Latest news with #South-EastAsians
The Star
5 days ago
- General
- The Star
Satay, roti canai and kuey teow
DIFFERENCES between races, cultures and religions have not stopped South-East Asians from building close-knit communities in their respective countries. While countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam are more homogenous compared to Malaysia and Singapore, social cohesion in the region remains high – averaging 72.4%, according to the South-East Asian Social Cohesion Radar 2025. The study, initiated in 2022 by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, measures social ties across ethnic, religious and linguistic lines. 'There is a broad acceptance for cultural differences. Overall, more than seven in 10 are confident that people from diverse communities will help each other regardless of their identity,' says the school's Senior Fellow and Social Cohesion Research Programme head Dr Leong Chan-Hoon. And when we zoom in on Malaysia, the numbers appear to be heading in the right direction. Malaysia's overall social cohesion score rose from 68% in 2022 to 75% in 2025. The latest breakdown shows 80% in social relations (ties across ethnicity, religion and language), 70% in connectedness (ties between communities, institutions and government), and 75% in civic-mindedness or people's willingness to work together for the common good. According to the report, Malaysians 'feel strongly connected with their national and cultural identities, and are confident of other ethnic and religious groups.' 'Unity in diversity' Malaysia's national identity often revolves around the idea of 'unity in diversity'. So how do Malaysians mentally process pluralism – especially across generations, where values and cultural scripts may differ? Taylor's University Mental Health and Well-being Impact Lab director Professor Dr Rozainee Khairudin says national identity is shaped by this very diversity. 'Due to the country's multicultural landscape, most Malaysians are exposed from a young age to various ethnic groups, languages, traditions and religious practices,' she says. 'This exposure enables them to form mental representations such as schemas (basic knowledge structures) and cultural scripts (internalised rules for social interaction) that incorporate diversity.' She explains that a Malaysian child growing up in a multicultural school, for instance, may develop a schema that sees ethnic difference as normal and expected. 'Over time, these mental structures become automatic – helping individuals navigate diverse environments with more tolerance and less cognitive effort. 'This is pluralism in action – not just accepting difference, but engaging with it fluidly.' CLICK TO ENLARGE Social acceptance Universiti Sains Malaysia sociologist Dr Zaireeni Azmi says she was pleasantly surprised by Malaysia's 78.4% score under the acceptance in diversity indicator – a component of the social relations domain. 'It's one of the most influential dimensions of social cohesion,' she says. 'To be honest, I do worry when I see racial slurs like 'Type M' or 'Type C' still popping up on social media. 'But clearly, there's more good than bad among the people. I'd call Malaysia a success story in terms of a multiracial society – from the roti canai and nasi lemak we eat, to the 'lah' we use in daily conversation.' Zaireeni also highlights 'mamak-isation' as a symbolic expression of unity – where people of all races sit together at mamak restaurants to eat, chat and watch football. 'You rarely see that in Malay or Chinese restaurants. But at the mamak, Malays, Chinese and Indians hang out together. That reflects our society. It shows a sense of belonging and unity in diversity. 'The report also shows that we're proud of our national identity. That's good news.' Still, she cautions, unity in diversity is not without its cracks. 'There are issues around representation. We've had riots in the past. It's not perfect, but we are living together peacefully.' The report also underscores the role of national policy in shaping unity. For instance, following the May 13, 1969 riots, the government introduced the 'Rukun Negara'– a set of National Principles to promote unity: Belief in God; Loyalty to King and Country; Supremacy of the Constitution; Rule of Law; Courtesy and Morality. 'These principles are integrated into our education system and continue to influence national unity policies. 'The government also promotes the concept of Bangsa Malaysia – an inclusive national identity for all. Bahasa Melayu, as the national language, helps facilitate interaction between ethnic groups.' Zaireeni agrees and points to a recent example. 'When the Visit Malaysia Year montage didn't include any mosques, it wasn't just the Malays who questioned it – other races too felt it didn't represent Malaysia's vibrant cultural identity.' Growing commonality Malaysia also scores highly in the domain that measures focus on the common good –especially in civic participation (80%) and respect for social rules (81%), though solidarity and helpfulness lags slightly behind at 66%. When asked whether religion and culture can be forces for unity or division, Zaireeni says it depends on how people approach their differences. 