The Representation Crisis: The Underrepresented Malaysian Ethnic Minorities
Résumé
Malaysia has been facing an ongoing battle on ethnicity and religion. The strategy of "divide and rule" carried out by the British administration during the colonial period has drastically changed the country's demography, resulting in a form of segregation of the population. Since its independence from the British rule, Malaysia has transformed into a racialised country, demonstrating the continuation in racial stereotypes and categorisation. The division between the Malay majority and the non-Malay minorities has grown wider, jeopardising interethnic unity and impairing social cohesion. The ethnic minorities in Malaysia encounter discrimination and unequal rights which deeply reflects the representation and visibility of the ethnic communities-they are underrepresented. For an ethnic minority to have the opportunity to an improved quality of life and career advancement, migration becomes an attractive alternative. Thus, this paper seeks to explore the underrepresented and marginalised Malaysian ethnic minorities, those who have immigrated and settled in the United Kingdom through their narratives on equality and justice in a pluralistic society.