‘Saya Malaysia, Kita Malaysia’

Colourful culture: Like the US, Malaysia’s diversity can result in the resilience, creativity and success of the nation. - Filepic

WHEN they see my name, many Malaysians ask me questions about my family heritage. I proudly answer: “Born in Brooklyn. I’m American.” Of course, like almost all of my fellow citizens, I can trace my roots back to several foreign countries.

In the late 1940s, my father migrated to the United States from India in search of a world-class education. As it turned out, he also found love. My mother is descended from some of America’s most famous immigrants – the Pilgrims – who came to Massachusetts beginning in 1620 in search of religious freedom. My mother’s paternal grandparents arrived from Norway in the 1870s searching for land and work. Truly, mine is a common American story.