Happy Malaysia Day 2020!

There are so many many moments that makes me so proud to be a Malaysian.

I went to Assunta Primary and High School and had so many friends from different races, background, religion and status. I have my Chinese, White, Malay and Indian friends and we had so much fun together. We have our loving but firm headmistress Sr.Enda . We did Fashion Shows, there was Ms. Assunta Pageant, there is the wonderful school band, I was one of the cheerleaders , in dikir barat and other great activities.

Then I moved to Tunku Kurshiah College(TKC) which is a highly esteemed Malay Girls government boarding school. I was so amazed how everything was so well in placed and organised. The girls are so respectful of the system in placed and that is the reason lots of graduates comes out as leaders in their own community. I was so proud to see how beautiful the Malay Dance and how well they did the English drama with such world class performance.

I felt proud to be a Malaysian when after lots of aptitude, physical and mental test, I at 18yrs old was selected and represented Malaysia to join other youths around the world between 18yrs -25 yrs old for community projects organised by Operation Raleigh U.Kingdom. It was amazing that I could train to be part of an International effort to make the world a better place.

I also watched SUKOM 1998 gymnastic games and felt so proud of how well we organised the Games. I remembered how at awe I was in the huge big new stadium in Bukit Jalil. How beautiful it was everywhere.

And then I remembered being so proud to wear my kebaya with my long 'wig' ( that time I had very short blond hair. The 1st interview failed due to my short blonde hair. I came back again with a wig looking like a sweet Malay girl and got the job after my 2nd attempt of interview :)) to take care of the VIPs at our 1st Malaysian F1 race. To witness and International F1 race to take place in our home and the world could see how Malaysia was rising and rising just like our KLCC.

When I was studying Law in Sheffield under JPA , I was proud to see so many Malaysians studying overseas being independent and have great support system. I felt at that time if I throw one stone out in the open I would hit a Malaysian. :). I helped organised the performances for the Malaysian Night in Sheffield. And went to other uni's Malaysian Nights. It was great experience to witness how old students from different background and races to organised it successfully. Even represented Sheffield Malaysian team in Ping Pong for the Malaysia Annual inter university Sports Day.

When I back packed alone in 2007, I was proud to share about how great Malaysia is to those I met in my path. I became an unofficial Malaysian ambassador. For most I met only knew about Thailand and Bali. But they did not even know that English is a 2nd language in Malaysia and that even though we are a muslim country, we are the ONLY country in the world that celebrates other religious holidays as our OFFICIAL holidays such as Chinese New Year, Christmas, Thaipusam, Deepavali. I cooked Malaysian food Ayam Masak Merah( Chicken Red Sauce) for the whole hostel by the beach somewhere near a small town beach area Rio De Janeiro. The hostel owner managed to find the ingredients that I needed ,it took him 3 days to procure it but he did it amazingly. They loved the food although I could be the worst cook in the world...hahaha.. Actually , that is the ONLY dish I know how to cook when I was studying in Sheffield, Ask my housemates, my day or turn to cook is " Ayam Masak Merah Day" . No one else are allowed to cook that. :).

When I was living for 3 months with my mum and my stepdad in New Jersey, we went to celebrate my first Raya celebration in Connecticut. They have such huge Malaysian Community there. I don't know anyone there but they welcome us with open heart. Thanks to my NYC brother and sister , Amri and Nina ( most wonderful big heart couple), we got to know so many other wonderful Malaysians in Connecticut and New York City. I stayed in NYC after to do my MBA and was so grateful to meet other wonderful great Malaysians there.

When I lived in Qatar in 2014 with my family. I met so many wonderful Malaysians. Do you know the Malaysian wives there are all so intelligent and actually left their corporate jobs to support their husbands and took care of their families in Qatar? Some ladies even got the job there themselves and their husband followed to support the family. I was thinking they are so talented and could build their own corporation there. They are lawyers,doctors,engineers,business owners,etc, I had the chance learn Malay traditional dance from my TKC ex-schoolmates and represent Malaysia for the world cultural event there. My daughter represented Malaysia in her school during her School International Day.

But I think the proudest moment as being Malaysian is during 2018 Malaysian election. It was amazing how ALL Malaysians fought so hard to make changes and we worked together as one family putting aside all our differences with ONE important Goal, to Make Changes. I saw some friends flying down from everywhere in the world to come back just to vote.

And the most proudest moment of All times as Malaysian is this year and NOW..despite going through political turbulence, we Malaysian somehow managed to work together to manage and contain the COVID19 and bring the numbers down. It was a tough journey but we did it. Still a long way to go, there are uncertainties. But we need to keep faith in GOD that we are here to learn all the good virtues and in always in a learning journey. Everything has a reason and a learning for all of us.

As long as we Malaysian stays proud of our achievements and take pride and have integrity in whatever we do. Just pray, think, act and talk in positive manner. Love your family . Love your friends, Love your colleagues. Love everyone in your life. Be confident, be loving, be respectful, be caring and know that we are a Great Nation, We are great Malaysia!Happy Malaysia Day!