Celebrating 63 years of togetherness: East Malaysians share what it means to be Malaysian

The article explores the unique perspective of Sabahans on their Malaysian identity, highlighting their pride in cultural diversity, food, and harmonious coexistence.

While Sabahans embrace their Malaysian identity, they also emphasize the importance of recognizing their distinct cultural and historical context, as shaped by the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Many express a desire for Peninsular Malaysians to understand that being proud Sabahan does not equate to being less Malaysian, but rather highlights a unique contribution to the federation's diversity and strength.

The interviewees stress the need for mutual respect, tolerance, and a deeper understanding of the development challenges they face.

KOTA KINABALU/KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — Julia Chan and Arif Zikri spoke to Sabahans and Sarawakians on what Malaysia means to them and what it means to be Malaysian.

The Sabah perspective

Ask Sabahans about being Malaysian and they can begin with something as uncomplicated and universal as good food and world class sunsets and end with something much more complicated: how to belong to a diverse federation without losing the unique identity that comes with being Sabahan.

Ahead of Malaysia Day, Malay Mail asked several Sabahans what comes to mind when they hear “Malaysia”, what being Malaysian means to them, how that identity differs in Sabah, and what they wish people in Peninsular Malaysia understood about being Sabahan.

What comes to mind when you hear “Malaysia”?

For many, including marine biologist Malinda Auluck, 40, the answer was first and foremost food — and the strong opinions that come with it.

“We are snobbish about our food. Want to cause an uproar? Ask for crispy skin rendang ,” she said.

Comedian and trivia host Matt Brian, 29, had a more unexpected first thought.

“To be honest, as a comedian, the first thing I thought of was the missing plane,” he said.

Most waxed lyrical about Malaysia’s delectable food and cultural diversity although corruption was another answer, albeit one given in jest.

But jokes aside, Malaysia meant home and Sabahans loved the country’s diversity and the ability of people from different races and cultures to live alongside one another, mostly in peace.

“It’s far from perfect, but I can say it’s got the best food in the world, it’s got the best sunsets in the world, and the best people. That works for me,” Matt said.

For digital marketer Leon Kuan, 33, Malaysia brought to mind food, cultural diversity, multiple languages and the Malaysia Agreement 1963, which paved the way for the formation of the federation.

What does being Malaysian mean to you?

For the Sabahans interviewed, being Malaysian was closely tied to the experience of growing up surrounded by different cultures, languages and traditions so deeply integrated into daily life that navigating them requires little conscious thought.

“The ability to move comfortably between different cultures, languages and traditions is not something I consciously practise because it has become second nature,” said Malinda.

For psychiatrist Liang Yoong, 33, being Malaysian meant being born and raised in the country while identifying with its many cultures, cuisines and languages through shared experiences.

For entrepreneur Dinoza Mahruf, 51, diversity was what made Malaysia distinctive.

“For me, being Malaysian means being proud to call home a country where diversity is our identity and unity is our strength,” he said.

Civil servant Sandra Sokial, 50, described it as being part of “a bigger family” while remaining proud of where she came from.

“I believe that being Malaysian should not mean having to set aside my Sabahan identity,” she said.

Other answers included Malaysia’s strong passport, its affordability relative to the standard of living, government subsidies and assistance, and the warm hospitality associated with Malaysians.

Does being Malaysian mean something different in Sabah?

For the Sabahans interviewed, the answer was broadly yes — but not because they felt less Malaysian.

Rather, they described a Malaysian identity in Sabah shaped by its particularly diverse population and a culture of accommodation between communities.

Liang said Sabah had “a special kind of understanding and acceptance” that she felt was not always found in Peninsular Malaysia.

“We accept the differences and the similarities, we readily accommodate instead of insisting on basing everything on our own race or religion,” she said.

Brian described Sabah as a more “idealistic” and relaxed society.

“We’re very, very united. We’re very chill, Sabahan amalgamation. We’re tight, and we don’t take things too seriously down here in Sabah,” he said.

He said people of different religions and backgrounds could share the same spaces without necessarily making an issue of what others ate or drank.

“We’re just living our own lives. We’re very, very chill,” he said.

