5 Things Malaysians Should Be Proud Of
Reading the headlines, it is clear that Malaysia has been through some difficult times in recent years. Some are nice, but many are bad as well. Despite this, we were able to overcome the difficulties. We withstood the Asian Financial Crisis, the 2008 Financial Crisis, an election scandal, and many other challenges. We are one of the few Asian countries that withstood European colonisation and continue to stand up in the face of adversity.
Malaysians have always been tough in times of adversity, so let’s take a look at five things we can all be proud of.
1. We arose from the ashes of war.
Malaysia is a youthful country in comparison to other Southeast Asian countries. On August 31, 1957, we declared independence. We were a British colony before that, and before that, we were under Dutch control. During WWII, we were occupied by the Japanese, and many people suffered as a result.
People who made it through these difficult times were tough. They went through agony and pain that most of us can’t even fathom. Despite this, they persisted, and the nation of Malaysia was born.
War is a terrible thing. People commit heinous things during conflict, and many do not survive. Those who do survive, however, grow stronger as a result of their ordeal. Malaysians are such folks. We have grown stronger with each struggle, till we have become a nation to be proud of.
Today, we have something that many people wish they had: history. And, not just the kind of history that anyone can recall, but the kind that is significant and stays with people. We have a proud history that we can look back on. Be proud of how far we’ve come.
2. Our country is being built from the ground up.
Building a nation is a monumental undertaking. It takes many years and a lot of patience and determination. Following independence, it took several years for the then-Malayan administration to create the groundwork for what would become our Federal Government.
Consider this: it’s the 1960s, and you’re part of a government that’s attempting to construct a nation from the ground up. You are not only constructing a nation, but you are constructing it from the ground up, from nothing. There is no federal government, simply a loose confederation of former colonies and Sultans. How would you possibly go about doing this?
It’s easy to say that people back then were tough, but put yourself in their shoes: it’s the 1960s, and you’re attempting to lay the groundwork for what will become a nation. Do you have to start with Parliament? Or even a Cabinet? Maybe a Prime Minister first? What about the laws? Will English common law suffice?
What about other matters, such as education? Healthcare? How should you handle home issues and foreign affairs?
Most people would agree that these are concerns that must be addressed one at a time, with caution and deliberation. Not so for the people of the 1960s, who had to cope with all of these difficulties and more at the same time! It’s incredible how they made it through.
To be sure, it was a chaotic time, and many people were pessimistic about the idea of a new nation. Former colonials regarded the people with contempt, and even the British believed we would perish as a nation. Many shouted out that we could never be a nation because we had too many cultural differences, too many religious and ethnic barriers, and too much distrust. Nonetheless, we accomplished our goal. We built our country with our blood, sweat, and tears.
It is simple to reflect on the past and recall all of the errors made. It’s even simple to blame those blunders for the problems and instability we’re experiencing now. But we shouldn’t! Those guys did the best they could with what they had. Mistakes like the Emergency, race-based politics, and our contemporary social issues can all be linked back to those early days. Instead of viewing these as reasons for despair and depression, we should view them as challenges: what can we do today to ensure that these mistakes are never repeated?
The folks of the 1960s may be long gone, but their legacy lives on through us. Isn’t that, at the end of the day, what it means to be a Malaysian: to leave a legacy that endures?
3. We are what we eat.
Our diet is a vital component of our culture. Malaysia has long been recognised for its street food. People from all over the world come to experience our great cuisine, whether it’s the bustle of a night market or the laughter and banter of families enjoying their Friday dinners. Our food is a pillar of Malaysian culture, bringing people together to share the delight of wonderful food.
What would we do if we didn’t have our local delicacies? Would our cultural legacy be the same if these traditional recipes were not passed down from generation to generation? These dishes are more than simply cuisine; they convey the storey of Malaysia: a storey of civilizations colliding, colonialism and imperialism, independence and hope.
Our food, from satay to char kway teow, tells us where we’ve come from and who we are. The ingredients may change throughout time, but the spirit of regional food remains constant. We are what we eat, therefore it is critical that we remember where our food originates from. Malaysian cultural identity is related to recipes like nasi lemak and rojak, which we should conserve for future generations.
We may think of our food in the same way that we think of our heritage: as a mash-up of cultures that has been polished and localised over time. The Chinese, Indians, and other Southeast Asians who have made Malaysia their home have left their stamp on our culture in the same way that the British did. We took the greatest parts of each of these folks and combined them to create something unique.
Food is necessary for survival. Nothing else can bring people together like it. Malaysia should be proud of its outstanding native cuisine and use it to bring people together, just like our parents and grandparents did when they first imagined the cuisines we enjoy today.
