I am Malaysian

It has been a while since I last visited this page. I guess school break is really for the students and maybe teachers too but definitely not for the care takers and homemakers.

The other day I was out with my girls and they were playing with some Malay kids. There were some mummies around. Then there was this Indian lady (let's name her Miss X) was wondering who is the mother of my kids. (No they were not misbehaving!)

After some time, I signalled to Hannah that we need to go back and she came running to me calling "Mummy". Then Miss X approached me and this was the conversation that took place....

Miss X : "This girl is your daughter?"

Me : "Yes"

Miss X : "But she is CHINESE!"

Me : "I am Chinese"

Miss X : "I thought you are Malay"

She turned to another lady and asked her if I look like Malay. The lady answered I look mixed.

Well it has been many times that I was mistaken as a Malay. During secondary school days, sometimes I take public bus home. Those days bus fare is charged according to distance. So when we get up the bus, the conductor, who issue tickets will ask where we are going then she'll tell how much is it. Most of the time the Chinese conductor will ask me in Malay. To save the embarrassment, I will answer in Malay too.

Actually I used to speak fluent Malay. Come to think of it, my childhood days are more muhibbah (means racial harmony) compared now. Most of my close friends are Chinese. My daughter goes to a Chinese school. But Hannah is still very much exposed to other races as her best friend in kindy is a Malay girl.

To me, Malaysia is still a harmonious country and I wished it will stay that way.