That cultural fluidity is also evident in the way Sabahans communicate, said Rozzy Rajab, 39.

She recalled travelling to Kuala Lumpur for a company event with another native Sabahan, where the two naturally switched between Sabah Malay and Mandarin while chatting with a West Malaysian make-up artist.

The make-up artist was surprised by how naturally they moved between the two languages, which Rozzy said was common and unremarkable in Sabah.

She added that Sabah’s ethnic identities could also be difficult for outsiders to neatly categorise.

“Some Kadazans look very much like Chinese and some Chinese look very Bumiputera,” she said, pointing out that people in West Malaysia were often viewed through racial lenses.

Leon, who lived in Kuala Lumpur for several years, said the level of “halal pettiness/toleration” was very different between East and West Malaysia, although Sabah also had its own sensitivities and points of contention.

For Malinda, the Sabahan experience also meant being more conscious of inequalities within Malaysia.

“For me, the biggest difference is the sense of privilege. Growing up in Sabah, the development gap is much more visible, so you're constantly aware that access to infrastructure, education, healthcare and opportunities isn't equal for everyone.

“I don't know if someone who has only lived in big cities like Kuala Lumpur and Selangor would notice this in the same way, because many of those conveniences are simply part of everyday life there,” she said.

What is one thing you wish West Malaysians understood about being Sabahan?

The answers varied, but a common thread emerged: Sabahans do not want their identity reduced to race, religion or politics — and being proud to be Sabahan should never be interpreted as being less Malaysian.

For auditor Peter Wong, 35, it came down to “tolerance and understanding”.

“Not everything revolves around race, religion and politics,” he said.

Brian was even more direct.

“Don’t come here with your identity politics,” he said.

“Don’t try to split us up according to race, according to religion, according to political party. We don’t need that. We’re doing just fine.”

For Rozzy, one thing she wished Peninsular Malaysians understood was Sabah’s relatively easy-going relationship between different faiths and communities.

She said people in Sabah were generally accustomed to celebrating together and respecting each other’s practices without making every interaction a religious issue.

“Definitely don’t come here and cause trouble. Muslims and non Muslims in Sabah are very tolerant towards each other and non judgemental. We celebrate the festivities without issue and genuine celebrated our differences,” she said.

Malinda pointed to another big misconception — that Sabah’s lower level of development meant the cost of living was cheaper.

“In reality, many things are just as expensive, if not more expensive, than in the Peninsula. That’s something many Sabahans live with every day,” she said.

She also pointed to the high cost of travelling between Sabah and the Peninsula, particularly airfares.

Leon, meanwhile, pointed to Sabah’s constitutional position and the Malaysia Agreement 1963. He said many Sabahans struggled to be viewed as equal to their West Malaysian counterparts, whether at a personal or political level.

“When you mention Malaysia, Peninsular people will mention August 31 as National Day. But September 16, the day Malaysia was formed, is not given the same prominence,” he said.

He argued that Sabah and Sarawak should not simply be viewed in the same way as the other states in the federation, reflecting the long-running Sabah and Sarawak position on their status and rights under MA63.

Sandra similarly said Sabahans had their own history and perspective on the formation of Malaysia.

“We see ourselves not simply as another state, but as one of the partners that formed Malaysia, and that shapes how we understand our place in the federation,” she said.

“For many Sabahans, this is not about being less Malaysian. It is about being recognised as an equal partner and having our position respected.”

Dinoza’s message to Peninsular Malaysians was simpler.

“We are Malaysians too,” he said.

There was plenty of pride in Malaysia — its food, diversity, hospitality, shared languages and the ability of people from different backgrounds to live alongside one another.

But there was also a clear desire for that Malaysian identity to accommodate the particular experience of being Sabahan — one shaped by geography, development gaps, cultural fluidity and a different understanding of Malaysia’s formation.

For those interviewed, being Sabahan and being Malaysian were not competing identities.

As Sandra put it: “Being proud to be Sabahan does not make us less Malaysian.”

A strong sense of belonging

Merdeka Day honours the legacy of 1957, but Malaysia Day marks the union that completed the country.

