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Melissa graduated in 2009 and was called to the Malaysian Bar about 4 months ago. She is currently practising in a law firm in Kuala Lumpur. Aston Paiva recently spoke to her on ethnicity issues in Malaysia.

1. Why did you choose to become a lawyer?

I certainly did not grow up aspiring to be a lawyer. I just stumbled into it one fine day. Yet, I have no regrets so far in my short legal career. It may not be the most lucrative profession and although the prestige once associated with the Bar is in serious decline, I genuinely believe that the Bar can be reinvigorated! Besides, no other profession is accorded so much opportunity to have a voice that will be heard and to make a difference to the society.

2. How do you identify yourself ethnically?

I think my family, in particular my father, started me on the right track by insisting that my name was registered on the birth certificate without the “a/p” which is the norm for those of paternal Indian heritage. Right from the start, my parents wished that their children would embrace cosmopolitanism and did not see the necessity for any racial or gender connotations. Far from implying that we are not proud of our heritage and our roots because we do embrace both the Chinese and Indian cultures equally in our daily life, the fact that we can all pray together as a family in a church, a Chinese temple or an Indian temple is something that, although amusing to many of my friends, I am proud of.

I would say that I do not identify myself solely to any particular race. I identify myself proudly as a Chinese and an Indian. Both are my heritage and it would be a pity if I had to choose either one.

An educator once told me (in front of a class), that, it is shameful that I am unable to speak Tamil, my supposedly mother tongue, and repeatedly preached to me on how children from mix-marriages often grow up “confused”, that is, growing up (like me) without a fixed religion. With due respect, I am truly aghast at his narrow mindedness and coming from an educator like himself is certainly perplexing.

 3. Do you think concepts like 'ethnicity' and 'race' are still relevant in Malaysia today?

When filing up any official or unofficial forms, the question that comes soon after the Name and IC No. column or space would usually be Race and Religion. I cannot comprehend the importance placed and accorded to such column. In my humble opinion, such column would only lead to racial segregation and, unless such column is abolished, the concept of “1Malaysia” or any other similar gigantic slogans will never work because we are still invariably defined and institutionalised by our race and religion. I also believe that racial stereotypes are man-made and should be done away with. We should never abandon our heritage but the stereotyping associated with each race, the most common example being “Malays are lazy, Chinese are greedy and Indians cannot be trusted” has to go as it serves no meaningful purpose except to widen the racial gap.

4. What are your thoughts on interracial marriages?

Well, I am the product of one and I am blessed to be able to enjoy the best of both worlds (read: ang paos!). Jokes aside, it was a difficult decision at first for my parents to make, due to social norms but admittedly, people are becoming more receptive and supportive towards interracial marriages as the society becomes better equipped intellectually. I strongly opine that skin colour should never be the reason to discriminate against interracial couples. It had always been my aspiration and hope that one day, my dual-ethnicity would be recognized rather than being classed as an Indian owing solely to my father’s ethnicity.

5. If you someday became Malaysia's first Non Malay Female Prime Minister, what would be your first action towards improving race relations in Malaysia?

I would put an end to “witty” slogans such as “1Malaysia”!

After 53 years of independence, it is a shame that we have to unite the nation and backpedal by resorting to meaningless slogans that even our Deputy Prime Minister does not subscribe to (read: I am a Malay first, Malaysian second). Our country is often quoted as a land of equal opportunities but I am told that as an “orang bukan Melayu”, I should live in gratitude to the Malays and I am not to demand for my rights without it being labelled as challenging the special rights and privileges accorded to the Malays.

It is not difficult to understand the dilemma faced by non-Malays when even our Constitution allows for a quota system to be practiced. Take a good look at the NEP, who can blame the non-Malays for feeling discriminated against, when the solutions for economic problems in our country are based on ethnicity? Not only are the economic issues amongst non-Malays not being addressed adequately, to make matters worse, there is even a further segregation, between Malay bumiputera rights and native bumiputera rights. I would abolish all such policies and the fact that our fellow Malaysians are asking for equal treatment amongst all Malaysian citizens, without undue preference to any particular race or ethnicity should not be seen as being a race-related request.

I would also stop all the politicking on the policies of our country’s education system. Some of our leaders seem clueless and are always making decisions and policies at their whims and fancies. The recent policy changes and discussions on our education system causes students to be treated as mere lab rats and the PPSMI issue, for example, was somehow turned into a race-related issue when it should have been regarded as a noble intention and solution to move the country forward.

I would also encourage national type schools rather than vernacular schools which I believe creates racial disunity and destroys relationship amongst the different races. However, we should take into account the myriad of races in this country and allow diversity to be part of our national school system without compromising the roots of their ethnicity.

Melissa also recently wrote an article on ethnicity issues as above, which was published in the National Young Lawyers Committee’s column in The Star, Putik Lada.