by Firqin Sumartono When I was in university discussing available scholarships for graduate school with a friend, I suggested that she look within her community for available scholarships, since that was what I was doing. She replied and looked at me as if I understood what she was implying, “Chinese scholarships are so competitive! Everyone’s…
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by ASMY I sat in class that day, staring down at the skirt of my baju kurung cum school uniform, hovering above my black shoes. “What am I doing here anymore?” I’m seventeen in the first year of Pre-University at a Madrasah in the A-levels stream. Ever since I was 7 I have always dreamed…
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by Zarifah Anuar The bus stop isn’t very crowded, but the number of bodies in the space is enough to make the humid air even more annoying to bear. I find a relatively spacious spot next to a woman wearing a niqab, and start fanning myself with my shirt. I give it no thought at…
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Kuralgal by Nadyanna Majeed “Half Indian, half Chinese, how come Muslim?” “Your IC what race?” Indian, following grandfather. “Mother tongue what then?” Malay. “Huh?! Why?!” The questions never end, even from myself. 老师，早安。 Selamat hari, Cikgu. Why can’t I complete that last one-third? “Indian cannot speak Tamil? How can liddat?” “Take Malay because easy, that’s…
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by Atifa Othman The words of someone’s father once slammed me in my face like a truck when he assumed I was leeching his son’s money and influencing him to do drugs. He wasn’t the only parent to think that of me. I recently stirred problems because of the exact same assumptions by someone else’s…
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(This story is one of many in the book Perempuan: Muslim Women Speak Out. Click the link to buy a copy!) by Raudah binte Abdul Rashid ___ Be understanding of the cultures and practises of others Bonding session with senior management and the food served had pork. Me: Oh ok. Ya, I wasn’t hungry anyway.…
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Beyond The Hijab 