The Disadvantaged Majority

In a multi-ethnic country like Malaysia, the most disadvantaged ethnic group is the Malays.  It is really sad for the majority to be disadvantaged in their own country of birth!  

Why?

To answer the question, let us look at the three main ethnic groups in Malaysia:

(1) Malay

Generally the Malays communicate in two languages - Bahasa Melayu and English.

(2) Chinese

Generally the Chinese communicate in three languages - Chinese language (through different dialects), Bahasa Melayu and English.

(3) Indians

Generally the Indians communicate in three languages - Indian language (whether Tamil, Hindi or whatever dialects), Bahasa Melayu and English.

In the real world, different languages are used by different ethnic groups to communicate.  A Malay would most likely to communicate with another Malays in either Bahasa Melayu or English or a combination of both.  Similarly, a Chinese-Chinese communication would be in Chinese language or English or combination of both.  The same applies to Indians.

When a Malay communicates to another Malay, the Chinese and Indians would be able to understand.  However the same cannot be said when there is communications between Chinese and Chinese or Indian and Indian.

This is the reality.  The Malays are the disadvantaged in their own country!  They communicate, everyone else understand but when other ethnic groups communicate the Malays generally do not understand!

As an ethnic group, it is important for the Malays to preserve their language.  But this must not be done at the expense of learning other languages!  Otherwise the Malays would remained to be the disadvantaged majority in their own country...