The concept of the model minority is a ceiling set by the majority in order to keep minorities in check.

You're only accepted and liked if you stay humble, and are grateful to the majority for the opportunities that you receive.

I'm prefacing this by saying that I absolutely adore Pavithra akka and her husband, and I can't wait to see them continue to uplift their lives, but the way their names are being used to show that there's apparently nothing wrong with our country doesn't sit right with me.

There's that tweet that said that Malays aren't racist because they gave Pavithra and Sugu the opportunity to grow their brand.

But the people who say this fail to acknowledge the structural and systemic disadvantages that led to Pavithra dropping out of school after UPSR.

But for every Pavithra who's managed to improve her life, there are countless others who have slipped through the cracks in a system and society that seeks to actively disenfranchise poor Indians.

Pavithra and Sugu can't speak up against the systemic racism that plagues our country, they risk losing the very viewer base that prides itself in thinking it was generous enough in giving them a chance in the first place.

They had to focus on putting food on the table, instead of wanting more liberties.

But unfortunately for the majority, an increasing number of Indians have the socioeconomic privilege to "request" for a more equal Malaysia.

And that's why we're heavily disliked.

The fact that this beautiful family has managed to improve their standards of living is something that we should celebrate, definitely.

However, we mustn't ignore the the various barriers in place that prevent so many of us from living a life that's not steeped in poverty.