Many of you have undoubtedly came across the term “Mat Salleh”. While most Malaysian knows that Mat Salleh refers to caucasian male, many does not have a slightest clue as to the origin of the term. Of course, yours truely will now don square hat and attempt to educate the nescient public.
disclaimer: this information is drawn from word of mouth and online sources with no academic backup whatsoever, and of course, a bit of fill-in-the-blank by me.
The term Mat Salleh has been documented for well over a hundred years in the Malaya Peninsula and the Borneo island. A entry to the Timeline to The Rise of The Melacca Empire
1895-1905: The Mat Salleh Rebellion in North Borneo
Now, long before people residing in this part of the world speaks the western languages, contact with caucasians were aplenty, especially around the various habours such as the once great, but now reduced to ‘a place with delicious chicken rice balls’, Melacca.
The caucasians were mostly sailors. Like all sailors who live on the ship for months on end, liberation (liquor, women, party) were the norm whenever they dock. To the locals, they looked like a bunch of mad men, always drunk and usually acted silly.
The locals spoke the Malay language, and when one of them heard another English speaking referring those caucasians as “Mad Sailors”, he tried his best to learn that term.. and inevitably prounounced it wrongly as “Mat Salleh”. The term stuck till now.
If this story hasn’t convinced you enough, please check out a recent picture of this Mat Salleh and tell me if he does not look like a mad sailor here.
p/s: i still love you, ST
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Good Evening
Id like to report on the state of our war against the american people. Were mounting a sustained campaign to crack down on every america, and every
person
of every faith, and every nation and to bring them to justice. All missions are being executed according to plan without warning or provocation.
Americans
are being swept up in an international drag net. Thousands of FBI Agents are on the trail of other citizens here and abroad. It has everything to do
with hate
and evil and murder and prejudice. America is strong.
http://www.faction3.us
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I lived in Penang in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Then I was in Miri, Sarawak(Borneo) and Singapore in the mid 1970’s.
I was often called “mat saleh” as I passed someone by.
There are many “fighting” names I have been called in many countries but I never felt anyone was being disrespectful calling me
“mat saleh.”
Now, I was a rebel but I was never drunk or crazy.
I still miss Malaysia and Malaysians. I love the friends, schoolmates, and teachers of
all types. Malay, Tribal, Chinese and Indian.
May God bless you all.
Joel Braughton
no one ask you to tell where you live, you pretty fucked Damm Human!!!
Patrick: a case of a Wednesday?
Joel,
it is usually an endearing term nowadays 😛
i think this site is only presenting the smoker guy back there…dont you have guts to tell the real story, you jackass…??!! at least dont waste your blog to show this… Mother fucker son of bitch!
Patrick: you do realise this is just a joke made in 2005 right?
I’m blue da ba dee da ba da
Big nigga: o.O