do you have a boyfriend?

0Hazrul Azhar Jamari • 14th Nov 2007 • My Notes

I swear that this is one of the most adorable Petronas advertisements for Merdeka Day (Independence Day of Malaysia). Petronas have been a major encouragment on greater understanding among the various races in Malaysia, and this is one thing which we here in Singapore, also hope to achieve.

(23/11/07: for some reason, youtube.com’s embed function seem to be buggy, so watch the tan hong ming video here.)

I recall how I once fancied a chinese girl in class. Well… to be honest, once in sec 2, and the next in sec 3 and 4. They were what I wished perempuan melayu terakhir would be like. They were the anti-minah. Sweet, gentle, and nice people.

But I was too old for my age, and contemplated too much about ethnic differences and how our families would take it. I wasn’t too sure. You see… inter-racial relationships weren’t as common then nor was it accepted easily. I liked them. But I was a 15 year old with a 25 year old mind. I think deep. Too deep sometimes. And I wished I’d turn back time and just took the courage to take them much more seriously. I’m pretty sure I’d be happy.

But what I have now. I wouldn’t trade for the world. She’s half chinese and I happen to be 1/8 chinese. You see. Racial lines are continuing to blur. And I hope that the future Singapore, the Singapore that I want to live in will no longer have racial misunderstanding. I wish for a Singapore that not only tolerates, but comprehend each other’s faiths and cultures. Perhaps one day, we will no longer have a need to see “Mandarin speakers only” in newspapers. Perhaps, that day, will be in my time. I hope it will.