For many young Malaysian Chinese, they are Malaysians first, world citizens second, and then Chinese.
The remark “pandainya cakap Melayu (you speak Malay so well) surprises post-graduate student Justin Lee every time he hears it.
“You would think that after all these years, it will be accepted that many young Chinese, if not all, can speak and write Bahasa Malaysia fluently now, or at least a bit,” says the 30-year-old.
“You throw me in China and I will be totally lost. I cannot speak any Mandarin at all,” he adds, adding that he sometimes feels angry towards his parents for not sending him to a Chinese school.
This angst is driven more by the economic factor ‑ the rapid growth of China is opening up opportunities for work there - than feelings of identity or culture, however.
“That (China) is one market that will be difficult for me to break into,” laments the KLite who is now struggling to learn Mandarin.
Statistics show that 95% of Malaysian Chinese parents now send their children to Chinese schools, which also happen to be popular among non-Chinese parents. Over the past years, the number clambering to get their children into the Chinese school system has been growing steadily.
Thinktank Center for Strategic Engagement (Cense) highlights that some 90% of Chinese in Malaysia now can speak and write Mandarin, while more than 90% are also proficient in Bahasa Malaysia.
Rita Sim, co-founder and fellow of Cense, and author of the recently-launched book titled Unmistakably Chinese, Genuinely Malaysian, last week noted that for the Malaysian Chinese, “whatever our historical background, we are Malaysians”.
Environmentalist Choong stresses that the interest in China has nothing to do with identity or culture.
“It is part of the ultra-pragmatism of the Chinese. That is why many now are venturing overseas for work; we just want better opportunities and better money,” he says, adding that all young Malaysians, not just the Chinese, are now looking globally when it comes to career opportunities.
“But when you talk about home, many think of Malaysia.”
This can be seen in the number of Malaysian expats who return home for the Chinese New Year celebrations every year.
One is media worker Toh, who says she still feels homesick after living in Hong Kong for almost five years.
“I speak the language, I have a good job and I have enough friends. But Hong Kong is not Kuala Lumpur. It is not home,” says the 30-something who still looks forward to coming home to Malaysia every Chinese New Year.
Many of her friends are surprised that she is still very “Malaysian” after all these years, she says. “I don't quite understand what that means, but it makes me happy. I never want to lose that.”
A communications manager who just wants to be known as MY decided to return to Malaysia permanently after some five years of working in Singapore.
Echoing Toh's sentiments, he says: “People used to say that Malaysian Chinese study and work in Singapore, Taiwan or Hong Kong because these places are more Chinese-friendly. Now, we can see that people from all parts of the world travel to these places for work and studies.
“It is the same way as our forefathers who travelled from China and India to work and settle down here. It was not because Malaya and the British government were more Chinese-friendly or Indian-friendly. At that time, here was where the money was.”
Now, he notes, Malaysia is simply home to him and his peers. “I've never thought of spending my twilight years anywhere other than in Malaysia.”
Sim agrees that people will always go where the opportunities are. “Now many Malaysians of all races are working in Singapore, Hong Kong, Europe and other parts of the world. But if there are better opportunities here, they will not hesitate to come home (to Malaysia).”
She believes that Europe's currency crunch will see an increasing number of Europeans venturing to Asia for work.
“Today, people are more mobile - someone from Netherlands who comes over here for work will not be less Dutch, or a person from Germany will not be less German if they work in Asia,” she says.
In this digital age, it is important for young Malaysians, regardless of race, to see themselves as world citizens, says entrepreneur and Groupon Malaysia CEO Joel Neoh.
“Some young Malaysians, especially the Chinese, make a lot of fuss about where they come from.
“They say Oh, I am a Chinese from Malaysia and I face a lot of problems ...' Sure, when you look at yourself, there are many things that you can complain about but it depends on your perspective.
“Anywhere you are in the world, in any country, you will face challenges. It depends on what you want in the world; try and see what options are available and make the most of the opportunities,” he says.
The world today is globalised, he reiterates.
“Anyone can connect with anyone on different levels, with different interests. When today's world is globalised, it is taking a step back if we take that (racial) view.
“We need to look at what can bring us together what passion, what interests keep us related to each other,” says Neoh, drawing example from his own enterprise where over 100 young people from diverse backgrounds mix and work together.
Still, he says, he understands why many young people, especially the Chinese, hold on steadfastly to their race identity.
“I have some friends who have to have Chinese dinner every week at a round table with jade marble because their grandfather used to do it in the past.
“I'm more interested in the future - the things that I consume and the content that I immerse in are more of the future and it is universal. But I understand that many of the writings of the present and prediction of the future are based on the analysis of the past.”
Social media consultant Aaron Lee also keeps a borderless world view.
The budding “multi-national” Sabahan businessman co-founded a Ladies fashion store called Leneys on Facebook with his girlfriend last year, and hopes to make it big globally soon.
Malaysia will always be home, he raves. “What I love most is the amazing variety of food in Malaysia. Ask anyone what they miss about Malaysia and I'm sure they would say the food.”
He also feels it is a great opportunity to grow up in a multi-racial country.
“I am able to learn and experience so many different celebrations from different cultures that not many can experience.
“Being Chinese is my heritage but being Malaysian is what I am proud of. I was brought up by my parents to think we're Malaysians. When I was young, I was sent to a multi-racial school and I just graduated from a local university in Malaysia.”
A young professional in the local education arena, K.S. Chen, agrees that this is the beauty of being a Malaysian.
“For me, being a Chinese in Malaysia means being able to hold on to the ethnic Chinese identity. I have the best of both worlds. I went to a Chinese school, so I know Chinese history and culture well, but I am also exposed to other Malaysian cultures and ethnic histories.”
She feels that is why many young Chinese are angry and upset that the pendatang slur is bandied about every once in a while. As she sees it, we may speak different languages, believe in different gods or eat different things but that does not make us any less Malaysian.
“I can understand why there are many young Chinese who are dissatisfied with various issues in the country, but personally I don't feel angry.
“I feel that it is sad that they exist in our society but we also should not look at it from a racial perspective.”
Communications executive Chia believes some young Malaysian Chinese are riled with dissatisfaction only because they see Malaysia as home and want to make it a better place.
“Our forefathers really slogged to eke out a living and make it in a foreign country. I think in that sense, the Chinese have always been synonymous with qualities like industriousness and perseverance, and this hard-working trait is something that we possess till today.
As she attests: “For many of us, Malaysia is our birth country and we are proud to have made significant contributions that helped shape the nation to becoming what it is today.”
Looking into the crystal glass, Neoh says there are many more things that can be done. “What excites me is where Malaysia is now today and where it will be in the next year, next decade and the future. With seven billion people globally and growing, where is the world heading, and what collaborations can we do (with other countries) in the future?”
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