By: Jane
I grew up in a small town in Malaysia. I have known all my life that after I finish high school, I would be heading overseas for further studies. When my father decided to send me to Perth (Australia), I was excited, but at the same time very sad to leave home. I have been to Perth before, but that was for holidays. To actually study there would mean staying for at least four years. I did not know exactly what to expect, but living in a very multicultural community was definitely one thing I expected to be part of my experience. How disappointed I was when I realised that that was not going to happen.
Back home in Malaysia, multiculturalism has never been an issue. Sure, I read about Malaysia being a multicultural country all the time in textbooks, but nobody really pays much attention to it. Multiculturalism has always been just a part of life, so easily overlooked. That is how it should be – part of everyday life, not just something that you talk about, but do nothing about.
Multiculturalism would only occur when people of different races are able to live together in harmony, while still able to maintain their own culture. It is so much more than just different races living together in a community. In Malaysia, we have Malays, Chinese, Indians, and various native groups. Each and every race speaks their own language, lives their lives differently, has different beliefs and practices different traditions. Yet, at the same time, almost every Malaysian speaks more than one language. I speak Malay, English, Cantonese, Madarin and a bit of Hakka. People are surprised when they hear about this. I am surprised that they are surprised. Most Malaysians speak at least two languages.
We celebrate Hari Raya (for the Malays), Chinese New Year (for the Chinese), Deepavali (for the Indians), Christmas (for the Christians) and Gawai (for the natives in Sarawak). We have holidays for all such occasions and more, and people visit each other, because more often than not, one would have at least more than a handful of friends who are of a different race. Because of this, we know and respect each and every culture different from our own. I know more about Islam than it being Osama Bin Laden’s religion. I know more about Indians than that they cook good curry. We are all very different, but we are all the same. We are Malaysians.
Australia Brief
Capital: Canberra
Population: 20,090,437 (July 2005 est.)
Ethnic mix: Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
Languages: English, native languages
SOURCE: CIA Factbook
My parents, although open minded in many ways, made sure that we grow up knowing our roots and culture, and also made sure that we be proud of who we are. We celebrate all sorts of Chinese festivals, and I know the story and meaning behind each and every one of them. I know the origins of lion dance. I know why we eat mooncakes. I know why we play firecrackers during Chinese New Year. I do not know how to read or write much in Chinese, but my parents made sure I know how to speak at least Mandarin. I was taught the importance of family values. But again, all these I did not pay much attention to while growing up. And then I came here, and I realised how important my culture is to me. How it makes me unique.
To me, Australia is not a multicultural country – it is just a country where many different races are living one culture. You either fit into the Australian culture, or you are left out. That is perhaps one of the main reasons why most of the Asian Australians that feel the most acceptance are, unsurprisingly, ones that have chosen to give up their own culture. That is perhaps also one of the main reasons why international students, due to our strong cultural backgrounds, find it hard to blend in.
There are endless discussions and debates about promoting multiculturalism here in Australia, but that is where the efforts stop. Each year, universities’ international student organisations across Australia organise Multicultural Week - a feeble attempt to promote and celebrate the various cultures in Australia. However, it usually means nothing more to the local Australians than just another week of ‘fun, food and freebies’. By the end of the day, all that they know about our culture would be confined to what food we eat, or perhaps what traditional costumes we wear. But culture is much more than that – it’s in our beliefs, the way we think, act and speak. A speaker at a multiculturalism forum once said, “The majority of Australians say they ‘don’t mind’ other cultures coming into Australia. I find this amusing, because to me, there is a big difference between ‘tolerance’ and ‘acceptance’. ‘Don’t mind’ appears to me as more of ‘tolerance’, like ‘I don’t like cockcroaches, but I don’t mind them.’”
There is just so much that we, the obvious minority, can do to encourage multiculturalism. In my opinion, unless the government is willing to take an active role in promoting multiculturalism, it will always remain just an Australian dream. 
