A True Blue Malaysian
The Malaysian Insider
May 24, 2011
MAY 24 — I am a Malaysian through and through. I am 45 years old and from a minority group. I work overseas for an MNC which has a hub in KL. I have been posted in the UK for the last three years with a year more to go.
I love Malaysia because it is my homeland no matter what the likes of Ibrahim Ali and Utusan Malaysia say. I guess I am a nostalgic person, too deeply-rooted. I have travelled a bit for my work in the last five years — Singapore, Indonesia, Italy, Dubai and the UK — but when the plane touches down at KLIA, I feel a sense of relief at being back home.
Believe me, some of my Malay colleagues even told me straight to the face that they would rather stay in the UK permanently if the opportunity arose. Most of them have families and their children go to school here.
I admit the education system and almost everything here is better but things will get better at home, I hope! One thing I have always admired about the Malays is their proverb: “Anak dirumah ditinggal, kera dihutan disusu.” For me, the “anak” is Malaysia; the “kera” is the foreign country. It’s we as citizens who have the “susu” and must nurture our country!
It’s up to us Malaysians to change our society. I have no illusions about it. Believe me, I was once a great admirer of Dr M but today I am absolutely disgusted by what he says.
I feel for those who left for greener pastures. I too am tempted every other week but who else can bring about change other than us Malaysians?
Please look at the Arab spring. Are we any worse than them? When I think of my situation, I always think of the padi farmers, estate workers, fishermen, bus drivers, despatch boys and others who have less than me. How do they stay … yes, granted they have fewer or no options. Yet the poor suffer the most! And yet they too want the same thing as us, so who will fight for them?
Today, I admire people like Hannah Yeoh, Haris Ibrahim, LGE, Tommy Thomas, Irene Fernandez, Francis Siah and many more Malaysians who have made lots of sacrifices for the country. They could have left but chose to stay to make Malaysia better, not for themselves, but for others.
This is what we should strive for, a better Malaysia and a better future for all our children. I ask all Malaysians who have left to at least support your fellow Malaysians who remain to fight for the rest of us.
Maybe the poster is really nostalgic but we are not nationalist and nation builder. You can do so little I can tell you. You can still vote for opposition in the UK and have the same effect.
With all the unfair-ness that happen in Malaysia for minority, you still want to go back? Maybe you are rich or well connected and you can send your kids to private schools etc. Or maybe you have no kids yet.
For me, I wouldn’t want my kids to endure that same unfairness back there. Education is just part of the problem. There are many many more.
It’s tough I tell you. The inequalities are felt the day you’re born of the wrong skin color or religion. You grow up not having the affinity to this country because UMNO keeps telling you you’re a pendatang. You work your axx off but it’s never enough. When greener pastures beckon, you take the first opportunity that presents itself. You go to the US, UK, AU, SG, and you feel more wanted as an immigrant there than as a pseudo-citizen in Malaysia. God bless and all hats to the patriots who stay and fight the good fight, it’s just not for everyone.
Love this article.
Rebuilding Malaysia is a massive task but it MUST be done. Inequalities are all over the world, you can choose to challenge it, or run from it. You cant run forever you know.