COMMENT | Letter to a Malay 'brother'

COMMENT | On a recent Qatar flight from Washington DC to KLIA connecting in Doha, I saw six bumiputeras, plausibly in their late 20s or early 30s, in the departure hall. They had priority boarding.

As I trundled to the back in economy, the group of six were sipping orange juice from champagne glasses while scrolling through their canggih phones.

Could they be Malaysian consulate staff, diplomat trainees, Jusa A officers?

Their business class comfort triggered my stereotype of Malays who had seemingly made it in the civil service or a GLC. I could be wrong - or right.

Such are the unthinking stereotypes borne of racialised politics. Malay or non-Malay - we’re all susceptible to this mental trap...