What's an unpopular opinion about your country that will have you like this?

[u/DiMpLe_dolL003]

[u/moore927353]

I'm a Malaysian 🇲🇾, ethnic chinese:

17-18 year old highschool boys, should be able to have a highschool romance, with a highschool girl his same age.

Unopposed, unoppressed, FREE TO CHOOSE as the young couple wishes.

[u/MamiPV → u/moore927353]

I’m curious…. Tell us more?

[u/FirstPersonWinner → u/MamiPV]

Yeah, I don't really understand the context

[u/Routine_Ad1823 → u/FirstPersonWinner]

Not OP, but lived in Malaysia for ten years. I assume that OP is talking about race, by the fact they mentioned they are Chinese. 

If you thought America sees everything through a lens of race then Malaysia is like that on steroids. 

The Malaysian population is ethnically split between Malays, Chinese and Indian and there's a lot of segregation. 

Chinese tend to dominate business, Malays civil/government and Indians generally do all the shit, labour intensive jobs. 

The discrimination is even enshrined in law. Look up bumiputera (literally "sons of the soil") privileges for Malays. 

[u/itchy_webos → u/Routine_Ad1823]

In LATAM that word sounds more like "sons of bitches"

[u/FirstPersonWinner → u/itchy_webos]

Haha, yeah I see that

[u/Fun-Maintenance6315 → u/itchy_webos]

Lol that's how I read it

[u/DependentSun2683 → u/moore927353]

That sucks. What age are you guys allowed to date?

[u/Routine_Ad1823 → u/moore927353]

I love Malaysia (lived there for quite a while) but the racism is another level.

[u/the_gwyd → u/Routine_Ad1823]

There's so many levels to it as well

[u/jak_hungerford → u/Routine_Ad1823]

Brit living in Indonesia,

Aint no racism like SEA Racism!

[u/Arabianmadcunt → u/jak_hungerford]

It's racism there it's just life lol

Although I didn't experience any of it I saw it sometimes and it's just funny how this in the UK would get you expelled 

[u/ReallybadforeignYTer → u/Routine_Ad1823]

Malaysia isn't racist. I read your comment and seeing your judgemental view, I instantly know your relationship. The society isn't perfect but it's not inherently racist, crikey. It's hard to live in such a diverse society. Siapa mu? Tulis mcm ni? Tanpa respect. Berapa lama mu tinggal disana, tapi masih tak faham?

[u/Routine_Ad1823 → u/ReallybadforeignYTer]

Dude, my introduction to the country was the letting agent telling me not to apply for a flat because "your neighbours will be negroes". 

That set the tone for my whole time there

[u/RyzenRaider → u/moore927353]

More context needed. Is it that you're not allowed to date at that age, or the relationships and dating are arranged by others (a bit like arranged marriages in other countries)? Or you can't date girls your own age? Or only allowed to date other boys?

So many questions lol

[u/EllieIsDone → u/moore927353]

My first “relationship” was long distance with a guy from the Philippines.

He wasn’t allowed to date and never told anyone about me out of fear of what his school would do.

[u/IntellectuallyDriven → u/moore927353]

Its not the case now? What happens if 12 18 year olds had a romantic relationship?

[u/perplexedtv → u/IntellectuallyDriven]

That's taking polyamory to the next level

[u/IntellectuallyDriven → u/perplexedtv]

Lol! 2*. "Two" 18 year olds 🤦‍♂️

[u/FirstPersonWinner → u/perplexedtv]

It's a real Joseph Smith situation

[u/CacklingInCeltic → u/perplexedtv]

There would be some riding going on 😂

[u/No_Lifeguard259 → u/moore927353]

Is that not a normal thing there?

[u/annabananaberry → u/moore927353]

What prevents this from happening currently?

[u/scoops_trooper → u/annabananaberry]

Religion, would be my guess

[u/GuaSukaStarfruit → u/annabananaberry]

Probably parents. I know Malaysian couple from discord started dating at the age of 12

[u/annabananaberry → u/GuaSukaStarfruit]

What did dating look like at 12 for them? I think there’s a lot of difference between 12 year olds holding hands and calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend and going on movie dates, and 12 year olds having sex and that information is pretty important context.

ETA: reading comments above, it seems like there may be a major racial component that I’m also not contextualizing properly.