that diligently tapped the white gold under the cloak of darkness to create modern Malaysia. The British also found them to be excellent workers for laying railway tracks. 

Then there were the Ceylonese, Malayalees, Telugus, Tamil Muslims, Sinhalese, entrepreneurial Gujaratis, and Sindhis.

The Sikhs, though small in number, proved to be no pushovers. Brought into the police force in the late 19th century, they play an important role in the country's defence. In this context, they are accused of being lapdogs of the British, doing their dirty work of curbing the natives. In their defence, the Sikhs were quite riled up after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the Komagata Maru incident, where Sikh immigrants from India were denied entry and turned back. The passengers who reached Calcutta were forcibly arrested and shot during a scuffle. This event is said to have spurred the anti-British Gadar movement. A Malayan Sikh is credited with chartering the ocean liner from Hong Kong to ferry immigrants to Canada. 

Jagat Singh of Perlis

The significance of Sikh moneylenders as an alternative to traditional banking cannot be overstated. The story of Jagat Singh of Perlis is quite compelling. His involvement in moneylending enabled him to acquire nearly half of Perlis' land. The British had to intervene and exile him to Penang.

Their contributions to the legal profession, sports, education, politics, civil services, banking, and medical services cannot be denied. 

The ethnicities from Sabah and Sarawak also have their side of history that is glazed over to deny them their role in national progress. The 1943 Jesselton Uprising is a significant moment when a multi-ethnic Sanahan crowd stood up against the formidable Japanese forces during World War II. 

The current Government, which has strong roots and links with the right-leaning, pro-British, elitist Alliance Party, aims to promote the idea that the UMNO-MCA-MIC coalition is the only entity claiming independence from London. The contributions of the radical Malay left, such as PKMM and their liaison with the Japanese while maintaining rapport with MPAJA and CPM, are downplayed. Ahmad Boestamam, one of the key figures of the Malay left and other offshoot parties, does not receive due recognition.

In the early years of Malaya, Chinese entrepreneurs played a crucial role in developing commercial agriculture and tin mining. There is a special mention of a defender of the working class, Karam Singh Veriah; Karpal Singh Deo, whose fierce arguments about the Constitution still echo in the Opposition's minds; the revered spiritual leader Nik Aziz; the best Prime Minister Malaysia never had, Tun Dr Ismail; and the 'more Malay than Malay' leopold who cannot change his spots, Mahathir Mohamad. 

The book concludes with a report on the May 13 racial riots. The official narrative, as mentioned by Tunku, is that it was orchestrated by communal extremists supported by secret societies and Communists. In reality, it might have been a political coup in disguise. The ultra-Malay faction within UMNO, including Harun Idris, Mahathir Mohamad, Abdul Razak, and Ghazali Shafie, plotted to remove Tunku. It was a well-executed coup de tat that struck fear into Malaysia. New economic and educational policies were introduced to determine the country's direction for generations. Racial supremacy became ingrained in everyday life in Malaysia.

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Knowledge without Wisdom!

Capture of Delhi 1858
Wiki Commons

Having an extensive amount of knowledge is not enough. One must assess the information and use it critically. It is like having a lot of money but no brain to manage it. In the end, it would be like the Emperor's new clothes, and everyone else would have a good laugh at the Emperor's expense.

This idea came to me while listening to a podcast about the 1857 Indian Sepoy Mutiny, also known as the Indian Rebellion or, more recently, India's War of Independence. About a hundred years after the Battle of Plassey, which marked the start of British rule in India, Indians were becoming restless. Christianity was increasingly influential in Indian daily life. British commanders included Christian prayer in their morning briefings. There was a sense that the British were actively proselytising Indians.

So, when the rumour spread that the bullets in the new Enfield rifle were greased with pork and beef fat, and required the sepoys to bite open its greased paper cartridges, Indians, both Hindus and Muslims, were provoked. It all began in Meerut when 85 soldiers defied their superiors. They refused to handle the bullets and were imprisoned. The other soldiers freed them, signalling the start of the rebellion.