Jane is a Contributor
June 2nd, 2005 at 10:10 am
I too can identify with your impressions about Aus. Even though I have only visited weeks at a time, being Asian really makes you feel the cultural divide there.
Don’t know how a government can promote multiculturalism, or even claim it is attempting to create it, when there are still influential politicians that are vouching for the ‘one australia’ policies.
Growing up next door, in Nz, was not as bad. People here are quite friendly, but still there is a lot of ignorance about minorities. And still a lot of narrow minded thinking about immigration policies.
Though here we don’t really live in a melting pot either, at least we are better tolerated..?
June 14th, 2005 at 6:30 pm
i found this very insightful, a great read. i’m also a malaysian studying in melbourne, and in my writing i’ve always tried to convey the alienation i sometimes feel living here, but it wasn’t until i read this that i finally realize why exactly i still feel like this is not quite where i belong, even though i’ve been here almost four years.
it’s true, it’s either the ozzie culture or none at all. other cultures and their celebrations are all taken with a pinch of salt and a degree of amusement, rather than actual interest or a genuine feeling of wanting to learn. just like japan used to be a bubble economy, sometimes in my periods of frustration i find australia to be encased in its own bubble culture. sigh. thank goodness for friends who keep me sane.
June 15th, 2005 at 7:12 pm
yin: yep, the whole ‘one nation’ thing is just ridiculous. racism in australia during that period of time was pretty bad, but fortunately that’s all behind us now. people here are generally very nice and friendly, too, but yup, definitely rather ignorant when it comes to cultures.
Mel: thanks
you are right. friends are very important when we are so far away from home, in a country where everything is so different! there have been a few occassions where i think i probably would have been completely lost if not for my good friends! cheers to that 
June 19th, 2005 at 10:52 am
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May 28th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
i have lived in australia my whole life and have faced many atempts by people to impose this suposed idea of multiculturalism upon me, in fact i stumbled upon your article while doing a multicultural assignment for school. this article gave me perspective on the whole matter of multiculturalism and its real state in australia. i am ashamed that i have believed in something that in fact is not what i have been taught it to be and that there are people her in our society that we claim to give a ‘fair go’ yet they still feel alienated. all i wish for is that australia was truely multicultural instead of hidding behind it and one day that all people who take having the ‘fair go’ society for granted give others the same respect
June 24th, 2007 at 9:32 am
would you or anyone else reading this be able to give me some examples of how you were treated in Australia(refering to multiculturalism). I am researching good and bad points about multiculturalism in australia and i am glad i have finally found some information about the bad points. (not that it is good that there are any)
September 1st, 2007 at 10:59 pm
I like what you say but as an Australian I agree that it will not work as people who do come to Australia will not mix or try and understand what the aussie way of life is about. When My forfathers came here they did not forget who they were. But they also did not deny what they were given and that was a new start, freedom, a fare go. so we out denying who they were they decided to go out of there way to try and fit in to this new life they were given and found out what it was that made them and all of us and Aussie. Australia is not about the color of your skin it’s about giving people who can no longer embrace there home land due to wars and so on and give them a fare go. so as Aussie all we ask is when you come here into our home after you were welcomed in Australia to live is to not give upnor forget your roots but to embrace our cultre, our way of life learn the customs, the slang we use, learn what made Australia what it is , lern our history that way when others come they can be apart of us and not segregate themself. this is not what we are like in Downunder we want to know you not fee you but when we get some ethnic groups who come here and then try and force theres way on to us we do not like it as this is our home and we were the ones who said come in welcome. there is alot more i could go on about that i see going on in this country but I will not go there but I do not like what I see and it scars me as I am married and have children. if this thing multicultre is to work then we as Australians and I mean all must unit as one no matter were we come from and not try and take the rights of others away. I can not see this ever happening in this Land Downunder take care
February 28th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
im doing an assignment and this was really a great insight, but i still dont understand.
you speak of it being the ozzie culture or not a culture at all (mel) but still i find australian culture undefine able.
maybe someone could give me a hand?