Some weeks ago, I was at an event, where Hadhrami students (mostly from Saudi and Yemen) studying in Malaysia, met with a Hadhrami Saudi businessman that gives out scholarships. One part of the day, involved an open session where the audience could pose a question or comment to any one there.
I used the platform to bring out two points. They were about (1) the local Malaysian sentiment towards the Arabs, and (2) the Arabs bring an instrument of engagement between Malaysian Muslims to get closer to Islam. Below is an elaboration of what I said from what I remembered, which might not be quite accurate still.
*Note: I too am a Hadhrami, meaning people of Hadhramout. The Hadhrami identity, as explained by an academic who studied the diaspora which I can say is sufficiently accurate, is determined by kinship, and not (necessarily) by genealogy, geography, political, physical, etc. Hadhramout is a state in Yemen, but in terms of identity is not to be narrowly understood in terms of it’s physical/geographical location – hence why many Hadhrami Muwallads (Hadhramis born/raised out of Hadhramout, some never been there), still identify (at time introduce themselves), as a Hadhrami – not say, in terms of race like ‘Arab’, or in terms of political borders like ‘Peruvian’, or in terms of genealogy like ‘ White’, or geography like ‘Scot’, etc.
1. In the old days, hundreds of years ago, Arabs, Hadhramis mostly, were welcomed in the Malay Archipelago for an array of reasons. They brought with them scholarship, knowledge in various areas of Islam, astronomy, language, trading, diplomacy, seafaring, a network to the international community, etc.
They were advisors to the Sultans, leaders and some were courted to marry the daughters of the people they earned respect from. Partly as a result of which, they are given casual honorific titles. For example, instead of being addressed the standard Encik (mister), the term Tuan (sir, or master if literally translated) or Wan was used for them – the same used in for other respectful people in society today.
Today, Arabs students in Malaysia are struggling to find landlords willing to rent a living space for them, even at a premium rate. Taxi drivers avoid taking them or at times have no qualms about charging a ridiculous figure upfront.
Little good is being said about Arabs in Malaysia, often seen as ill mannered, arrogant, vandals, unwilling to adapt, etc. It’s not that bad when people don’t want to loan you money, but when they don’t even feel compassionate enough to give (rent) a roof over your head, that is saying something.
How did this happen and how to move forward?
If this sentiment continues to escalate, it is not surprising if some years from now, there will be a group (NGO or otherwise), who demand the government to no longer admit Arabs into the country. The end result might not be a reality, but it is foreseeable to see a growing minority who would feel the same way.
Some feel that this is the result of how other (non-Hadhrami) Arabs behave, but admit that as far as the Malaysian eye can see, there’s no distinction. Some admit witnessing such behavior from their own Arab friends and classmates. That said, none find this pleasant and are keen to help.
Two things I put forward to them was that, albeit they are neutral – neither terrible, nor exemplary Arabs in Malaysia, because of the current climate, it is demanded of them to be great. Secondly, because of that current climate as well, doing only a little good, could be enough to show positivity. In the land of the blind, the One-Eyed Jack is king.
2. Malaysia and Malaysians are reaching an age, where they are beginning to identify their identity in both a collective and an individual context. It is also partly due to the more globalized world and the loose trans-border exchange of exposure with people from different lands and times. Therefore even new questions and considerations about identity prop up.
For Muslims who are keen (wholly or partly) to identify themselves as Muslims, thus a member of the Ummah, their contact with Arabs, the land where Islam originated from, is one of many ways for them. Others could mean to think more within the Worldview of Islam, wanting to dress in a more Islamic fashion, to conduct more dealings with Muslims, to learn Arabic, etc.
Additionally due to Malaysians generally being shy to foreigners, not to mention a slight inferiority complex for not being able to converse in a foreign language such as English, Arabic, French, the desire for more contact sometimes get slowed down by such barriers, to name a few.
It doesn’t help that sometimes their impression towards foreigners, are not as accurate. Such as some think that all Westerners are say, tall, good looking, and intelligent, or that all Arabs are knowledgeable about Islam, religious all around, and perhaps rich with money.
Therefore I put it to the Hadhrami students there, to understand that what the locals think of them can be premature and presumptuous at times, and when they see the true colours, they may get disillusioned and disappointed.
At the same time, they do also want to get closer to Islam, sometimes purely for wanting to have more contact with Muslims from different lands. However, it is not as probable to expect them to make the first move to establish a connection. It would then, be the burden of the foreigners, Arabs or Hadhramis specifically, to make effort to break the ice, assuming they felt if this was within their interest.