Ethnic and Cultural Representation of the Malay and Malaysian Chinese in Malaysian Film: Kongsi Raya

Kongsi Raya (2022) is a Malaysian film that explores the challenges of interethnic relationships in a multicultural society. The film follows the story of a Malaysian Chinese man and a Malay woman who fall in love, but their relationship is met with disapproval from their respective fathers. The film examines the similarities and differences between Malay and Chinese cultures, religions, and languages, and how these differences can both hinder and facilitate interethnic relationships. This chapter analyses the film by focusing on four aspects: firstly, the representation of the similarities and differences between Malay and Malaysian Chinese cultures, religions, and languages; secondly, the dynamic relationship between the Malay-dominant group and the Malaysian Chinese as the minority group; thirdly, the language used in the film and its impact on the production and reception of the film. Lastly, the chapter analyses   the ways in which the Malays and Malaysian Chinese preserve traditional elements and contest Western elements in the context of modernisation. The chapter argues that Kongsi Raya is a significant film that provides a unique perspective on interethnic relationships in Malaysia. The film challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about Malay and Chinese cultures and offers a nuanced, though in some ways limited, portrayal of the challenges and rewards of interethnic love in Malaysia.