Malay Mail sat down with several Sarawakian celebrities to explore heritage, identity, and the Bornean pride shaping modern Malaysia.

Multi-award-winning songstress Dayang Nurfaizah, born and raised in Kuching, said that Malaysia is home above all else.

“The food, the people, everything is so warm and colourful.

“Even with all our differences, somehow it all just..works,” Dayang said.

She added that for her, being a Malaysian means celebrating unity in diversity and growing up with different races, languages and cultures is something that she takes pride in.

The Di Pintu Syurga singer also calls for greater cultural awareness from Peninsular Malaysians, pointing out that Sarawak’s unique identity and heritage are just as central to the nation’s fabric as any state in Semenanjung.

“I wish more Semenanjung folks knew Sarawak has its own identity, its own languages and cultures.

“We’re not just ‘the other side’, we are just as Malaysian (as you are),” she said.

For Sibu-born actress and Mandopop star Stella Chung, celebrating Malaysia’s rich diversity doesn’t stop at home—she proudly carries her Malaysian identity wherever she goes in the world.

“To me, it’s a strong sense of belonging, and I’m really proud to be a Malaysian.

“I’ve travelled quite a bit because of work, and it actually makes me appreciate Malaysia even more.

“Whenever someone asks where I’m from, I’m always happy to say, “I’m from Malaysia!” she said.

Chung, who spent most of her childhood in the neighbouring town of Sarikei, also pointed out that Sarawak’s beauty extends beyond its beautiful scenery and delicious food – it is the warmth of its people and how cultures organically blend together that makes the state special.

“What I love most is the warmth of the people here. People from different races and cultures get along so naturally and celebrate each other’s festivals together.

“I’d really love for more people from Semenanjung to visit Sarawak and experience it for themselves — I’m sure you’ll love it here!” Chung said.

However, popular Iban singer and news presenter Melissa Francis believes that Malaysia’s cultural acceptance is rooted in fundamental values like mutual respect and good manners.

The Sulu Mata Engkudu singer from Sri Aman pointed out that one of her favourite things about Sarawak is how people from different races and religions could coexist harmoniously and even eat together at the same table regardless of having different dietary requirements.

“Let’s appreciate the things we have now which are peace, prosperity and harmony and let's educate our children and the younger generations by sharing with them what makes us great – which is having mutual respect for each other’s religions and races.

“If we truly want a ‘happily ever after’ for Malaysia, stop fighting with each other, especially toying around with sensitive issues such as religion.

“I believe that if we take care of our manners and show respect to each other, none of this (the fighting) would happen,” Francis told Malay Mail.

Meanwhile, for Muhammad Radhi Razali, the frontman of famous rock band OAG who is also from Kuching, he wished that more Malaysians would acknowledge or show their appreciation towards Sabah and Sarawak who also fought hard for independence.

“I wish the Semenanjung know that we also fought hard and smart against the colonisers in order to gain Merdeka.

“And we are humbly proud of being Malaysian,” Radhi said.

When asked what the word ‘Malaysia’ means to him, Radhi simply offered “Boleh!”—invoking the iconic national slogan—before closing with the enduring words of Iban warrior Rentap: “ Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban ” (“As long as you live, keep fighting”).

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文章探讨了沙巴人对马来西亚身份的独特看法，着重介绍了他们对文化多样性、美食和和谐共处的自豪感。

沙巴人虽然认同自己的马来西亚身份，但也强调认识到自身独特的文化和历史背景的重要性，而这种文化和历史背景是由 1963 年的马来西亚协议塑造的。

许多人希望马来西亚半岛人能够理解，以沙巴人为荣并不等同于不那么像马来西亚人，而是凸显了沙巴人对马来西亚联邦多样性和实力所做出的独特贡献。

受访者强调需要相互尊重、宽容，并加深对他们所面临的发展挑战的理解。

亚庇/吉隆坡，9 月 16 日 — Julia Chan 和 Arif Zikri 向沙巴人和砂拉越人讲述马来西亚对他们意味着什么以及身为马来西亚人意味着什么。

沙巴的视角

问沙巴人作为马来西亚人的意义，他们可能会从美食和世界级日落这样简单而普遍的话题开始，最终谈到一个更为复杂的问题：如何在不失去沙巴人独特身份的前提下，融入一个多元化的联邦。

