Malaysian are super Super Special

By KOH SOO CHOON

Do we Malaysians ever consider why we were born in this country? A country that is full of resources, that enjoys peace and where there is an absence of natural calamities like earthquakes, typhoons, volcanic eruptions and tornadoes? Do we ever consider that being Malaysians is a gift?

In God’s kingdom work, we are specially blessed and suited to work cross culturally….

• We live in a country with different races. We learn to be patient and have a spirit of “give and take” so that we can continue to live peacefully. When we go overseas to work, we learn to be sensitive as a result of our experiences at home. Compare that with our sisters and brothers from countries that are basically mono-cultural, like Korea or Japan.
  
  
• We understand and learn about the different religions in Malaysia. We participate in the different festivals and celebrations. We know that Muslims pray five times a day, fast during Ramadan; we know what Deepavalli is all about and what Buddhists believe. We are sensitive to what is considered clean or unclean, proper or improper behaviour, etc. We have such a rich learning environment. Unfortunately, we take this for granted. Do you know that someone from the US might not know that Muslims bow towards Mecca when they pray? This is just one example of the wealth of knowledge that we have. Others have a sharp learning curve to tackle as far as the major religions of the world are concerned.
  
  
• How many of us speak at least two languages? This is the minimum number! We speak three languages on the average. This enables us to have a better ear for different sounds and it is easier for our tongues to twist around when we work cross culturally and need to learn a new language. Compare this with our brothers and sisters who come from a mono-language country. We have had a good head start!
  
  
• As a result of the exposure and cultural mix of the different races, we have come to appreciate each other’s food. Just look at the way people of all races and ages in Malaysia eat heartily of different types of food. Food is essential for survival. We are more open to try all kinds of food with different texture, smell and taste! This is an advantage we enjoy compared to others who have less exposure.
  
  
• Food – we are always talking about food and eating! We are prepared to eat anything anywhere once it is known that a particular stall serves good food. In the process, we have developed “iron stomachs” as we eat in all kinds of settings. Of course, we have the occasional bout of diarrhea but our resis- tance has built up over the years. I know of our counterparts from some “super clean” countries who spend lots of time being horizontal, and who are constantly on medication. As a result, they are bogged down with lack of energy to work full swing. They have to take more stringent precautions in food preparations and abstain from consuming outside food.
  
  
• Eating with our fingers – most of us are familiar with the proper way of using our fingers. This helps us in our cross cultural learning as people from a number of cultures sit on the floor and use fingers to eat.
  
  
• It is easy for us to squat. Squat? What is so great about that? In many underdeveloped countries ‘squatting’ toilets are the norm. Many people from the west do not know how to squat. What difficulties there would be if one constantly has diarrhea, has difficulty in squatting and there is no access to ‘sitting’ toilets!
  
  
• Finally we have one BIG PLUS – our passports! We do not need visas to go to hard-to-get-visas places like Iran, and Turkmenistan! Other countries include Krgyzstan, Cambodia and Vietnam. Do we appreciate this fact? If you have been working cross culturally, you would know that to have a visa is like having gold. The process takes ages and some countries are not keen to grant visas.

We are especially welcomed in Muslim countries. Malaysians have wonderful opportunities to strike up interesting and meaningful conversations by the simple fact that we come from Malaysia! Americans have asked me how they can get our passports! When we are Kingdom people, we see things from a different perspective. We have this special Malaysian privilege that God has blessed us with.

With privileges come responsibilities. God will ask what we have done with the resources that He has blessed us with. Are we using them to be in partnership with Him to build His kingdom on earth among peoples whose languages are yet to be represented in Heaven? Are we going to say “Boleh!” and “Amen” to our Father who has predestined us to be born in “Boleh Land”?

(Read her interview with Kairos overleaf.)