To be a True Malaysian

What does it take to be a true Malaysian?

The events of the past few months in the political arena in Malaysia have prompted me to ask this question over and over again. 

Being a lawyer by profession, my first instinct would be to go back to basics and submit that the Federal Constitution provides a clear definition of Citizenship under Article 14 which states that "every person born before Malaysia Day (16/9/1963) who is a citizen of the Federation by virtue of the provisions contained in Part I of the Second Schedule; and every person born after Malaysia Day and having any qualifications specified in Part II of the Second Schedule" are citizens of Malaysia. So, after 16/9/1963, you just need to be born in Malaysia and comply with the qualifications as specified to be a citizen of Malaysia. 

But this is merely a provision of the law. The real question is: What does it take to be a true Malaysian, in your mind, heart and spirit?

Do you have to be Malay by birth to be a true Malaysian? Can't the Chinese or Indian or Iban by birth be a true Malaysian? Do you have to be Muslim to be a true Malaysian? Do you have to be living and working in Malaysia to be a true Malaysian? Do you have to be a government servant to be a true Malaysian? Do you have to fight for Malaysia in a war to be a true Malaysian? What do you need to contribute to be a true Malaysian?

What about someone who has a Malay father and a Chinese mother? Are they less Malaysian than someone who has both parents who are Malays? What about the person who is born a Malay, educated in England his whole life and decides to work in England and only come back to Malaysia on special occasions? Is he still more Malaysian than his Chinese kampung friend who lives in Malaysia all his life and never went out of the country a day of his life? 

It is inevitable that every time the issue of the rights of a Malaysian is raised, it becomes a racial issue. Are you Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban? It seems that your right as a Malaysian differs in accordance with your race, contrary to the expressed provision of Article 8 of the Federal Constitution on Equality which clearly states that "there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent or place of birth in any law or in the appointment to any office or employment under a public authority or in the administration of any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing pr carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment."

For Malays like myself, could it be that we have been so indoctrinated by the fact that we were the original owner of the Tanah Melayu that we see ourselves as being more Malaysian than the other races? But most of the people from other races have been here for 3 or 4 generations or even more. Some of their ancestors had made Tanah Melayu their home since the 1400s. Today's generation have only Malaysia to call their home. Are they not as Malaysian as the Malays?

I was born and bred in Malaysia. My whole family is living in Malaysia. I am building my life with my beloved in Malaysia. We raise our children in Malaysia. We do travel abroad once in a while but it never crossed our minds to ever leave Malaysia and live elsewhere. Our future is in Malaysia. Malaysia is our home. We love our country. 

And I believe the same feeling is shared by many other Malaysians, regardless of race or religion. I believe the time has come for the Malays to face to the fact that Malaysia is made out of people from different races, religions and cultures. We have to embrace the fact that the place we call home must be shared with others who love this country just as much as we do. We are all Malaysians.

I will end by sharing with you what, to me, was the most compelling image of the Beijing Olympics 2008: In the Badminton Men's semi-finals, after an exciting match and a tremendous fight, Lee Chong Wei won over the Korean player. As soon as he won, he kissed the Malaysian flag embroidered on his jersey twice. Then, he immediately rushed to his coach Misbun Sidek & embraced him, like a son to his father. Misbun literally carried Chong Wei. When I saw this on TV, tears welled in my eyes. This is what being a Malaysian is all about; and it transcends race and religion. 

Negaraku. Tanah tumpahnya darahku.