Refleksi Minda

Why do I love Malaysia?

Because it is home.

Because it is multicultural.

Because it is multi-religious.

Because there’s Muslims, Buddhists, Hindu, Christians and countless other
religions, even athesits.

Because there’s Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan, Peranakan, Bidayuh,
Bajau, Dusun, Melanau, Orang Asli etc.

Because within those there’s Bugis, Javanese, Minangkabau, Banjarese,
Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, Mandarin, Baba, Tamil, Telegu, Malayali, Ceylonese,
Hindi, Punjabi and many others.

Because of them there’s nasi lemak, nasi kandar, nasi kerabu, laksa, ayam masak
merah, ayam masak lemak, gulai, soto, satay, kampong fried rice, chinese fried
rice, chicken rice, claypot noodles, wanton mee, char kuey teow, chee cheong
fun, chicken curry, mutton curry, fish head curry, roti canai, roti telur,
chappati and countless other dishes.

Because there’s so much food, we do not die because we don’t
have enough to eat. We die because we eat too much.

Because there’s Aidilfitri, Aidiladha, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Thaipusam,
Wesak Day, Christmas Day, Good Friday, Keamatan Festival and Dayak Festival.

Because of the celebrations above, we’ve got a lot of public holidays.

Also because of the celebrations above, we’ve got a lot of open houses.

Because our people speak Bahasa Melayu and Cantonese and Mandarin and
Hokkien and Tamil and Hindi and Iban Language and Kadazan Language and others.
And of course, English, Malaysian-style.

Because we say ‘lah‘ often, even though it has no actual meaning.

Because I can bargain with the seller in some places. This is good, as we love
to bargain.

Because of 3 words; ‘Malaysia Mega Sale’. Didn’t I say we
love a bargain?

We also love free stuff, but can’t get those things too often nowadays.

Because I can get cheap DVDs, VCDs and games, even though it
is legally and morally wrong.

Because our approach to technology is ‘you make ‘em, we
break ‘em’. Examples: Modified PS2s, ‘DVD 9’ (there is no such region), and
‘locked’ Western handsets (we laugh at you, Vodafone, 3 and Orange
engineers!)

Because our drivers know that time is precious and so we need to get from point
A to point B as fast as we can. As such, there is no place for slowpokes on the
road. Also, the ‘honk’ is the greatest automobile invention to us, essential to
any Malaysian driver. Along with the middle finger, the ‘go-to-hell’ hand
gesture and the ‘death stare’ AKA ‘usha maut’.

Because we have the ultimate ‘you-get-what-you-pay’ range of cars, the Protons.

Because we’ve got Mawi. He makes some of us very happy. And
I’m not talking about the Astro people, either.

Because out of two Malaysian Idols, we’ve got two
winners who are from ‘ethnic minorities’. The UK, for all its multiculturalism,
has got two winners who are Caucasian for their Pop Idol brand (that ran
for 2 seasons). And two more Caucasian winners for the spiritual successor of Pop
Idol, ‘X-factor’. That shows something, I think.

Because we’ve got M. Nasir, even if he was born in
Singapore.

Because we sell water to Singapore.

Because Singaporeans contribute to our economy by coming to
Johor Bahru and buying their week’s groceries there.

Because Indonesians and Bangladeshis contribute to our
economy by providing valuable manpower. In exchange, we make them rich when
they go back to their countries.

Because our highways are decent (cracked ones apart). Well,
they better be, for the amount of money we have to pay to use them.

Because so far, the LRTs are in good condition. So far.

Because we’ve got the KLCC, once the tallest building in the
world. The set for Hollywood movie ‘Entrapment’ and several Bollywood
movies. The shopping complex sells ridiculously overpriced goods while the park
is regular meeting point for those ‘bleak-to-no-future’ types.

Because we have a big national airport.

Because we just need to scan our passports in KLIA. Even
Heathrow doesn’t have that technology, as far as I know.

Because we have a big national stadium. Too bad we don’t
have a similarly impressive football team to play in the stadium.

Because we have a Formula 1 racetrack. Too bad we don’t have
a driver to race on it.

Because not all of our politicians are useless.

Because there is always, always, ALWAYS another way apart
from the conventional way to do things. We call it ‘mesti ada lubang’.

Because there’s Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negeri
Sembilan, Melacca, Johore, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Perak, Perlis, Kedah,
Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

And within these states there’s Petaling Jaya and Bukit Bintang and Subang Jaya
and Seremban and Melacca Town and Muar and Johore Baru and Mentakab and Kuantan
and Kuala Terengganu and Kota Baru and Ipoh and Taiping and Kangar and Alor
Setar and Georgetown and Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan and Tawau and Kuching and
Bintulu and Sibu.

Because of the above, there’s so many unique places to go.

Because Malaysia is naturally beautiful.

Because there’s Gunung Kinabalu and Gunung Tahan and Gunung Ledang and err,
Bukit Gasing.

Because Malaysia has lovely coastlines like Port Dickson and Rantau Abang.

Because Malaysia has scenic islands like Langkawi and Redang and Pangkor.

We also have mighty rivers like Sungai Muar and Sungai Rejang and Endau-Rompin
river and Menanggol river. Even if we do have polluted rivers like Sungai Kelang
and Sungai Gombak, they are still mighty, in their own, err ‘unique’ way.

Because there is prosperity.

Because there is peace.

Because there’s no other county like it.

Because, take it from a guy who has lived abroad for the
past 3 years, it is a wonderful country.

And the foremost reason why I love Malaysia:

Because I am Malaysian.

Happy Merdeka Day!

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