Lest we forget, my ancestors had FIRST come to Malai ur (town of the mountain people) about 2000 years ago if not earlier. Way way before the other "pendatang" from Indonesia (Orang kepulauan), China (Yunan), Cambodia (Cham), Taiwan (Ainu), Melanesia, Thailand and others - just check their DNA to local folks. It's important for the REAL history to be taught in schools that starts with Raja Parameswaran (who apparently converted but this is hotly disputed). Just look up the word "malai" and see who coined it first. Here's History 101 for the less motivated.
It originates from the Tamil words "Malai" and "ur" meaning "mountain" and "city, land", respectively. An inscription on the south wall of the 11th century Brihadeeswarar Temple also made a reference to Malaiyur, a kingdom that had "a strong mountain for its rampart" (ie "banjaran") in Malay Peninsula that fell to the Chola invaders during Rajendra Chola (not Raja Chulan ok) I's campaign (circa 1000). An early literary appearance was in Vayu Purana (350 BC!!) where the word "Malaya Dvipa" (literally "mountainous dvipa") was mentioned, referring to the mountainous terrain of Malay Peninsula. Then, the term "Maleu-Kolon" was used in Geographia by Ptolemy (circa 100AD) which is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit term malayakolam or malaikurram, referring to a geographical part of Malay Peninsula.
In 7th century, the first use of the term for a nation or a kingdom was recorded by Yijing. On his route via Maritime Southeast Asia, Yijing visited Srivijaya twice where he stayed from 688 to 695, studying and translating the original texts in Sanskrit. Even the Chinese had been here for perhaps 1300 years?
The problem is, the most recent wave of Indians and Chinese happened in the mid 19th century when the Brits needed labourers (Indian and Chinese) and guards (Sikhs) - so the "memory" is short, or rather, "convenient" for the naysayers. Given the appalling level of education of the majority residents here till the late 19th century, the Brits "imported" the Ceylon Tamils, then the most educated Asian. Hence these races were the newcomers.....but don't forget, when they arrived, they met their ancestors who had been here for hundreds of years - so it was a kinda "homecoming" for them. Even the term "bumi" means earth, and "putran" means son in Tamil. Safe to say, who REALLY established the Mali Ur. If you stretch the history cord long enough, we must say we are afterall ALL from Africa.
It's hard for morons (or deliberate ignoramus) to appreciate history and then we have the troublemaker snake oil salesman who pours oil into fire. That's why I have been long saying - "Send him back !". No point in asking the extremist Shoe Minister to revisit school textbook as he's busy chasing another (ancient Hindu originating) writing form under the puppet-master's yoke.
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