Record Nr.

UNINA9910462871103321

Autore

Vadaketh Sudhir Thomas

Titolo

Floating on a Malayan breeze [[electronic resource] ] : travels in Malaysia and Singapore / / Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh

Pubbl/distr/stampa


Singapore, : NUS Press
Hong Kong, : Hong Kong University Press, c2012

ISBN

988-8180-18-5

1-283-87009-6

988-220-884-3

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (307 p.)

Disciplina

915.95

Soggetti

Electronic books.

Malaysia Social conditions

Singapore Social conditions

Malaysia Economic conditions

Singapore Economic conditions

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

"First published by Hong Kong University Press"--T.p. verso.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Preface -- Introduction -- 1. Forgotten histories -- 2. Two countries separated at birth -- 3. The end of dominance : part I -- 4. The end of dominance : part II -- 5. Not civil enough - 6. Alibaba and the thieves -- 7. Some are more equal than others -- 8. Colour matters -- 9. The influx of God and migrants -- 10. The joy of families and security -- 11. The stress of work and city life -- Epilogue -- Notes -- Index.

Sommario/riassunto

What happens after a country splits apart? Forty-five years ago Singapore separated from Malaysia. Since then, the two countries have developed along their own paths. Malaysia has given preference to the majority Malay Muslims--the bumiputera, or sons of the soil. Singapore, meanwhile, has tried to build a meritocracy--ostensibly colour-blind, yet more encouraging perhaps to some Singaporeans than to others. How have these policies affected ordinary people? How do these two divergent nations now see each other and the world around them? Seeking answers to these questions, two Singaporeans set off to cycle around Peninsular Malaysia, armed with a tent, two pairs

of clothes and a daily budget of three US dollars each. They spent 30 days on the road, cycling through every Malaysian state, and chatting with hundreds of Malaysians. Not satisfied, they then went on to interview many more people in Malaysia and Singapore. What they found are two countries that have developed economically but are still struggling to find their souls.