While having lunch with a friend recently, we were talking about the state of the country when he went… have you actually heard the phrase “I love Malaysia” from your friends and family at all recently?

I paused for the longest time and this was my reply “Er… Yea… I think.. and then (paused again) and realized that it was a NO”.

With the recent rife in politics especially in the state of Selangor, the “rakyat” is getting more and more disillusioned and just want the politicians to sort it out. Honestly, speaking as a resident of this country… we just want peace, harmony and may I state again… a country free of not only corruption but race based policies.. that’s all!!!

WP_20140822_001

The friend who got me thinking

People still ask me ” why did you come back to Malaysia?” My answer is still the same, and because of the reasons below:

1. My family

Yup, I am Asian at heart and love to be around my family members as my parents and grandmothers are getting old afterall…. I believe many of us who have study abroad knows that there’s literally “No place like home” without your family

2. Food

I LOVE the food in Malaysia. As one of my pastimes is scouting out the latest places to eat(there’s always new places to eat in Malaysia), I never get bored. Only in Malaysia you can find the blends of eateries at such an afforable rate from Chinese, Indian, Malay to Western. I’ve eaten in many restaurants around the world and the standard of food in Malaysia is pretty top notch, I’d have to say..

3. Opportunities

Malaysians are creative, and hence, many new businesses pop up everywhere in the country. As Malaysia is a developing country, it’s natural that new businesses will form, but the market also allows it too with consumers and even international consumption. Now, the question is whether we as the younger generation know how to make use of that opportunity? For example, I probably couldn’t have formed PersonEdge in the USA without jumping through hoops, all the red tape there is crazy!

4. The warmth of the Malaysian people

Malaysian people are very warm. You can ask many expats who live here how they are treated…. we always take the time to show people around, mostly “going out of the way” to make people feel comfortable. There’s still pride in Malaysian people when it comes to our food(I can tell) and our landscape, it’s just time to unite again as ONE NATION rather than as separates because that is exactly what some politicians are trying to do, separate us… A memory etched in me when I was in Taiping awhile back is of this scene

“Three elderly gentleman of different races, literally one chinese, one indian, and one malay man was drinking teh tarik together at a mamak”

Clearly, there was no racial boundaries between them, and they reminded me of a United Malaysia, what we really are, a blend of cultures.

A frothy glass of teh tarik from Teh Tarik Place

Talking about “teh tarik”, do enjoy a cup at 5 cents at any Teh Tarik Place outlets in Malaysia on Merdeka day(Aug 31st) because this was the price of one cup back in 1957!!

  • Ground Floor, The Curve, Mutiara Damansara
  • Ground Floor, Empire Shopping Gallery, Subang Jaya
  • Lower Ground floor, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya
  • Lower Ground floor, Nu Sentral, Kuala Lumpur
  • Ground Floor, Sooka Sentral, Kuala Lumpur
  • 3rd floor, IOI Mall, Puchong Jaya
  • Level 2, Paradigm Mall, Kelana Jaya
  • Level 2, Setia City Mall, Bandar Setia Alam
  • Ground Floor, DEMC Specialist Hospital, Shah Alam
  • Ground Floor, Bangi Gateway Shopping Complex, Bandar Baru Bangi
  • Ground Floor, Ayer@8, Precinct 8, Putrajaya
  • Ground Floor, MetroPoint Complex, Kajang

Imagine how inflation has increased the price!It’s time to bring Malaysian memories back…. and truly be Malaysian with a cup of teh tarik I would say:)

5. A great place to live

Honestly, Malaysia is a great place to live with a mixture of land, sun, and sea just a few hours apart, and it’s cheap to travel from Malaysia but once again.. with the safety of the people into consideration, it’s time for the police to seriously stop taking any bribery during road blocks and capture the real thieves, rapists,etc.

I know these are my reasons for me to stay and why I would say “I love Malaysia” but as a Chinese Malaysian who has friends of other races as well, I cannot take injustices especially when it’s not based on merit but based on skin colour.. so, dear government, if you are reading this… All I have to say is “please fix it”, if not… you won’t have a thing call a mixture of cultures which makes what Malaysia really is.. but rather a one-race country….

What about you guys? Why do you love Malaysia?

Happy Merdeka,

Mei Sze