I remember as a kid still in the now defunct Keppel Primary School, I was confused whether to take the pledge with the rest of the school during morning assembly.
In the end I did because I didnt know what else to do if I don't take the pledge like everyone else. I guess all kids, when young, didn't like to be different.
Then when I got older I started not taking the pledge because the process of growing up with student pass applications, being not able to get edusave or bursaries upset me quite a bit.
People would notice and start asking why. I would nonchalently answer I'm not Singaporean anyway. And 9 out of 10 will be surprised because I am so Singaporean.
I would tell them I'm from Malacca and 10 out of 10 will exclaim, "but you don't have that malaysian accent!"
I am Malaysian on paper only.
My father is a Singaporean and I happened to inherit his DNA, so I do have some Singaporean blood in me.
I can remember the Pledge and National Anthem by heart.
I love going to the NDP and I was involved in one of them.
I can't say which country I prefer, because I was born as a Malaysian but I spent all my life in Singapore, I can't compare and am not in the position to compare.
All I can say is, I'm fortunate to be here because my loved ones are here, I made friends here, I've got a good education here, and this is my life altogether.
I love Singapore and I believe 生母不及养母大, but I would always remember without Malaysia I wouldn't be here in the first place.
It was tough for a young Malaysian child to understand this awkward position, I was neither here nor there.
But adapted I did, and now I both here, and there.
Happy Birthday Singapore.
I love you though I might leave you someday.
No comments:
Post a Comment