'When we talk about religion or linguistic identities, we should celebrate them together. Look at how we observe all major religious festivals – Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas, among others. 'That shared heritage is our strength. We must always work for a common good.' But she warns that unity can unravel if differences are politicised. 'When people push a 'them vs us' narrative, it strains relationships. I don't know why some keep doing that.' The media, she adds, also plays a vital role in shaping public perception. 'Some media houses sensationalise differences for attention. That's harmful. Instead, let's highlight the positive – stories about people helping one another, about collaboration. 'We already have enough politicians doing the opposite.' Young and old The survey also notes that age, ethnicity and religion influence perceptions of social cohesion – especially in Malaysia. Younger people tend to view society more positively than older generations. Among 1,003 respondents, youths rated Perception of Fairness at a mean of 3.81, compared to 3.64 for adults and 3.25 for seniors. Similarly, in Identification, youth scored 4.14, adults 4.02, and seniors 3.82. Rozainee says these generational gaps can shape how pluralism is understood. 'Older generations may hold onto more rigid cultural scripts formed by past sociopolitical experiences, while younger Malaysians – especially those influenced by global media and inclusive education – develop more flexible, integrative ways of thinking about identity and diversity. 'These differing cognitive frameworks can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or value clashes between generations.'
The Star
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Students, travellers from South-East Asia souring on the US amid immigration crackdown
KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA/SINGAPORE: For months, 19-year-old Noah (not his real name) from Malaysia had been researching how to study marine biology in the United States: Looking into visa rules, work opportunities and internships. But in April, he gave up on his dream. 'I had my heart set on Hawaii – some people call it the Disneyland for marine scientists,' he told The Straits Times. Countries such as Australia, Britain and the US have long been popular overseas destinations for many South-East Asians. But there appears to be a growing sense of wariness among potential students and other travellers from the region about heading to the US. Policy shifts under the Trump administration, including sharper scrutiny of international students and visa cancellations, amid an immigration crackdown have led to reassessments by would-be arrivals from South-East Asia. For Noah, the worries have meant pivoting to local options or considering Singapore and Australia. He declined to use his real name as a precaution in the event of future travel to the US. 'I have turned my eyes closer to home. South-east Asia has incredible marine ecosystems too, and maybe this is a sign to root my work right here, where it matters most,' he said. Others have seen their opportunities abruptly paused. A 28-year-old Malaysian participant in the US State Department's Young South-east Asian Leaders Initiative, who requested anonymity, said his five-week fellowship in the US was postponed without explanation in March. Since January, more than 4,700 international student records have been removed from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, a database managed by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to Reuters and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. The US Embassy in Jakarta reported 8,348 Indonesian students in the US for 2023-2024, the second-highest figure from South-East Asia, after Vietnam. But cases like that of Aditya Wahyu Harsono – a 33-year-old arrested by ICE agents at his workplace in Minnesota after his student visa was suddenly revoked – have caused ripples of concern. The Indonesian Embassy in Washington on April 12 urged students to closely monitor their visa status and digital footprint, and to stay compliant with all US regulations. Several Indonesian students have been detained or deported recently, including one in San Francisco, and others in Atlanta and New York. As at April 24, around 20 Indonesian students across the US have been detained by ICE, with five of them deported. Some Indonesian students in the US say they have stopped travelling outside of the country, even for academic events, to avoid re-entry risks. 'During spring break, I noticed that people who returned to the US after internships or other activities were being questioned a lot by immigration officers, mostly friends from Arab or Palestinian backgrounds. They might be the main targets now,' Edo (not his real name), a post-graduate student in New York, told ST. He also declined to be named in case of possible repercussions. 'There's now a lot of guidance circulating. Before going through immigration, students (from overseas) are advised to delete all social media, deactivate accounts and clean up (their) photo gallery,' he said, pointing to groups like American Civil Liberties Union that are helping students avoid potential detention by ICE. These developments come as the Trump administration is poised to use the federal purse to force top universities like Columbia and Harvard to make sweeping policy changes, or lose grants and contracts, even as international student exchange programmes including Fulbright face funding issues. A 21-year-old Malaysian student is still mulling over an offer from a US university. 