Like wildfire, hushed, coded messages were sent between towns in the form of capatis (similar to Chinese mooncakes with hidden messages). Peasants rose up to oppose their colonial masters, especially around Lucknow. The natives rebelled against foreigners in Calcutta, Cawnpore, Delhi, and Lucknow. The problem was that they were not united. They fought in isolated pockets, defending regions such as Jhansi, territories, and their religious beliefs. The British were better organised. They used the telegraph to coordinate their troops and strategies. They also had formidable Sikh and Pathan fighters on their side. The Indians, however, had the numbers. An 82-year-old reluctant pacifist and poetic king, Bahadur Shah Zafar (Bahadur Shah II), was installed as their king. A fierce battle followed. The human tragedy was beyond words. It resulted in a stalemate; both armies remained trapped in trenches.

Aryabhatta -Mathematician-Astronomer
Extraordinaire 476-550 CE

India had advanced knowledge in astronomy. They understood that the Earth was spherical and that their heliocentric model existed long before Europeans could even count. However, knowledge that is not applied or understood in context can be cause for disaster. It is similar to a doctor refusing to attend to a patient and delaying essential care because of a lunar event. Indeed, the lunar eclipse would definitely alter his career path. He could be barred from practising, seeing patients, and might face removal from the medical register. Such a situation would be a 'cataclysmic turn of events' for him. Remaining inactive when a disaster is looming is unlikely to lead to a good outcome.

Suddenly, in early September 1858, the Indian soldiers deserted the battlefield. The Hindus, busy with their routines, had not realised that a full lunar eclipse was occurring. They believed such an event held spiritual significance and signified a disastrous turn of events; therefore, it was expected that prayers and rituals would mitigate its effects. The rest is history. The British gained the upper hand and continued their dominance over India for nearly another 100 years.

It is frequently observed that a lunar eclipse also took place at the time of Jesus Christ's crucifixion in 33 CE.

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Tell a thousand lies to make a wedding take place!

Ullozhukku (Undercurrent, Malayalam; 2024)

Written & Directed by: Christo Tomy

https://www.binged.com/streaming-premiere-dates/
ullozhukku-malayalam-movie-streaming-online-watch/

Urvashi was a regular in many Tamil movies in the 1980s. She used to appear in many of the blockbusters, including those acted and directed by the multitalented Bhagyaraj. She went on to win many regional and national accolades. Then her appearance declined as demand shifted toward younger faces. She became choosy about her roles as she took a breather with family life and childbearing. She shone in whatever roles she took. 

This movie is one such movie. It is a slow-moving but engaging one that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, wondering how the problem will be resolved in the end. 

Marriage plays a vital role in the Indian psyche. From a line in the Manu Smriti, often exaggerated by detractors, which equates an unmarried woman to the stones by the river being washed away. Many critical editions dismiss it as an improper translation. Modern Hindu laws do not follow this doctrine verbatim. 

A peculiar thing about Hindu funeral rituals is that some steps are omitted when the deceased is unmarried. He or she is considered to have not led a complete life. Since the deceased is not one who surrendered to a brahmachari way of life, he is assumed to have not completed his householder duties.

In Tamil, there is a saying that goes like this. 'Tell a thousand lies to make a wedding take place' because the blessings of a successful union of marriage supersede everything else. Because of this, many marriages are arranged through marriage brokers through half-truth or the convenient erasure of negativities.

Anju is married off to Thomas Kutty. Anju's mother gets her married because of her entanglement with a Hindu man. Thomas Kutty is a sickly person who had a brain injury. He has epilepsy and needs frequent hospital admissions. His mother, Leelamma, seeks the help of a broker, with a full declaration of his medical condition, to find a bride. Somehow, the truth is suppressed and the wedding proceeds.

https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/
ullozhukku-teaser-out-d676af5e

Anju is shocked to find herself in a meaningless marriage. There is no intimacy. She essentially ends up being a nurse for her husband. In that situation, during one of her numerous hospital trips, she bumps into her ex-boyfriend. Romance is rekindled on the sly, thanks to the privacy of the mobile phone. Anju gets pregnant.

Meanwhile, Thomas Kutty succumbs to a fall. Anju's pregnancy comes to light. Leelamma is overjoyed, thinking it is her son's progeny which was germinating.

The village they live in is perpetually underwater, even after a short spell of rain. Thomas' funeral and burial are chronically delayed. In the interim, the story of the boyfriend and the love child comes to light. The rest of the story deals with how she deals with a likeable mother-in-law whom she had wronged, her own family, who is ashamed by her action and the father of the child, who appears more like a rolling stone that collects no moss and has his eyes keenly on Leelamma's property that she had willed to pass to Anju.