在马来西亚日到来之际，《马来邮报》采访了几位沙巴人，询问他们听到“马来西亚”这个词时会想到什么，成为马来西亚人对他们意味着什么，这种身份认同在沙巴有何不同，以及他们希望马来西亚半岛的人们对沙巴人的身份有何理解。

听到“马来西亚”这个词，你会想到什么？

对于许多人来说，包括 40 岁的海洋生物学家马琳达·奥拉克 (Malinda Auluck)，答案首先是食物——以及与之相关的强烈观点。

“我们对食物很挑剔。想引起轰动吗？那就点脆皮仁当吧，”她说。

29岁的喜剧演员兼问答节目主持人马特·布莱恩的第一反应却出人意料。

“说实话，作为一名喜剧演员，我首先想到的就是那架失踪的飞机，”他说。

大多数人对马来西亚的美食和文化多样性赞不绝口，尽管腐败也是一个被提及的话题，尽管这只是一个玩笑。

但玩笑归玩笑，马来西亚意味着家，沙巴人热爱这个国家的多样性，以及不同种族和文化的人们能够和平共处的能力。

“这里远非完美，但我可以说这里有世界上最好的美食，世界上最美的日落，以及最棒的人们。这对我来说就足够了。”马特说道。

对于 33 岁的数字营销人员 Leon Kuan 来说，马来西亚让他想到了美食、文化多样性、多种语言以及 1963 年的《马来西亚协议》，该协议为联邦的成立铺平了道路。

对你来说，成为马来西亚人意味着什么？

对于接受采访的沙巴人来说，成为马来西亚人与在不同文化、语言和传统中成长的经历紧密相连，这些文化、语言和传统深深融入日常生活，以至于驾驭它们几乎不需要有意识的思考。

“我能自如地穿梭于不同的文化、语言和传统之间，这并不是我刻意练习的能力，而是一种自然而然的本能，”马琳达说。

对于 33 岁的心理医生梁永来说，身为马来西亚人意味着在这个国家出生和长大，并通过共同的经历认同其多种文化、美食和语言。

51岁的企业家迪诺扎·马赫鲁夫认为，多元化是马来西亚的独特之处。

他说：“对我而言，身为马来西亚人意味着我为能称自己的祖国为一个多元化是我们身份认同、团结是我们力量的国家而感到自豪。”

