Blending together, evolving endlessly

Like most Malaysians, I grew up learning English, Chinese, and Malay. But walking through the city today, countless foreign languages flood my ears. No matter which restaurant I visit or hotel I stay at, the people providing service are hardly ever Malaysians anymore. Dozens of Asian languages are spoken there—Urdu, Indonesian, Tagalog, Burmese, Thai, Vietnamese, and more. Kuala Lumpur has its own Little Korea. The Koreans living there work for multinational corporations, attend schools, and run restaurants and convenience stores.

Malaysia's population is less than 30 million. According to government figures, foreigners make up about 10% of that. Some estimates suggest the figure exceeds 20%, including illegal residents. Foreign migration began in the 1990s, meeting labor demands across many industries. Malaysia's structure resembles that of the United States. Several ethnic groups hold power, while numerous others from many countries coexist. Malaysia has always had a history of mixing. Foreigners came and went, settling, starting trade, and ruling the country. Britain, the Netherlands, Japan, Portugal, Arabs, China, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal. The list of their nationalities is endless.

Six hundred years ago, this land was part of the Majapahit Empire. Going further back, it was part of the Srivijaya Kingdom. When independence from Britain was achieved in 1957, three new ethnic groups came to dominate the nation: Malays, Chinese, and Indians. Beyond these, over fifty other ethnic groups have lived here. The current tagline for Malaysia's tourism promotion campaign is "Malaysia, the Real Asia." This phrase brilliantly encapsulates our reality. Malaysia has experienced continuous, dramatic changes in both society and culture. Honestly, feelings about these changes are a bit complex. Some embrace and welcome diversity. Others worry about the impact excessive change might have on our future.

Ultimately, it comes down to patriotism. Becoming a resident on paper is entirely different from becoming a citizen emotionally. I worry if foreigners living here only consider their own interests and convenience. But if they genuinely embrace this country as their home, one that offers opportunities and promises a future, then my worries are unfounded. Malaysia will continue to exist as a fascinating country that never ceases to evolve.

(Supervised by: Dentsu Inc. Aegis Network Business Bureau)