Dictionary of Meaning

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Keling

*** Shopping-Tip: Keling
{{cleanup-date|September 2005}} '''Keling''' is a degrading slang for Indians in Malaysia. The term was originally used to describe migrants from the Kelinga district in central India. However, there is a theory that it started during the British colonial days when the country was known as Malaya. Being the world’s biggest rubber supplier, contract workers were brought in through British India Company to work in the rubber plantations of Malaya mainly from southern states of India. Recently, this was used by Members of Parliament in Malaysia, resulting in uproar by the Malaysian community accussing the MPs of racism. Popular usage in Malaysia also suggests a tone of general disrespect to Indian Malaysians. The similar mistake is done by Malay-speaking communities, Sikhs are called Bengalis, but they are Punjabis who speak Punjabi and come from Punjab. The Bengalis come from Bengal and speak Bengali as also do the Bangladeshis

Non-degrading usage
The word keling can be used in a non racist context where describing migrants from the Kelinga district, as is used in the name of a mosque in Penang called Masjid Kapitan Keling.

External links

- Racism and the Word "Keling"
- Keling: Apim lodges police report against Jerai MP
- UMNO should stop claiming Ketuanan Melayu