馬來西亞華人認同的形塑與變遷－－以馬華文學為分析文本

The Formation and Evolution of Malaysian Chinese Identity: An Analysis of Malaysian Chinese Literature

1957年馬來西亞脫離英國殖民統治，獨立建國。馬來族群以原住民族自居，主張馬來西亞是馬來人的國家，而華人則被視為不愛國、不忠誠的「中國人」。即便華人族群已經居住在馬來西亞超過半個世紀，華人時常被揶揄為「外來者」、「寄居者」。不禁讓人好奇：馬來西亞華人的認同到底為何？本文主張，馬來西亞華人的認同觀並非單一、靜態的認同觀，而是隨著歷史的變遷，呈現出的是動態而複雜的心理狀態。換言之，他們可能形塑出一種「雜匯認同」，並非僅限於「維持祖國（中國）認同／選擇現居國（馬來西亞）認同」的「二擇一」模式，而是呈現出雙重認同，亦即「居間」認同的模式。本文將以馬華文學作為分析的文本，藉以探究馬華文學中有關華人身份認同的歷史變遷，並了解馬來西亞華人如何建構己群認同，並展現其文化主體性。

From the eyes of the British colonial officials and Ethnic Malay ruling elites, Malaysian Chinese tend to regard themselves as Chinese, which implies that they have stronger Chinese identity than their Malaysian Identity. This paper argues that Malaysian Chinese identity should not be simplified as a single and static identity, but rather, in fact, Malaysian Chinese have carved so-called 'hybrid identities,' which do not fit the 'either-or' category. They do not consider themselves either 'Chinese' or 'Malaysian.' Instead, they have shaped 'in between' identities, which mean they may simultaneously have double identities considering themselves both Chinese and Malaysian. Using Malaysian Chinese literature works, we can see how Malaysian Chinese have formed their group identities, how their identities evolved historically, and in turn how they have demonstrated the cultural subjectivity.