I love this country

I’m Malaysian. I’m Malaysian Indian. And I love this country. I was born here and my parents were born here. I used to love listening to my grandparent’s stories of how they they came to this land. My grandfather was a graduate in History and he came here to be a teacher. What a noble and honoured profession that was those days! He eventually retired as a headmaster in Segamat.

My father served the Malayan Railways, as KTM was then known. He took pride in his job and he was a no-nonsense person. I was always proud of his principles and integrity. I also loved hearing his stories about serving the army during World War 2. So this is the only country I have known. My family’s history is deeply rooted in this land and I am part of it.

Most Malaysians will talk about the many things that make this county endearing - the glorious food, the festivals, the distinct Malaysian ‘lah’, our cultural and cross-cultural costumes, friends of different races, etc. We are thankful for our great highways, our generally stable economy, we will talk with endearment of our first Prime Minister and with pride of Nicole David. Without a doubt we will also criticize to the hilt and bring up our grouses with great passion - traffic jams in the cities, environment plundering, corrupt civil servants and politicians, racial polarization, human and religious rights, our dismal national football team, the education system and even the implementation of the NEP.

Well, to be honest, things are not like they used to be when I was growing up. Times change of course, but more and more I have been feeling like I am not really accepted in my own country. I was in government service (and was well taught by my father about serving well), but was always aware of the fact that so-called “meritocracy” that was rather conveniently used in the civil service, by-passed many deserving colleagues of promotions and awards. And it was an insidious unspoken rule - you don’t really belong.

I still love this country. It is my home. I wish my children felt the same way, but theirs is the generation that has been exposed to too much polarization and made acutely aware that they don’t belong. At best they are second class. I cannot decide their future for them, but I can always talk of the good things about being Malaysian, warts and all. I have a dream to see things as they were - that we are one people although of different colour and creed and for all us who call this our home - we are Malaysians.

Tags: Life, social comment, Malaysian