Migrants Not Locals

This book attempts to challenge the common presumption that Malaysian Chinese are no different in their values and identities from Singaporeans, who are predominantly Chinese. While existing research on migration in this prosperous island- state have focused on the lived experiences of immigrants from the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia, very few have attempted to explore the challenges experienced by Malaysian Chinese. This book will illuminate the varied manners in which Malaysian Chinese conduct their lives in Singapore and seek to uncover if this group of migrants is tasked to articulate their uniqueness and dissimilarities with a society often perceived as no different from their own. The results of these investigations will guide the researcher to the next goal of the research, which is to examine if there is a presence and existence of a Malaysian Chinese diasporic space in Singapore, initiated and maintained by these migrants.