AS the country marks its 63rd Malaysia Day this Sept 16, three young locals in Johor share their aspirations for the country and reflect on what it means to be Malaysian.
“Previously, the people had different identities and different ideas of nationhood.
“The formation of Malaysia meant establishing a new nation with a unified identity, so a new identity of being Malaysian was created for all of us,” he said.
Liong, originally from Terengganu, said this shared identity remained important in shaping how Malaysians viewed themselves.
“Even now, when we introduce ourselves, especially when abroad, we do not describe ourselves by our race.
“We identify ourselves as Malaysians,” he said.
Export officer K. Ganaeshwari, 32, shared a similar sentiment, describing Malaysia as a place where diverse communities embraced one another’s cultures, food and languages.
She said the ability to share and appreciate these differences was something Malaysians should cherish.
Meanwhile, Sharifah Umairah Syed Mustafa, 25, who is pursuing political science master’s degree at Ankara University in Turkiye, hopes Malaysians will continue to reflect on what it means to share a national identity.
She said questions about what defined Malaysians and the kind of society the country wanted to build remained relevant after decades of nationhood.
“When we talk about Malaysians, we are still debating what it means to be Malaysian beyond the food that we share.
“What other aspects of the Malaysian identity should we build after all these decades?
“I think there are still many improvements that can be made, and what I hope for is continued effort to develop the country and improve the quality of life for everyone.”
Sharifah Umairah said such conversations were particularly important among young Malaysians who were increasingly exposed to current affairs through social media.