'As a brown Asian girl, I worry about my general safety and well-being if I were to reside in the US,' she said, pointing to issues such as racism and the immigration crackdown, not to mention the political leanings of Arkansas in the deep south, where the university is located. Arkansas is a red (Republican) state, whose voters helped President Donald Trump win a second term in the 2024 polls. The president of Sunway University in Malaysia, Professor Sibrandes Poppema, has seen concerns raised by his students and their parents about the situation in the US over the last few months. He has advised them about alternative plans, such as the possibility of obtaining an American degree while completing their studies in Malaysia. The local private university offers joint programmes with Arizona State University and other universities outside Malaysia. 'Having a backup plan is always good,' he said, adding that he has received more inquiries of late about higher studies in Australia and New Zealand. There are about 4,816 Malaysians studying in the US for the 2023-2024 academic year, according to the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, published by the US State Department. Government-funded agency Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), which sends Malaysian students overseas, told ST that it continues to send students to the US, and has reminded them to abide by local laws. Nearly 300 Mara-sponsored students are currently in the US. Along with students from the region, other travellers have expressed concerns about visiting the US and being refused entry or, worse, detained by the US immigration authorities for perceived infractions. A Singaporean woman posted on TikTok on April 24 about being detained and questioned by ICE upon arrival in Los Angeles, despite having visited the US many times with no issues. 'They didn't say anything. They didn't tell me I was going to be put into a room for two hours,' she said in her post, recounting how she was not allowed to use her mobile phone or contact anyone. When contacted by ST, the woman, who wanted to be known only as Gladys, confirmed the incident but declined to comment further. Another Singaporean, who wanted to be known only as Matthew, said he often travelled to Philadelphia for work in 2022 and had a pleasant experience then. But the current situation is worrying, he said. 'I feel like the country has seen many changes in the past three years... Looking at the news and seeing how several minority groups or those from South-east Asia have been specific targets, it is a huge concern.' ST spoke to seven travel agencies in Singapore, which collectively say they have not seen a difference in the level of air travel to the US, and that upcoming travel plans have not been cancelled. CTC Travel, a Singapore travel agency, noted a steady interest in travel to the US from South-east Asia over the past few months. Its public relations head Diana Tan told ST: 'While there have been minor fluctuations due to seasonal trends and market conditions, we have not seen any significant decline in bookings. There has been no sharp decline in air ticket sales to the US since the beginning of the year.' However, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Nigel Wong observed 'a number of cancellations and a general slowdown in bookings for travel to the US', though he did not provide any figures. In December 2024, around 2.55 million Malaysians and 1.24 million Indonesians visited the US – compared with 1.86 million and 1.09 million, respectively, in the previous month – according to London-based global data firm CEIC. While data from the International Air Transport Association for the month of February showed no decrease in South-east Asian arrivals in the US, this was before the spate of ICE detentions involving Indonesians in recent months. Just three months into the year, international arrivals in the US are down sharply, driven by the President Trump's tariff moves and bold rhetoric. The US' National Travel and Tourism Office's preliminary figures indicated overseas visitor arrivals in the country fell 11.6 per cent year-on-year in March; for the first quarter of 2025, the number of visitors entering the US from overseas was 3.3 per cent lower than that of the same period a year ago. According to travel forecasting firm Tourism Economics, the impact of a less favourable view of the US from abroad could be severe enough that international visits would not surpass pre-pandemic levels until 2029. Put off by reports of bona fide students and tourists being detained or turned away at the border, some are choosing to stay away from the US or travel elsewhere in the meantime. Jakarta-based business executive Adrian Suharto, 48, who travels frequently for work and holidays, said he will be avoiding the US this year. 'I saw from the news that a lot of student visa holders, permanent visa holders, are being held in US detention centres, and some are deported. It would be a high risk for us regular tourist visa holders,' he told ST. - The Straits Times/ANN
