Whats the difference between race and nationality?

Question

Why is it so important to fill in one's race in official forms while in Malaysia while one is a Malaysian just like everyone else?

Worst part of all is that these forms DO NOT seem to be sensitive towards the person who signs it. It states 'Bangsa' (nationality) rather than 'Keturunan' or 'Kaum'.

So, its true that non-Malays and Bumis are considered 'immigrants' in their own country?

Answer 1

No. They aren't considered immigrants, they are considered second class citizens.

Let's see what dictionaries say about race and nationality:

RACE

1) a contest of speed, as in running, riding, driving, or sailing.
2) any contest or competition, esp. to achieve superiority: the arms race; the presidential race.
3) urgent need, responsibility, effort, etc., as when time is short or a solution is imperative: the race to find an effective vaccine.
4) onward movement; an onward or regular course.
5) the course of time.
6) the course of life or a part of life.
7) Geology:
a) a strong or rapid current of water, as in the sea or a river.
b) the channel or bed of such a current or of any stream.
8) an artificial channel leading water to or from a place where its energy is utilized.
9) the current of water in such a channel.
10) Also called raceway. Machinery. a channel, groove, or the like, for sliding or rolling a part or parts, as the balls of a ball bearing.
11) Textiles.
a) the float between adjacent rows of pile.
b) race plate.
12) a group of persons related by common descent or heredity.
13) a population so related.
14) Anthropology.
a) any of the traditional divisions of humankind, the commonest being the Caucasian, Mongoloid, and *****, characterized by supposedly distinctive and universal physical characteristics: no longer in technical use.
b) an arbitrary classification of modern humans, sometimes, esp. formerly, based on any or a combination of various physical characteristics, as skin color, facial form, or eye shape, and now frequently based on such genetic markers as blood groups.
c) a human population partially isolated reproductively from other populations, whose members share a greater degree of physical and genetic similarity with one another than with other humans.
15) a group of tribes or peoples forming an ethnic stock
16) any people united by common history, language, cultural traits, etc.
17) the human race or family; humankind: Nuclear weapons pose a threat to the race.
18) Zoology. a variety; subspecies.
19) a natural kind of living creature: the race of fishes.
20) any group, class, or kind, esp. of persons: Journalists are an interesting race.
30) the characteristic taste or flavor of wine.
31) a ginger root


NATIONALITY

1) the status of belonging to a particular nation, whether by birth or naturalization
2) the relationship of property, holdings, etc., to a particular nation, or to one or more of its members
3) nationalism.
4) existence as a distinct nation; national independence
5) a nation or people
6) a national quality or character

Answer 2

Race has mostly do do with the color of you skin. Nationality is the country your born in. Ethnicity is background. Ex. Race Caucasian, Nationality Japanese, Ethnicity Latino. Ethnicity can be many different things like a Latino is just someone from latian America ISN'T a race.

Answer 3

That's just the way our society is. people will always find ways to segregate peoples.

I mean look at our primary school. Students are divided base on their academic result. And lets be honest here, all the good teacher gets top class. The waiting-to-retire teachers gets the rear end class. So the good gets better, the bad gets worse.

It's prejudice, and that's something that will always be in our society. People will always wants to divivde and tag each group with different level of priority.

A world where everyone is treated fairly is a world on another planet in another galaxy from another universe.

Answer 4

My race is to live a happy life b4 i die, including my childrens well being if i happen to get married. My nationality is the country which can provide me with equal opportunities without having double standards. Until this happens, Malaysia is my home for only 1 reason, that is i was born here. I don't intend to live in denial like those MIC, MCA, Gerakan and PPP does.

Answer 5

Race is your body's genetic build up, it can be medically determined - if you are Afro Caribbean then you are Afro Caribbean - no matter where in the world you were born.

nationality is the place that you were borne

so if you were born in England, then you would be British
born in the USA - American

your parents could be Afro Caribbean, live in the USA and give birth to you
that makes you an American citizen of African race!
hope this helps

Answer 6

race - what's yr mother tougue? Chinese speaks Mandarin. Malay speaks malay so what's the prob?

Nationality - country u r born. Confusing??

Answer 7

Race is an person's ethnic group, asian,white,black,indian ect....
nationality is a persons country of oragin, american, french ,english,scotish,irish,malayasin,indian,chinaness etc.

Answer 8

Race = what one is born from.
Nationality = where one is born in.
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It is important in a way for identification purposes.

Birth certificates (at least mine is) have the word "Keturunan".

We WERE all "immigrants"...or should I say, our ancestors or first generation family at least.....**sigh**
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