Food, as a philosophical idea, is more than just something we eat. It symbolises who we are and where we have come from. We should value local food as part of our cultural identity and appreciate the rich history that goes into each of these delicacies.
So, the next time you sit down to eat, remember all of the people who worked hard to make your dinner a reality. Everyone has contributed to your supper, whether it’s the farmer who cultivated the ingredients, the chefs who cooked it, or your parents who raised you to appreciate food.
4. We have a distinctive English accent.
We are all aware that Singaporeans and Malaysians speak the same language. In truth, we have a lot of cultural commonalities. However, there are some significant variations in how the two countries communicate. As it turns out, these distinctions are so significant that they have given rise to an entirely new dialect known as Malaysian English. Formerly referred to as ‘Straits English’ or ‘Singapore English,’ the new term ‘Malaysian English’ denotes that it is an official language on par with Bahasa Malaysia (Malay language).
For starters, the ‘u’ in ‘colour’ is pronounced as a ‘a.’ As a result, you would say ‘colar’ instead of ‘colour.’ Another distinguishing feature of Malaysian English is the extensive usage of slang phrases and acronyms. For example, you might hear someone say ‘lah’ to indicate agreement or general enthusiasm. Another popular phrase that serves as an all-purpose negative mood is ‘Lor.’
It’s also frequent to hear English words used in ways they weren’t meant to be used. For example, the word ‘can’ could mean’may’ or ‘able to’. Another example is when the word ‘first’ is used to refer to the ordinal number ‘one’ rather than its real meaning as in ‘the first person to do something.’
Local languages such as Cantonese, Tamil, and Bahasa Malaysia are frequently used alongside Malaysian English. A speaker can transition between various languages while remaining understandable to the majority of listeners.
These slang terminology and speech patterns have spread so far that they have influenced neighbouring nations like Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia. This is especially true in the Philippines, where several English-based slang phrases are commonly used.
However, some people are still opposed to this particular style of communication. They claim that it makes Malaysians appear less clever and creates a subculture inside our already diversified population. But, as I see it, this is part of what makes our country unique. After all, aren’t civilizations meant to be distinct and distinct from one another?
We must recognise that not every Malaysian speaks ‘pure’ Malaysian English. In fact, many people struggle to communicate in it. On multiple occasions, the Prime Minister has been caught mispronouncing these terms. This comes as no surprise given that the vocabulary is changed on a regular basis. It’s like any other language; you have to be ‘in the know’ or you’ll find yourself making blunders all the time. It’s vital to distinguish between the phrases ‘lah’ and ‘lor,’ for example. While they have a similar pitch and function, they are employed in quite distinct situations.
Malaysian English, in my opinion, should be embraced rather than scorned. It enables us to communicate with one another considerably more effectively. We should practise it not just among ourselves, but also with the foreign community, so that they can learn from our culture as well. What, after all, is a culture if it is not shared?
5. Our urban/rural divide.
Let’s take a look at another distinctive characteristic of Malaysian culture for our fifth and last point: the urban versus rural gap.
This is a very genuine problem that is sometimes overlooked. People from larger cities, such as Kuala Lumpur or Johor Bahru, have a propensity to look down on those who live in smaller towns or rural areas.
As a Kuala Lumpur native, I am guilty of this too. People who live in cities are more’modern’ in many ways. They have a better education and are more conversant with things like pop culture. People who reside in more rural locations, on the other hand, tend to be less wealthy. Their children may not have as many educational possibilities.
People who grew up in cities may view those who do not live an urbane lifestyle as ‘kampung,’ or antiquated. This, however, is a terrible insult to those who have their own distinct culture. They encounter difficulties that city folks cannot well comprehend.
Talk to someone from Terengganu, for example, about their experiences during the monsoon season. They’ll go on and on about how, as a result of the flooding, they had to clean their homes every other day. You won’t discover many folks from Kuala Lumpur who have had the same experience. Maybe a Sarawakian will tell you about their longhouses and how they coexist with the local elephants.
This brings us back to the significance of the contrast. These are the kinds of experiences that make Malaysia amazing. It is not necessary to have grown up in a city to appreciate the modern world. And you don’t have to be from a tiny town to appreciate nature and the way things used to be. Having the best of both worlds is a blessing that many individuals do not have. That is something we should all be proud of.
There you have it, five things Malaysians should be proud of. This is only a little bit of the many things that our wonderful country is made of. People from all over the world live here, and each brings something unique to the table. We may not always agree, but that is what makes us powerful. We’re a mash-up of various cultures, habits, and beliefs.
Only time will tell if people will recognise and celebrate the value of their differences in the future.
But here’s my question for you: what are you most proud of? Is it something I mentioned in this piece? Is there something else I’m missing?
Whatever it is, we can all join together and be proud of it. We can be proud to call ourselves Malaysians.
