As 31 August draws near, I reflected on my identity as a Malaysian Chinese. I came to this conclusion. We who are born in this nation are here not by chance or accident.
Malaysia is a unique country inhabited by people of different skin colours, beliefs and customs. We have the Malays, the Chinese, the Indians. We also have the indigenous minority of Ibans, Kadazans, Jakuns, Senoi and Negeritos. All these Malaysians of diverse backgrounds enrich our nation with a colourful heritage and flavour. That is what makes our country truly unique and special.
I am a Malaysian Chinese. Ali is a Malaysian Malay. Muthu is a Malaysian Indian. Rohan Lee is a Chindian, of Chinese-Indian parentage. There are also many others of mixed parentage like the Indians and Ibans or Malays and Chinese. But we are all MALAYSIANS. And the fact remains – we are not Malaysians by chance or by accident.
Each one of us is uniquely blended into this country for a purpose. We, with our different strengths and talents are here to enrich and grow our nation. Our different ethnic groups have contributed much towards the formation and building of our beloved nation. In the early days, the Chinese were involved in railway construction and tin mining. They then transitioned into the business sector. The Indians came to work as labourers in railway construction and rubber plantations and today they hold various professional roles as doctors and lawyers. The Malays who form the majority group in Malaysia were traditionally involved in farming and fishing. Today, they make up the majority in our civil service.
As in the words of our national anthem, 'Negaraku', this is the land where our ancestors have spilled their blood (tanah tumpah darahku) towards the formation of this nation. So, as our nation gears up to her national day celebration on August 31, let us all pause and reflect on all that our forefathers and founding fathers (Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and Tun Tan Cheng Lock) have done to make the Malaysian dream possible.
We are Malaysians, placed in this country to be a blessing to this nation. Let us choose to bless and not curse, be grateful and not resentful, optimistic and not waver in hope for the bright future that Malaysia has. As we make a deliberate choice to be a blessing through words and deeds, all our rakyat will then live happily in unity and harmony. And our king will have a successful reign! (Raja kita selamat bertakhta)
God bless Malaysia!
Aug 2025
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