Credits to Annette @bin_cts and Carmen @wen31xx__

As Malaysians, we are fortunate to have two dates that celebrate the birth of this nation: 31st August “Merdeka Day”, which commemorates the independence of Malaya from the British rule in 1957, and 16th September “Malaysia Day”, which pays tribute to the formation of federate Malaysia with the union of Singapore, North Borneo, and Sarawak in 1963. Neat, an extra holiday, all thanks to our fellow Sabah and Sarawak friends! 

Of course, it is nice to think of Malaysia as this melting pot of races and cultures, and the addition of East Malaysia just adds so much more flavor and depth to that in so many aspects. However, how well do we know our brothers and sisters from Sabah and Sarawak? Did you know that the distance between Miri and Kuching is 715.1km? That is more than twice the distance between Penang and Kuala Lumpur, and that is only in Sarawak! Can you name all the ethnic minorities in Sabah and Sarawak? And no, they are not called “lain-lain”. 

Photo by Theodore Lee

Chances are you have come across at least one of many stereotypes people use as satire towards Sabahans and Sarawakians. While it is fun to compare laksas from time to time, to what extent are these stereotypes actually true? Is it insensitive of you to ask? Well fret not, for I happen to live with them! I rent a small house in PJS 7 with my three housemates: Samson from Sibu, Vano from Tawau and Gilbert from Miri. 

Now let’s ask them a few questions you might be curious about: 

Photo from Youtube

Samson: Agree to a certain extent. Longhouse is like one of the traditions in Sarawak for the locals (Ibans in particular) but, of course, not everyone lives in longhouse lah. In fact, my aunt lives in a bungalow some more. Some locals do live in modern houses too of course. 

Vano: You know my answer. (No) 

Gilbert: I agree with Samson. Personally, I think this is directed more towards the Sarawakian stereotype rather than towards the individual. If you look at the brochures or pictures of Sarawak, you will see lush jungles, but we do not live there; we live in houses like anybody else. In fact, these forests make for very interesting ecotourism spots, and if you have the time, do stop by, we will always welcome you. As for longhouses, it is a form of shelter that has a lot of heritage and cultural value that has evolved over time. Not everyone has one, but it's another asset that we Sarawakians can be proud of. 

2. Is your father a headhunter? 

Photo by Reddit

Samson: No, straight no. It might apply to some locals whose family had this kind of tradition, but I guess this "culture" is already almost extinct. 

Vano: We are not that savage lol. My dad’s a businessman, by the way. 

Gilbert: Mine is a construction project manager. 

3. Sabah people end their sentences with “bah”, bah. 

Vano: I’ve personally never heard before. And even when I do it is usually the ubiquitous end of a Chinese sentence (吧). 

Samson: No, lah. we have roads too, the ones with the white arrow painted on the black surface. 

Vano: We may be behind, but we are not technologically digressed. 

Gilbert: Hah, no. My mum picks me up by car, and we have roads. At least that’s the case for us here in Miri and I think I can safely speak for people living in cities like Kuching and Sibu. However, on the topic of “schools”, I have been on mission trips to the more remote or “ulu” parts of Borneo (This is probably the “Sabah and Sarawak” you are more used to). 

In Kampong Pa Adang, a remote village in Brunei, we did have to wade through a river at waist height to actually arrive at the village. Because of this, they do not have educational or medical institutions; there are only enough houses for the villagers who thrive on agriculture. The microclimate is cooler; hence they can cultivate coffee plants, which becomes their main export. Our mission trip last year helped to build a kindergarten in the village with locally sourced timber, as we strive to make primary education more accessible to the village children. Most of these students usually have to move to the city alone if they want to pursue their secondary education. 

Samson: I generally do not take it that seriously. At times, the stereotypes will feel very "sien" (boring) since I hear the same thing over and over again. I know it's a joke and I'm used to it. On the flipside, my hometown can become a topic to talk about in a group so that’s a pro. 

Vano: Dumbfounded. To be real, I have never actually heard of these stereotypes where I’m from (Tawau). Hence, coming to KL and hearing these was quite new to me. 

Gilbert: To be honest, I was never actually offended by any of the stereotypes. There are funny ones, but I think more of this as a wonderful opportunity for us to re-introduce our state to West Malaysians and hope for them to view us in a new light. 

While it is in the Malaysian spirit to love our neighbors as much as we love bantering them, let us remind ourselves that, just like our deliciously high-calorie local foods, jokes should be taken in moderation. There are good stereotypes and bad stereotypes, which is why we have to be wary of what we say and the feelings that we inflict onto others. As a Malaysian, I could not be prouder that we are able to coexist with one another as a nation in peace, and I know we will strive to do that for the many years to come. Happy Malaysia Day everyone, terima kasih dan salam sejahtera.