On Being Malaysian....

Inspired by this 11 year olds view on ‘Being Malaysian’, it touches me to see hopes so innocent and pure, and it saddens me when they have to face the reality of the situation when they grow up.

As we get nearer in celebrating Malaysia’s 50th year as an independent nation, I find myself asking “what does it mean to be a Malaysian”

To me, maybe it simply means that I was born in Malaysia, to Malaysian parents and it’s not like I was given much of a choice as to what nationality I would like to be part of.

But then again, if I was given a choice I would rather have dual nationality between Mars and Pluto.

Anyhow, nevertheless, I am proud and honored to be born & raised a Malaysian, albeit from a not so typical Malaysian background. My love for the land is unconditional, hence the concerns and questions about the nations future.

Then I find myself asking “what does it mean to be free”

Freedom is narrowly defined by Classic Liberals and Neoliberals as the ability to act without restraint from the government, or more broadly defined as the ability to have access to particular resources from the government without constraint by Social Liberals and most variants of Socialism. Defined thusly, 'freedom' is a broad notion, not necessarily covering the same field as 'free will’.

That’s what the dictionary says on the philosophy of freedom, But what does it mean to you? What does it mean to me?

All I want is to live without fear of being oppressed, having the rights to exercise my rights as a citizen without question, knowing my rights as a citizen, and of course, questioning my rights as a citizen.

Sounds simple? But think of and understand the real meaning behind that last statement. That is freedom in my dictionary, but what have we achieved so far leads me to the next question of:

“Are we really free?”

A few related quotes to ponder:

Man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts."- Ronald Reagan


Democracies are often run by ethnically based groups prepared to do terrible things to other ethnic groups... or they can be very corrupt, dominated by elites... Capitalist, democratic states put the emphasis on the private sector, which doesn't always deliver on social goods. The free press is good on major disasters like classic famines, but it tolerates chronic hunger as much as anyone else.
- Frances Stewart, quoted in Massing, Michael, "Does Democracy Avert Famine?", New York Times, 2003-03-01.

How free are we really?

(a) Do we actually have the freedom to question our own rights?
(b) Is our government gaining too much power / forcing their power on us?

Day in day out Malaysia talks about uniting all races, into a BANGSA MALAYSIA. Its everywhere, slogans like “Bersatu untuk menjayakan Bangsa Malaysia” (United for a successful Malaysian race), “Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia” pop up on posters, TV Ads and such.

But I wonder how are we going to achieve that if all our political parties are racially based? UMNO, MCA, MIC, PBB, SUPP etc..etc..etc….

I respect and appreciate the fact that through these political parties we have achieved independence, forged a name for ourselves in the growing world, and tasted our fair share of success.

But one day we have to face the fact that times are indeed a changing, the longer we run from it the further we’d be left behind. Its time for us to stop and look in the mirror. Wondering why are we divided even though we are fighting to achieve the same agenda? How are we going to achieve that agenda together if were being led in different directions? Integration is a word they use to describe it nowadays, but that only means to work with each other, not together.

Recently our beloved and most respected Prime Minister stated that he wishes to “lead by example” by planting vegetables in his backyard. Sir with all due respect, I think you should “lead by example” towards this matter instead. How are we the people going to be united as one race when your Government are the ones splitting us up from the base?

(Forced unity however, as in (b) could end up in us being ruled by a Totalitarian Government. If that were to ever happen, I would feel compelled to don a Guy Fawkes mask and get all V for Vendetta on their behinds.) Sorry I just had to say that, the seriousness is killing me. :D


Changing our mentality starts with us. Here. Now. Tell me what’s the use of having a nation with first class facilities but third class mentality. What’s the use of having all these infrastructure but we can’t utilize it together for the benefit of all? What is the use of letting our forefathers’ effort go down the drain?

I have read many articles, newspapers, blogs, heard on the radio, watched on TV a countless number of times on this subject being raised. But somehow most of them who talk/preach about racial unity manage to end up contradicting themselves by saying ‘racial’ or ‘racialist’ statements. A lot of them surprisingly are well educated and well known in the political world & blogosphere. Sad but true, these are the people which could actually make a difference. And you thought they wanted to.

In my humble opinion, what the people really should do stop talking about it, forget the government for a second, forget our differences, forget our race, our color, our background, our religious differences, If its unity were after, then do it. Only then we will have the power to influence our Government, and hopefully our younger generation.

Many friends have warned me that this is a sensitive issue im writing about here. That’s only true if you want it to be a sensitive issue. It’s only ‘sensitive’ when one party has something to ‘gain’. Why would we want to still benefit from our differences? If there was anyone who was to be ‘naturally’ racially sensitive, it should be me as I am made up of AT LEAST 4 different races running through my veins.

What im saying is in no way to be confused with liberalism, communism or socialism. Our gov’t easily gets confused by the truth and their knees shake every time they hear these words uttered, without checking the context first.

Many of us want it, but were afraid to say it. Some of us even afraid to lower our ego to accept it. But most of us believe it but are too afraid to acknowledge it. Why should we be afraid of ourselves?

THIS is democracy, THIS is the truth. If this is what the people want, maybe its high time we be heard. If we want to be heard its high time that we figure out exactly what we need to say, and that’s the hardest part.


You may think I have no say / don’t know anything as im only 23, but we are the ones who are going to inherit this nation. We are the ones who have to live with today’s decisions in the future. We are the ones who will be Malaysians long after you’re gone. We are the ones who will hand this land down to our children, and they to theirs.

As much as I hate to see the direction in which Malaysia is heading now, I would love to see us on the ‘right path’. It is only fair if we make a drastic change in plans, as Malaysia, you have made us fall in love you, and love you we do, now its time for you to earn our love and prove your love for us.

When this is achieved, this is what it means to me, to be ‘merdeka’ to be ‘free’.

Happy Merdeka 2007