50岁的公务员桑德拉·索基亚尔 (Sandra Sokial) 将其描述为“一个大家庭”的一部分，同时她也为自己的出身感到自豪。

“我认为，身为马来西亚人不应该意味着要放弃我的沙巴身份，”她说。

其他答案包括马来西亚护照的强大号召力、相对于生活水平而言相对较低的消费水平、政府补贴和援助，以及马来西亚人民的热情好客。

在沙巴，成为马来西亚人意味着什么？

对于接受采访的沙巴人来说，答案总体上是肯定的——但这并不是因为他们觉得自己不够马来西亚。

相反，他们描述了沙巴的马来西亚身份认同，这种身份认同是由其特别多元化的人口和社区之间的包容文化所塑造的。

梁女士表示，沙巴有一种“特殊的理解和接纳”，她觉得这种理解和接纳在马来西亚半岛并不总是存在。

“我们接受彼此的差异和相似之处，我们乐于包容，而不是坚持以我们自己的种族或宗教为依据来评判一切，”她说。

布莱恩形容沙巴是一个更“理想主义”、更轻松的社会。

“我们非常非常团结。我们很放松，沙巴人团结一致。我们关系很紧密，在沙巴，我们不会把事情看得太严肃，”他说。

他说，不同宗教和背景的人可以共享同一空间，而不必对别人吃什么或喝什么提出异议。

“我们只是过着自己的生活。我们非常非常放松​​，”他说。

39岁的罗兹·拉贾布表示，沙巴人的交流方式也体现了这种文化流动性。

她回忆起曾与另一位沙巴本地人一起前往吉隆坡参加公司活动，两人在与一位西马化妆师聊天时，自然而然地在沙巴马来语和普通话之间切换。

化妆师对他们在两种语言之间切换的自然程度感到惊讶，Rozzy 说这在沙巴很常见，不足为奇。

她补充说，沙巴的民族身份对于外人来说也很难被清晰地归类。

“有些卡达山人长得很像中国人，有些中国人长得很像土著，”她说道，并指出西马的人们经常被用种族的眼光看待。

在吉隆坡生活了几年的莱昂表示，马来西亚东部和西部对清真食品的“斤斤计较/容忍度”程度截然不同，尽管沙巴也有其自身的敏感点和争议点。

对马琳达来说，沙巴的经历也让她更加意识到马来西亚内部存在的不平等现象。

“对我来说，最大的区别在于特权感。在沙巴长大，发展差距更加明显，所以你会时刻意识到，并非每个人都能平等地获得基础设施、教育、医疗保健和各种机会。”

“我不知道只在吉隆坡和雪兰莪这样的大城市生活过的人是否会有同样的感受，因为那里的许多人已经把这些便利设施当作日常生活的一部分了，”她说。

你希望西马人了解沙巴人的哪一点？

答案各不相同，但有一个共同点：沙巴人不希望他们的身份被简化为种族、宗教或政治——以身为沙巴人而自豪绝不应被解读为不够马来西亚化。

对于 35 岁的审计师 Peter Wong 来说，关键在于“宽容和理解”。

他说：“并非所有事情都与种族、宗教和政治有关。”

布莱恩的言辞更加直白。

“别把你们的身份政治带到这里来，”他说。

“不要试图按种族、宗教或政党分裂我们。我们不需要那样。我们现在过得很好。”

对于罗兹来说，她希望马来西亚半岛人民能够理解的一件事是沙巴不同信仰和社区之间相对轻松自在的关系。

她说，沙巴人民普遍习惯于一起庆祝，尊重彼此的习俗，不会把每一次互动都变成宗教问题。

“千万不要来这里惹事。沙巴的穆斯林和非穆斯林彼此非常宽容，不会妄加评判。我们和平地庆祝节日，真诚地欣赏彼此的差异，”她说道。

马琳达指出了另一个很大的误解——沙巴发展水平较低意味着生活成本更便宜。

“事实上，很多东西在沙巴州的价格即便不比马来半岛贵，也至少和马来半岛一样贵。这是很多沙巴人每天都要面对的现实，”她说。

她还指出沙巴和马来半岛之间的旅行成本很高，尤其是机票。

与此同时，莱昂指出沙巴的宪法地位和1963年的马来西亚协议。他说，许多沙巴人在个人层面或政治层面都难以被视为与西马同胞平等。

他说：“提到马来西亚，马来半岛人会想到8月31日国庆日。但9月16日，马来西亚成立的日子，却没有得到同样的重视。”

他认为，沙巴和砂拉越不应该简单地与联邦中的其他州一视同仁，这反映了沙巴和砂拉越长期以来对其在1963年马来西亚协议下的地位和权利的立场。

桑德拉也表示，沙巴人对马来西亚的成立有自己的历史和看法。

“我们不仅将自己视为另一个州，而且视为组成马来西亚的伙伴之一，这塑造了我们对自身在联邦中地位的理解，”她说。

“对许多沙巴人来说，这并非关乎我们是否不是马来西亚人，而是关乎我们是否被认可为平等的伙伴，我们的地位是否被尊重。”

迪诺扎向马来西亚半岛人民传达的信息则更为简单。

“我们也是马来西亚人，”他说。

马来西亚有很多值得骄傲的地方——美食、多元文化、热情好客、共同的语言以及来自不同背景的人们能够和谐共处。

但人们也清楚地希望马来西亚的身份认同能够容纳沙巴人的特殊经历——这种经历受到地理、发展差距、文化流动性和对马来西亚形成的不同理解的影响。

对于受访者来说，沙巴人和马来西亚人这两种身份并不冲突。

正如桑德拉所说：“以身为沙巴人而自豪并不会让我们失去马来西亚人的身份。”

