Do you even know the depth of this phrase?
Some of my closest friends are of a different race, my brother married someone from a different race too. When you see someone deeper than their skin tone or belief, you'd find out that underneath we are all the same.
Wanna know a secret? My best friend has bumiputra privileges.
Guess what? It doesn't bother me, at all.
When you love someone, you want the best for them.
We all have privileges, from the family we are born into, the country we are born in; even the time period we are born at. Do we resent this? Our grandparents were born during WW1, got married off when they hit puberty, got captured to serve in the army... you think they'd resent the timing of their birth?
Everyday people are being born in war torn countries, what gives us the privilege to be born in a peaceful country; where our childhood homes don't get bombed and we can walk in the streets without bulletproof jackets?
If we, Malaysians went back to behaving like we did before industrialisation happened; you'd find out that we are a harmonious bunch. We truly love each other for who we are. We never wanted to make our friends clones of ourselves.
We let the politicians get to us, we let them divide and conquer.
All because they did not want accountability, they wanted entitlement, they were corrupt and they hid behind race; and smeared the country most beautiful gift - our unity in diversity.
My daughter got asked her race yesterday and she didn't know. I silently gave myself a pat on my back for bringing her up to not know the difference. Part of me feels hypocritical to call myself Indian or Sri Lankan as I've neither been to either of the countries, nor speak the language well. I've been told its my heritage, and when we are called pendatang; we briefly look up a bit more of our ancestry. But I'm quite sure the India and Sri Lanka would call me an alien too.
I like the Saree, as I do the Kebaya and Batu Kurung; I never had the legs for a cheongsam - but I love Chinese food; from dim sum to chilli crabs, yin yong and everything in between - except BKT, that is not my cup of tea.
We're Malaysians, this is my country. It's nasi lemak for breakfast, banana leaf rice for lunch, pisang goreng with karipap for tea, kung foo chow for dinner and roti canai with teh tarik for supper.
Now, who can't relate to that?
We Malaysians, bond over food. We love open houses and sharing food and laughter.
We respect our elders. We celebrate each other.
It's about time we remind ourselves what we have, before we lose that too; and it becomes a country we no longer recognise.
Let the politicians keep their power. If money and fame is all they want, they're poor indeed.
