Which State?

Ever since young I would get very uptight when people asked me "Where are you from?" I get exasperated when I have to fill up forms.

This is the most difficult question for me as I don't know how to answer it correctly. Usually I'll reply with another question "What do you mean by where? How do you define where?" And there, I'll be hit with a variety of definitions such as "Your place of birth, where you grew up, your parents origins, where you live now" and the list can be exhaustive.

When I go by the definition of place of birth I will say "I was born in Kota Bharu, Kelantan" and I cringe when the person asking is from Kelantan and starts "speaking". I have over the years mastered a sprinkling of Kelantanese to get by but when I speak some say I sound like an "Ore Sie" i.e. translated I sound like a Siamese lady. So I fear opening my mouth to "speak". Then I'm obliged to defend my lack of mastery in the language going into a lengthy explanation that "Saya lahir je di Kota Bharu tapi besar di Tanjong Malim".

Then comes the second definition "Where I grew up in". Yes I practically grew up in Tanjong Malim, Perak. I love the town and the Banjaran Titiwangsa. I would say this small place have a special place in my heart. I spent 12 years of my life in this small town. My personality and traits were built based on interactions with friends in this academic town. Perhaps that explains why I ended up being a lecturer. The basis was there in my growing up years.

Then there will be some people who define "Which state?" by the place where your parents come from. Again I have much trouble as my father is a true Mamak from Penang and we have relatives still living on the island. At home my Dad will speak "Penang" to us. As to my Mum, she hails from Pahang and very proud of her roots. I have noticed though that the Pahang people have a huge circle of relatives. Everywhere we went she is bound to meet her saudara. When the Pahang people get together there will be shrills of words coming from everyone. Some how miraculously they hear and listen to each other.

Finally the definition of "Where I currently live and work". Well I live and work in Selangor. Have been in this state for the last 20 years. I love my place of work UKM but I just don't feel like being an "orang Selangor" at all. I feel more like a KLite i.e. "orang Kay Ell" so to say. I'm most at home in the shopping malls especially KLCC and The Gardens. Selangor to me is non-descript, on the periphery to Kuala Lumpur.

Back to the question of which state. I can truly say that I'm a Malaysian. I can identify with so many states in Malaysia. So now if anybody were to ask me where I hail from my simple answer is "I'm a Malaysian!". Period.