强烈的归属感

独立日是为了纪念 1957 年的历史遗产，而马来西亚日则是为了纪念使国家最终统一的联邦。

《马来邮报》采访了几位砂拉越名人，探讨了塑造现代马来西亚的文化遗产、身份认同和婆罗洲自豪感。

出生于古晋并在那里长大的屡获殊荣的歌手达扬·努尔法伊扎表示，马来西亚是她最重要的家。

“食物、人们，一切都那么温暖多彩。”

“即使我们之间存在种种分歧，但不知何故，一切最终还是……运转良好，”达扬说道。

她补充说，对她而言，身为马来西亚人意味着庆祝多元一体，在不同的种族、语言和文化环境中成长让她感到自豪。

《Di Pintu Syurga》的演唱者还呼吁马来西亚半岛人民提高文化意识，指出砂拉越独特的身份和遗产与半岛任何一个州一样，都是国家结构的核心。

“我希望更多西马人民知道砂拉越有自己的身份、语言和文化。

“我们并非‘对立面’，我们和你们一样都是马来西亚人，”她说。

对于出生于诗巫的女演员兼华语流行歌手钟诗婷来说，庆祝马来西亚丰富的多元文化并不止于家乡——无论走到世界何处，她都自豪地展现着自己的马来西亚身份。

“对我来说，这是一种强烈的归属感，我为自己是马来西亚人而感到非常自豪。”

“因为工作原因，我去过很多地方，这让我更加珍惜马来西亚。”

“每当有人问我来自哪里，我总是很高兴地说，‘我来自马来西亚！’”她说。

钟女士童年时期大部分时间都在邻近的沙里基镇度过，她还指出，砂拉越的美丽不仅仅在于美丽的风景和美味的食物——更在于当地人民的热情好客以及各种文化的有机融合，这才是砂拉越的独特之处。

“我最喜欢的是这里人们的热情。不同种族和文化背景的人们相处得非常融洽，一起庆祝彼此的节日。”

“我真心希望更多来自西马的人能来砂拉越旅游，亲身感受一下——我相信你们一定会爱上这里！”钟先生说道。

然而，伊班族著名歌手兼新闻主播梅丽莎·弗朗西斯认为，马来西亚的文化包容性根植于相互尊重和良好礼仪等基本价值观。

来自斯里阿曼的苏禄玛塔恩古杜歌手指出，她最喜欢砂拉越的一点是，不同种族和宗教的人们可以和谐共处，甚至同桌吃饭，而不管他们的饮食需求如何。

“让我们珍惜我们现在所拥有的和平、繁荣与和谐，并通过与我们的孩子和年轻一代分享使我们伟大的因素——即相互尊重彼此的宗教和种族——来教育他们。

“如果我们真的希望马来西亚拥有‘从此幸福快乐’的未来，就应该停止互相争斗，尤其不要在宗教等敏感问题上玩弄花招。”

“我相信，如果我们注意礼仪，互相尊重，这一切（争斗）就不会发生，”弗朗西斯告诉《马来邮报》。

与此同时，同样来自古晋的著名摇滚乐队 OAG 的主唱 Muhammad Radhi Razali 希望更多的马来西亚人能够认可或表达他们对沙巴和砂拉越的感激之情，因为这两个国家也曾为独立而艰苦奋斗。

“我希望西马人民知道，为了争取独立，我们也曾与殖民者进行了艰苦卓绝、智慧过人的斗争。”

“我们为自己是马来西亚人而感到无比自豪，”拉迪说道。

当被问及“马来西亚”这个词对他意味着什么时，拉迪只是简单地说了句“Boleh！”——引用了这句标志性的国家口号——最后以伊班族战士伦塔普的名言作结：“Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban”（“只要活着，就要继续战斗”）。

反贪污委员会官员撤回针对慕尤丁律师的警方报告；法院决定不以藐视法庭罪名起诉。

随着美元走强，令吉兑欧元、日元和英镑下跌。

SWCorp：关于新加坡建筑垃圾倾倒的调查报告将于三个月内完成