for malays, it was leaves. for chinese coolies, fingers. a reason why char kway teow tastes shitty good.
Talking about char kway teow.
I was baffled that Indonesia has practically none.Even where the Chinese are concentrated.Could be the reason why almost all Indonesian Chinese eat with their hands.
The question of water or paper for assesses is quite akin to eating with hands or chopsticks.This is where my observation of Indonesian Chinese eating with their hands proves the pudding.
There is something more logical.Weather.
Cold climate where E.Asians came from,practically makes it impossible for the use of water on sensitive areas like our assess.Just try touching anything frozen in -40 degree and your finger will peel with it's skin.
Thus the aversion to water.
Whereas in tropical climate,water in the No.1 cleansing agent.And it's plentiful.Free.
It's this hangover of our behaviors that we are quite hung on.Not because it's hygienic or otherwise.
We originated from cold climate unlike Malays or Indians...and thus our aversion to water.