Meaningful birthday: Nor Malaysia (right) with her future daughter-in-law Nurul Asmaq Mazalan. Both of them were born on Sept 16.
PETALING JAYA: As a young girl, Nor Malaysia Rose was often embarrassed to tell people her name because she was often teased for it.
But today, the 59-year-old retired teacher from Kuantan is proud and grateful for her unique name and identity.
Born on the very day Malaysia was formed on Sept 16, 1963, her father had planned to register her name as Normala but changed his mind after listening to a suggestion from a police officer.
“Back then, people registered the names of their children at the police station.
“The police officer told my father, ‘Why not extend the name Normala to Nor Malaysia?’
“Being a teacher with a strong patriotic spirit, my father agreed with him,” said Nor Malaysia, now a mother of six.
And this year’s Malaysia Day celebration was extra special for her because not only was it her birthday, her eldest son got married yesterday as well.
“Coincidentally, my daughter-in-law also has the same birthday as me,” Nor Malaysia added, making this date all the more meaningful to the family.
With a name that draws attention, a teenage Nor Malaysia was often at the receiving end of teasing remarks by schoolmates like, “Oh, hebat lah (Oh, so awesome)” and “Oh, nama negara (Oh, the name of the country).”
“It came to a point where I asked my dad to change my name. He agreed because he felt rather guilty.
“But when I realised the number of forms we needed to fill up, I told him never mind and accepted my name in the end,” she said with a laugh.
Nor Malaysia also realised that her name was unique and made her exceptionally memorable to others.
“When I taught my students about Malaysia Day in our history lessons, they would smile and say that is their teacher’s birthday,” Nor Malaysia said.
She added that it is also a blessing that her birthday is on a national holiday.
“That makes it easier for me and my family to celebrate,” she said.
Nor Malaysia is one of the 88 Malaysians in the country at present to have the word “Malaysia” officially in their names.
Recalling a funny story, she said she met other individuals who were also named after Malaysia when they were invited to the 50th Malaysia Day celebration in Sabah in 2013.
“There were quite a number of us at the event.
“So when the event organiser called out ‘Makcik Malaysia’ (Aunty Malaysia), a few of us ladies looked up because we all thought she was calling us.
“We just looked at each other and laughed,” she said.
