Messages from abroad

“I miss the food back home the most. Despite the fact that there are many Malaysian restaurants in Perth, nothing can match the authenticity of food from home. This National Day, I will take part in events hosted by my university’s Malaysian society. I am ready to wear my cheongsam, which I brought all the way to Perth. To my fellow Malaysians, no country is perfect, but one can strive to make it better. I wish that everyone will have equal opportunities, especially in terms of education and jobs. I also pray for the peace and unity of Malaysians.” Abigail Tan, 19, Curtin University, Australia

“I definitely miss the food now that I’m abroad, as even though there are a lot of Malaysian restaurants over here, the vibes are so different compared to those back home. I’ll definitely do something with my Malaysian friends on National Day – it could be having a small get-together, eating Malaysian cuisine, or blasting Negaraku and Jalur Gemilang in themiddle of our university’s courtyard – but nothing is set in stone yet. I don’t know what the future holds for our beloved country, but I hope it will be a bright one. We may not have achieved many of the past visions and aspirations, but Malaysia has reached so many other unimaginable limits that 2020 can only be better than the past years.” — Amanda Yeo, 20, University of Melbourne, Australia

“It’s my parents that I miss the most. I don’t need to adapt much to a new environment as Singapore is similar to Malaysia in many ways. This National Day, I feel like singing Negaraku in front of my school campus with other Malaysians. I hope the country will prosper in every field it sets its heart on, and shine bright like diamonds in the sky.” — Denzil Lee, 18, Lasalle College of the Arts Singapore

“I have an entire list of things that I miss about Malaysia, but top on the list would be our language. I wish I had a fellow Malaysian with me here with whom I can speak the ‘bahasa rojak’. When I initially came over to New Zealand, I spoke a mixture of Malay, English and Mandarin, which was confusing to my friends. My university has a very well-established Malaysian Students Association, and we are planning a “Hari Merdeka” to commemorate the special day. I hope Malaysians can truly be united as one, despite our differences. Existing and future leaders should walk the talk and uphold their promises. To all Malaysians, a better tomorrow starts with what you do today.” — Natasha Tan, 20, University of Otago, New Zealand

“I miss my family and the food back home. I am currently working as an air stewardess and it’s a well-known fact that we tend to miss out on the important occasions. I have many Malaysian friends here in Singapore, and we plan to have a gathering. One way to celebrate National Day is to see Malaysians come together from all parts of the world and stay connected through social media platforms to share their love for the country. I wish for the country to be constantly moving forward in all aspects, and see the bigger picture in life by changing our perspective and attitude towards others. Say no to corruption and discrimination, and give every citizen a sense of belonging in this country. Selamat Merdeka, my fellow Malaysians!” — Yee Li-Anne, 21, Kaplan Higher Education Institute, Singapore

“I miss my family and friends. I won’t be going back to Malaysia for the National Day celebrations as I have classes to attend and flight tickets are expensive. But I’ll be watching the live transmission, and cheer along with other Malaysians. In the near future, I hope to see political stability and economic growth in the country – as these are crucial for any country to grow and prosper. Stay strong, Malaysia!” — Tay Hui Yue, 19, University of Melbourne, Australia

This article was published in the Newspaper in Education (NIE) pullout by The Star Newspaper dated 28 August 2019