MULTIRACIAL living is an integral part of the Malaysian heritage and the population of Sabah, which is divided into 32 officially recognised ethnic groups.
This makes it a prime example of a racially integrated society.
The Land Below the Wind is a melting pot with almost everyone having relatives — immediate or extended — of a different race, ethnicity or religion.
Jeffrey James Tanggau, 25, is a product of a mixed marriage between a Kadazan woman and a Chinese Singaporean man.
“This might sound morbid, but it is mostly during funerals that I see most of my family members, including the extended ones,” said the marketing executive from Kepayan, Kota Kinabalu.
Jeffrey has a big immediate family. He has two sisters and three elder half sisters, who are all married to foreigners and whose children Jeffrey is close with.
His older nieces, whom he refers to as cousins because of their similar age range, either have American, Australian or British fathers.
He also has half-Indian, half-Kadazan first cousins and a first cousin, who married a Malay man.
“The fact that we can celebrate all of the special occasions in the Malaysian calendar means we get to gorge on various ethnic dishes.
“During Christmas, we would cook up a storm and have an assorted spread that includes rendang, roasted turkey and curried dishes.”
He said being exposed to different cultures and traditions “has helped me become a lot less judgmental towards other people”.
However, Jeffrey said, he had had to deal with people’s pre-conceived notions about racial traits.
“In Kuala Lumpur, people would always assume that I am pure Chinese because of how I look and how fluent I am in Mandarin. So, when I tell them I’m half Kadazan, it surprises them.
“In Sabah, when I extend well wishes during religious holidays that I don’t celebrate, they would reciprocate and smile, but in KL, when I do the same, the reception is sometimes frosty.”
Azlaily Mohd Retha, who has a half Chinese mother and a Malay father, shares the same sentiment and also thinks that food is the best uniting agent in interracial families.
Spending most of her childhood with her Chinese grandparents in Lawas, Sarawak, while her parents worked in Selangor, she is in touch with her Chinese roots.
“My popo (grandmother) improvises her cooking because I eat only halal food. Therefore, she always reminds me to eat only chang (bamboo leaf-wrapped glutinous rice normally filled with pork) made at home by her and my epo (grandmother’s sister) because they substitute pork with chicken.
“Even my thaima’s (great-grandmother) kia ke (kuih bakul) is to die for,” said the 25- year-old auditor, who spent her teenage years in Sabah. She now works in Penang.
She said growing up in a household with multiple beliefs and cultures had kept racist tendencies at bay, as well as helped her be a mediator between people of different races because of her ability to speak several languages, including Mandarin.
“Back in my university days, I was like a bridge that connected Chinese and Malay students, which was an advantage.”
For Haresh Prakash Somiah, 27, who is of Indian and Kadazan descent, being in a multiracial family fosters empathy, respect and a deeper understanding of other people’s cultures and religion.
“I believe I have become a more inquisitive and curious individual when it comes to understanding new cultures.
“As far as my world views are concerned, I believe we live in a diverse and colourful society and, as such, have always been interested in meeting new people.”
The 27-year-old federal counsel has an Indian man, who is also a proud Penangite as a father, a Kadazan woman as a mother and an older sister, who is studying at the National University of Singapore.
“Whenever everyone is together at home, I believe we take comfort in one another’s presence. So, what unites us all is each other’s company,” said Haresh, who is now attached with the Attorney-General’s Chambers in Putrajaya.
Mazni Luna Manjaji-Sunarno, 45, who is part Sino-Kadazan, English and Chinese, and whose spouse is part Javanese, Kadazan and Ceylonese, said interracial marriages and families with mixed cultures were common in Sabah.
To her, having the same interests and doing them well together could improve relationships, despite having different racial traits.
“My spouse and I are active athletes, having represented the state and country, and so are my maternal and paternal grandparents.
“Everyone in the family has a common interest and we communicate well with each other and the bond is strong.”
For Mazni, being Malaysian is about being able to work together with other people by finding a common ground.
“Being able to do things together, without prioritising personal agendas, and being able to get along show how Malaysian someone is.”