OF LEMANG, YEE SANG AND LADDU

Delicacies served during festive occasions have assumed a Malaysian identity. Kuih bangkit, a crumbly sweet wafer made from rice flour, is available during Hari Raya and Chinese New Year open houses. Muruku, the crunchy Indian snack, is served not only during Deepavali but also during Chinese New Year. The fruitcake is another multi-festival favourite served the year round.

Having said that, it would be boring if the same titbits were served during every major festival. That's why it's good and refreshing that some festival delicacies are unique to certain race only. The Malays love lemang (glutinous rice cooked in bamboo poles), the Chinese love yee sang (raw fish salad), and the Indians have their sweet delicacies such as jelebi, laddu and gheeballs. Just as these distinctive dishes make each celebration unique, so too we should cherish the different traditions that make us who we are.

Regarding our inherent make-up, is one race more likely to act in a certain way than another? A friend of mine puts it this way:

Kalau tidak malas, bukan Melayu,

Kalau tidak tipu, bukan Cina,

Kalau tidak minum, bukan India.

If you're not lazy, you're not Malay,

If you're not cheat, you're not Chinese,

If you're not drink, you're not Indian.

To my friend I say:

I'm Malay but I'm no slob,

My friend's Chinese but he's not cheat,

Another is Indian but he's no drunk,

Malay, Chinese, Indian and Others,

We are who we make ourselves to be,

Not the stereotypes we're made out to be.

But if we don't buck the trend,

We'll forever be stamped.

(HONK! If You're Malaysian by Lydia Teh - re-edited)