Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku

Kuala Lumpur is so small.

No really, it is. If you've lived here long enough you would have realized that you are bound to know someone who happens to know someone who happens to know someone who knows someone else who knows you.

Get my drift?

It's happened to me. One too many times.

It's getting a bit scary though. It makes me want to get out of KL permanently because I can't roam around freely in KL without seeing someone I know with someone else I happen to know who knows perhaps, my parents or worse my grandparents!

It basically means I can't do whatever I please.

Actually, I always knew I couldn't do what I pleased here because most of my family lives in KL therefore misbehaving could get to the elders and the elders will talk and ergh, you know what I mean.

KL seems to be getting smaller and I want out.

But wait, that's just insane talk! I love KL! And I sure as hell love Malaysia!

Truthfully, I really don't understand why any Malaysian would want to hate this country and is willing to give up their citizenship for it.

Oh well.

Doesn't matter does it? Giving up ones citizenship?

What's the big fucking deal?

Recently, there was quite a big Hoo-Ha in the media about the statistics which showed how many people had given up their Malaysian citizenship for other countries. Apparently, there were a lot of unsatisfied Malaysians. Or were there?

This article clarifies it all. It clarifies the actuality of the given statistics and the reasons as to why one should appreciate having a citizenship.

This whole citizenship issue has a lot to do with historical mambo jumbo.

So if you enjoy reading history be sure to look up the word jus soli. It's something the Malays totally protested against just before the Brits were about to give our independence. The Malays didn't think it was a good idea that anyone born in Malaysia can automatically become a Malaysian.

In the first place, why the hell were we being given independence?

Shouldn't we be free from all in the first place? Argh. One topic at a time Naz!

Okay so back to citizenship, Malaysia (the government that is), believes that we Malaysians should not simply give up our citizenships. And if we do, we shouldn't expect that we will get it back. Because we won't get it back. Because it's a big deal to them and to the country. Duh!

The article linked above written by Suhaini Aznam was quite moving for me. Well, I liked the ending where he writes:

"Malaysia has to strike a balance between sending its citizens out and imbuing them with a sense of belonging. This is what the tanah tumpahnya darah ku (this land I would die for) is all about in the first line of the national anthem.

Citizenship defines the place one calls home for life, where one rests one’s weary head after having travelled the globe. It gives one identity. It is the place to live out one’s twilight years. Ideally, it is “the best place on earth.” "

Agak emo lah.

Blame it on the PMS or too much Nasi Lemak or the fact that it's going to be 50 years of Independence this month but the fact still stands I love my country, so sue me.


You should learn to love it too.