A nicely done film, minus all the wailing and melodrama associated with most Indian movies.

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Humans redundant?

No other choice(Korean, 2025)

Director: Park Chan-wook

https://www.cineart.be/nl/films/no-other-choice

Another interesting release from the land of kimchi. After the phenomenal success of 'Parasite' and the subsequent heart-racing Korean dramas, this must be it. A social satire told as a black comedy in the wackiest way. 

We think we all have agency to choose whatever we like. We feel entitled to demand what we want. We think we have the option to choose. In reality, we have 'no other choice'.

We think we are indispensable in our jobs. We feel that if we do not show up for work, the office will shut down. Not true.

In the modern world, automation was the first to pose a threat to our livelihoods. Robotics replaced people in doing mundane, repetitive jobs. Now, 

we have to live in the real fear of being slashed in corporate restructuring and cost-cutting exercises, and artificial intelligence (AI) hangs over our heads like Damocles' sword. Seniority and experience mean nothing in a world where dollars and cents mean everything.

The movie starts with the definition of bliss. It is spring, and a happy family with a pair of kids is having a barbecue in the garden of their huge ancestral home, enjoying each other's company. Man-su is a happy man. After 25 years at the paper mill, he received an appraisal from his bosses.

Before he knew it, Man-su was given a pink slip. The new American bosses decide to downsize by slashing the middle management. The bosses say, "they have no other choice." A devastated Man-su has to go. One by one, his life crumbles. He gives himself three months to get another job, with his extensive experience. But it is not easy. 17 months later, he is still struggling with odd jobs. His wife has to return to work as a dental assistant and give up her country club lifestyle. They have to give away their two Labradors to cut costs. He cannot afford to send his daughter, whom the teacher thinks is a cello prodigy, for further training. The family decides to sell their ancestral house, too.

In the midst of all that, the husband-wife relationship takes a dip, with both thinking the other is up to no good. Man-su attends an interview for a post at a paper mill but finds that three other candidates have stronger supporting qualifications, making them the favourites to be chosen. So Man-su thought eliminating (killing) them would increase his chances of securing the post. And that is what he goes on to do.

The wife suspects his activities, but she decides to look the other way. She had no other choice. Accepting her as a single mum, Mun-su had married her and given her a good life. She did not want her children to grow up without a father. Hence, the wife tries to hide certain facts when the police came knocking on their door enquiring about the missing interviewees.

There are many nuanced references to the way we, as workers, have no other choice but to dance to the tune of conglomerates that do not value labour but commodify it as disposable. Human experience means nothing as all that the human mind has learned over the break of civilisation has been digitalised to be run by AI. The middle management has lost its relevance. And the upper management has been downgraded to supervise their jobs. Only that the labour force and middle management job is automated.

In the case of paper production, with relevance to this story, trees are cut by machines. The expertise of lumberjacks is unnecessary. At the paper plant, shredding of trees into pulp is also automated. Machines do the quality control and trivial odds and ends. The role of the human is just oversee that there is no glitch in the system.

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Burying the hatchet? Don't leave the handle sticking out!

©Flikr

Many times, people have told me to take it easy. They ask, what is the use of all these negativities? Life is short; you already have one foot in the grave and are living the second half of it. How long will you hold onto the grudge? Make the first move, bury your pride and hatchet, and break the ice. Forgive and forget, they say. Before you know it, you'll be laughing like old friends again. Be the bigger man! Now, how often have you heard that? My question is, why do I always have to make the first move? Don't all these thoughts also cross the other person's mind? Why doesn't he make the first move? These are not just idle musings but essential questions about human relationships and society.

Making the right decision is not a walk in the park. Life often presents us with conflicting lessons, making the journey to forgiveness and forgetting a tough one.

'Turn the other cheek, one says. But yet, another says, 'Snap the hand before it swings a second time.' The pacifist would say, 'Bear injury, bear insult; that is the highest form of merit.' 'You don't have to do anything; karma is a bitch. You don't have to wait till the next birth. Sometimes, you will live to see the payback!' An eye for an eye will only leave the world blind. Amma would throw a spanner into the works if that was not enough. The person who knocks you on your head is a fool, and the person who does not retaliate is a bigger fool.

