Malaysia is a very special place. And I love it.
It's like a big, noisy house. And inside, you'll find Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans and many others. We're all different. But we're all Malaysians. We're meant to be one big family. And we love it.
Our Super Power Is…
What else? Our food lah! Picture this scene. It's almost midnight at a mamak stall. The cool night air is thick with non-stop chatter and laughter. Friends huddling around a table. There's roti canai, sup daging, and steaming cups of teh tarik.
"Wah, this roti canai crispy lah! The curry ho liau one!" exclaims Chin Siong. "Aiyoh, don't talk lah you. Cannot compare to Penang nasi kandar lah," laughs Rosli. "Dei, cannot fight my mother's mutton curry," Ramesh declares triumphantly.
It's a delicious debate. We may disagree on the best dish. But we can all agree on one thing for sure. Malaysian food is top-notch. (Singaporeans, sorry. You don't even come close.)
Our Colourful Festivals…
Chinese New Year comes in with a big bang. Literally. Deafening fireworks pierces the night. And your ears. You're in bed and you just have to shake your head and cover your ears with your pillow. What to do? Bear with it for a few minutes lah. At least tomorrow, you get to go to Aunty Tan's house next door. She always has the best pineapple tarts in the world. Then Hari Raya comes around. Everyone's invited. You'll find yourself at Ali's house, stuffing your face with his mum's classic rendang and ketupat. And don't forget Deepavali at Priya's place. There'll be the signature chicken curry and tosai and murukku and a fierce rava ladoo after lunch. Christmas rounds up the year. And kids of all races are singing “Jingle Bells.” But that's not all. Ever been to the Kaamatan harvest festival in Sabah? Or joined the Gawai celebrations in Sarawak? Each festival is a beautiful riot and harmony of colours and sounds. Intricate traditions carried on from one generation to the next.
Our Sports…
Nothing unites us like our love for sports. When Lee Chong Wei was playing, the streets would be empty. Everyone would be glued to their TV screens. Young and old lending their collective voices and willpower for Lee Chong Wei to oust Lin Dan. Every mamak shop would be packed to the brim. We all held our breath. When we won, the whole nation erupted with cheers and tears. Even if you were watching TV alone in your apartment, you would hear cheering from every floor below and above you. Recently, Pearly and Thinaah brought back some of those cheers at the Olympics. It was amazing. Goosebumps. Doesn't matter if you're from KL or KK. We're all Team Malaysia. (And our girls just won the the doubles title at the Hong Kong Open!)
And it's not just badminton. It's football, it's squash, it's hockey, it's bowling, whatever. Whenever a Malaysian takes to the court or the field, we're all behind them 100%. From the sepak takraw courts in the kampungs to futsal matches in the city, sports brings us together like nothing else. We play, we cheer, we celebrate - as one.
Our Language…
Where else can you hear, "Wei macha, after this go makan. Jom!" Manglish is our very own special blend of Malay, Chinese, English, and Tamil. A delightful combination of every language in a single sentence. It's a beautiful mess of languages. Miss Teo, our old English teacher from Form 2, would roll her eyes at the way we butcher her spoken English. But we all understand it. It's our secret code. Our shared identity. Our way of saying, "Aiya, we are all Malaysian, lah!"
The Little Things That Count
It's queueing for hours to try the nasi lemak burger. It's mocking that one friend in your group that can't stand durians. It's chillaxing with a salted caramel macchiato with your BFFs. It's debating Madani politics over a char koay teow lunch. It's celebrating Merdeka with a teh tarik in one hand and a curry puff in the other. These moments are pure Malaysian magic. Wouldn't you agree? Where else can you experience such oneness in the world?
So here we are in 2024. All under one roof. Are we different? Sure. But that is exactly what makes us so uniquely special. It's what makes us Malaysian.
“We are all Malaysians. This is the bond that unites us. Let us always remember that unity is our fundamental strength as a people and as a nation.” - Tunku Abdul Rahman
And that is what #MalaysiaKita is all about, my friends.
Now, who wants to lepak at the mamak tonight? Comment below and share this article with your gang….
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