Mamak and Baba Nyonya: Food and Identity
I was recently reprimanded for using the term “mamak” instead of more formal references such as “elder statesman” or Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
For this, I make no apologies. To me, mamak signifies the identity of a distinct community, differentiated from Hindu Indians, and carries cultural meaning rather than disrespect.
Admittedly, some politicians have chosen to portray themselves with traits that, in my view, have brought disrepute to the community.
Many would agree that one prominent mamak figure has driven the nation to its lowest points simply because he refuses to accept differing opinions. His claim to being “Malay” rests not on the natural lineage but on the definition enshrined in the Federal Constitution, which has been amended numerous times since its drafting.
Why a Mamak will Forever be Mamak?
My contention has always been that Malay lineage does not follow the matriarchal line, and there is nothing wrong in being identified as mamak.
In fact, most Malaysians take pride in our mamak culture — whether through teh tarik, roti canai, or mee goreng.
If our fellow 'pendatang' Dr. Mahathir descends from an Indian Muslim who migrated to Malaysia, he remains a mamak by patriarchal lineage. This should never have been a matter of contention in the first place.
To me, mamak is no different from how we refer to Baba Nyonya, Indians, Malays, Portuguese, Dayaks, Kadazans, or Chinese — it is a cultural marker, not a slur.
I, for example, cannot hide the fact that I am Chinese, although I speak better English and Malay, than Mandarin, Cantonese or my mother tongue, Hokkien.
There is nothing wrong about being mamak. Even within the Chinese community, some casually refer to themselves as “Cina apek” to foster inter-racial familiarity, much like how the late Abdullah Ahmad Badawi endeared himself to the people as “Pak Lah.”
Damaging to the nation
While drawing attention to the damaging actions of Dr. Mahathir and his allies over the few incidents when he tried to slay one prime minister after another, I want to remind people that his claim to being Malay is not based on lineage.
Dr. Mahathir himself has admitted to having Indian ancestry from Kerala. His recognition as Malay arises only from the definition enshrined in Article 160 of the Federal Constitution, which defines a Malay as someone who professes Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language, and practices Malay customs.
In other words, his Malay identity is constitutional and cultural, not genealogical. It was maintained just for his political mileage, a fact that the Malays have become fully aware of.
This distinction is important when considering how political figures present themselves and their heritage in shaping national narratives.
Why I lost my respect for him?
I was among the few who first extended him a second chance, though I qualified my support by warning friends that the mamak would prove to be a “despicable old fox” if he failed to keep his word.
Despite holding the higeshest political position for a second time, history has shown that this man cannot be trusted, particularly after his role in the collapse of the elected government in 2018 was exposed.
Today, I see the same familiar tactics at play — attempts to appeal to Malaysians whom he believes to be gullible. He used similar strategies in the past, manipulating the Malays during the political clashes between UMNO and DAP, which ultimately led to the resignation of Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bapa Malaysia.
What was later portrayed as a racial riot was, in truth, a political clash between winners and losers of the general election.
He repeated this pattern with Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, painting Pak Lah as a clueless prime minister controlled by the “fourth floor boys.” This narrative enabled him to oust Pak Lah after Barisan Nasional lost five states in 2008.
Yet most Malaysians failed to see that BN’s losses were not due to Pak Lah’s leadership, but rather because Chinese and Indian voters had joined forces with the Pro-Reformasi movement led by Anwar Ibrahim. Most people were already very fed up, not with Barisan Nasional, but with the Mamak himself.
Didn’t we give Pak Lah a strong mandate in 2013, after the mamak stepped down? What I observed was an interplay of perasaan dengki — envy and resentment — which ultimately led to Pak Lah’s own downfall.
Pak Lah was originally from Camp B of UMNO, yet was perceived as “weak” because much of UMNO Baru, established by the mamak, was in fact drawn from his own camp. Musa Hitam would probably be able to tell us more about it.
Why People Rallied behind Anwar?
Many of us witnessed Anwar’s persecution and imprisonment, alongside the rampant corruption that plagued the nation.
By 2018, Malaysians had had enough of the 1MDB corruption scandal, which was "exposed" by small dents made by Rafizi Ramli and Tony Pua. However, the most devastating blow came after the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) revelations about the 1MDB scandal sealed BN’s fate.
Even during Najib’s visit to the White House before the expose by the DOJ, then-President Donald Trump appeared cold toward the delegation — a stark contrast to his more recent warmth toward Malaysia, in particular, Anwar himself, in contrast to former US vice president Al Gore, former Australian prime minister, Paul Keating and former Singapore prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew towards Mahathir.
At the time, many believed Mahathir could serve as a stand-in leader while Anwar remained in prison. We thought we even had a women Deputy Prime Minister for the first time. We gave the Mamak our support, but he betrayed that trust, orchestrating the collapse of an elected government.
Following the Sheraton Move, further attempts were made to unseat Anwar. Yet it was our present Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, who declared that he would not tolerate such undemocratic maneuvers. Clearly, Sultan Ibrahim understands Mahathir and his circle far better than many ordinary Malaysians. For that, we salute him: Daulat Tuanku!
Looking ahead, I urge all Malaysians — regardless of race or religion — to remain vigilant against the same plot now being played out by Mahathir and his allies. The reason is clear: the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is pursuing investigations into the vast wealth accumulated by Mahathir and his former Finance Minister, Daim Zainuddin.
It is not that I lacked respect for Daim or Mahathir during the nation’s economic peak, but the reality is that I also began to realise that their amassed wealth has never been fully accounted for.
What was once hailed as an economic “boom” was, in hindsight, inflated by mega projects, when funds could have been better invested to strengthen sustainable growth.
Most Malaysians will agree with me that Anwar is feared by the mamak faction because he is a far more seasoned politician, one who has endured every imaginable accusation. Recall the tohmahan hurled against him — claims that he was a Russian spy, an American spy, or even involved with a Chinese call girl, a story later exposed by our current Dewan Speaker, Johari Abdul, to be fabricated.
We all know these allegations were false, yet many still allow themselves to be deceived by the endless stream of misinformation flooding social media, unwittingly becoming instruments in spreading poison-pen narratives.
If MACC expedites its investigations, Mahathir may finally reap what he has sown. Many believe that God has spared his life so that he might witness his own downfall.
Let us ensure this comes to pass. As the battleground unfolds between Mahathir and PMX, we must remain alert to how his plot is being played out.
Like all the other posts, this is, of course, strictly my own opinion. My prayer is that our leaders and enforcement agencies will uphold justice impartially, regardless of who those leaders may be. Only then can this nation move forward, leaving the rabble-rousers and troublemakers to be dealt with by the police and the MACC. May we, as Malaysians, work together in the spirit of national reconciliation, setting aside divisive rhetoric on race, religion, and royalty.
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