So, do we 'forgive and forget', 'go for an eye for an eye', 'forgive but don't forget', or be unforgiving, stating that forgiving is the work of the Divine? We are mere mortals.

Historical conflicts continue to cast a long shadow over the present. Each year, Japan commemorates its fallen WW2 heroes, a solemn event that reignites China's grievances over the 1939 Rape of Nanking. The demand for an apology remains unmet, perpetuating the cycle of resentment and unresolved issues.

Conversely, the Japanese did not take offence at the American unnecessary dropping of atomic bombs, which caused indescribable devastation to Japanese lives. Instead of rebelling against the oppressors, they tried to emulate the victors—dressing like them, playing baseball, and prospering as they did. The same applies to Vietnam and the American soldiers waking up to the smell of napalm; the Vietnamese still see the USA as a cash cow and long for their tourists' dollars.

 

The Middle East has experienced ongoing turmoil since the 8th century. Every faction involved in the conflict has an undeniable claim to the lands they fight over. They are even willing to risk their lives for their cause. Like one of the false mothers in King Solomon's court who would rather have the baby cut in two than see its well-being compromised, they allow their treasured land to become a wasteland. Sharing and mutual prosperity are not priorities for them. They should be. In their culture, someone who shares bread is considered a brother or sister. Or is it merely poetic language to comfort the ears?

As our medical services continue to improve rapidly over the years, we anticipate that medical procedures will become increasingly routine. The low rates of morbidity and mortality associated with surgeries persuade us that such issues only occur elsewhere. However, when things do go wrong, what is everyone supposed to do? Medical practitioners may become defensive when patients sign informed consent. The patient might claim ignorance of the risks involved in the procedure, and lawyers would be sharpening their knives. With zero tolerance for adverse outcomes and Murphy's Law lurking in every situation, who gets to forgive and who can forget?

 The media, acting as the Fourth Estate, helps check and balance. Call it overzealous or satisfying the nation's 'need to know'; the public is often flooded with gory information. Justice must be seen to have been carried out and done swiftly. Unnecessary trials by the media have caused many unnecessary heartaches and led to false accusations against innocent people. Even when their innocence is clear, the press does not care; it just moves on with the next gory story. The bereaved can go heal themselves.

 

Losing a life is bad enough. It is worse when the person hasn't lived a full life. Murders, fatal accidents, suicides driven by bullying, and rape-murders often attract media attention today. This obsession with crime and murder has increased so much that many content creators earn a living analysing these crimes. Interestingly, some of these podcasts go beyond the gory details and sensationalism. In a world where the courts are stretched to their limit to seek justice—or is it vengeance?—to give the heaviest sentences to the accused, there are cases where dependents and relatives of victims go as far as forgiving the murderers. Does punishing wrongdoers truly help victims 'rest in peace' or attain moksha?

 

Forget about all those major crimes. Let us focus on relationships close to us. More than once, our loved ones and best friends have wronged us. They may view it as a white lie or even a bad decision due to misjudgment. Humans make mistakes, sometimes influenced by desires or complex emotions. How often have we thought we've been deceived? So often, we tell ourselves, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." Life decisions are not easy. They are linked with societal norms and personal convictions.

Forgetting and forgiving are easier said than done. It is not easy for us to snap out of something. We want to remember, as it is our defence mechanism, to prevent a similar heart-wrenching event from happening again. Still, forgetting helps us heal and reintegrate into life. Sincere apologies are a great way to start the healing process. In modern life, according to our legal experts, apologies are considered an admission of guilt. They say that in times of crisis, one should not speak to avoid incriminating oneself. Forgiveness is crucial for emotional health and moving forward. The balance between forgetting and forgiving leads to healthier interactions and personal growth.

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From The Land of A Thousand Temples

https://borderlessjournal.com/2026/02/16/from-the-land-of-a-thousand-temples/

“Which part of India did your people come from?” asked the Tamil tour guide during our last trip to Chennai.

“I know my forefathers came from Tamil Nadu, but, sorry can’t tell you which part of Tamil Nadu or village they came from,” I told him in Tamil. “I am a third generation Malaysian Indian. We lost touch with all the relatives back home.”

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