A Tale Of Two Malaysias

KUCHING - At the stroke of midnight on Sept 16, 1963, when the sound of cannon fire boomed in the air and ecstatic crowds celebrated the merger of Peninsular, Sarawak and Sabah into the Federation of Malaysia, a baby boy made his way into the world at the General Hospital of Sarawak here.

His proud parents, Rabayah Sariee and Sahat Sonong, could not have found a better way to express their gratitude and elation at the timing of their child's birth, twinned with the birth of their beloved new nation, than to name the boy 'Malaysia'.

Around the same time, in Kampung Nanas, Simunjan, 125km away from Kuching, Udin Matasen, a staunch member of Parti Negara Sarawak (Panas), a component party of Parti Perikatan Sarawak, celebrated the victory of its ally party in the 1963 District Council election by similarly naming his granddaughter - Malaysia.

The daughter of Udin, Jijah Udin, and her husband Yap Masili did not protest against the name, considering that their daughter was born on such a special day.

Malaysia Sahat and Malaysia Yap, who share their date of birth and name with those of the country, would be among 10 other children from Sarawak, all born on the same date, to have the honour of joining in the celebration of Malaysia's Golden Anniversary this coming Monday, Sept 16.

THE SWEET PAIN OF BEING NAMED MALAYSIA

Tracking down Malaysia Sahat, who now stays in Kampung Endap, Kota Samarahan, about 30km from Kuching, was not all that difficult but convincing him about this writer's honourable intentions of interviewing him was a different story.

Taken by surprised, he was, in fact, slightly shocked at having been asked to give an interview.

It took this writer full five minutes to explain and convince him that his name being Malaysia was the reason for the interview request.

He finally saw the point, and then started talking.

"Actually, I was quite shocked, and find it strange that someone wants to write about my name, Malaysia. Really, I had no idea that my name was so valued," he said, before bursting out laughing in amusement.

He had some amusing and interesting tales to tell as well, about having lived with the name 'Malaysia' all these years.

"When people ask me my name, I have to produce my identity card just to prove that my name really is Malaysia."

Father of three children -- two daughters and a son -- Malaysia Sahat said only family members and close friends knew his real name.

"My casual friends usually call me Deka (taken from Merdeka).

"The folks in Kampung Endap also came to know my real name only in 2007, when people from the Ministry of Information came looking for me to invite me to Kuala Lumpur to participate in the gathering for Anak-Anak Merdeka or Merdeka children, in conjunction with the celebration of Merdeka Day that year."

SIMILAR EXPERIENCES FOR MALAYSIA YAP

For Malaysia Yap, who now lives in Kampung Samariang Baru Fasa III, Petra Jaya, living with the name 'Malaysia' has not been all that easy or amusing.

Friends constantly teased her, she said.

"Being made fun of was the norm, but it would get worse, especially when Malaysia lost at a game, and I would become the victim of merciless teasing," she said, recalling the "tough" days with a smile.

She said there were times when she would be embarrassed and wonder why she had been given such a name by her grandfather, but mostly she took pride in knowing that she had been given a name that not many would have been brave enough to use.

"In the earlier days, I used to feel shy about my name, but later on, and after much thinking, several factors including my grandfather's sacrifices in the collective efforts to ensure Sarawak's inclusion in the Federation of Malaysia, I started feeling proud of my name," she said.

JOINING IN 50 YEARS OF CELEBRATION

Malaysia Yap, who has six children - five boys and one daughter - said her first experience as a participant at a gathering for Anak-Anak Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur was highly exciting.

"During the event in Kuala Lumpur, I got to meet the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, besides Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi," she said, happily showing the certificate and 'The Malaysia Book of Records' which acknowledged the event as the "Biggest Gathering of People Sharing the Same Birth Date."

This year's event will be her second, and Malaysia Yap has no plans to miss it.

Malaysia Sahat, who was also invited to the 2007 event, said he could not attend then, but intends to make it to this year's event, saying that he enjoyed the fact that all Malaysians will be having a holiday as well on his birthday.

HOPES OF MALAYSIANS

As the country celebrates the 50th year of Malaysia Day and also its 56th year of Independence, Malaysia Sahat and Malaysia Yap who lead ordinary lives, also expressed the hope of continuing to do their bit for the country.

"I still keep in touch with friends that I made during the 2007 gathering, and they inform me about the Kelab Anak Merdeka in the peninsula being very active and undertaking plenty of activities. I hope the Kelab Anak Merdeka in Sarawak will also be just as active and work for the welfare of their club members," Malaysia Yap said.

Having Malaysia as a name also imposes a certain sense of responsibility for being involved in communal activities that contribute towards the welfare of the country, she added.

Sharing her sentiment, Malaysia Sahat said he too felt committed and hoped to be involved in activities that would help towards propagating the sense of love and duty towards the country.

"There is no one who does not love his or her own country... if there are any activities that suited my timings, I will certainly participate," he said.

The stories of Malaysia Sahat and Malaysia Yap are surely a reflection of how much hope the rakyat must have had when the nation was being formed and also of the even higher expectations that the new generation have currently.

But then it also has some very productive forces, called Malaysia, eager to further build their beloved country, called Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA