Cassandra Ng: ‘I live in a ‘Rainbow Home’.’A trip to Cambodia reveals how fortunate Malaysians are.
Friday August 3, 2007
By CASSANDRA NG
The Star (Malaysia)
I NEVER thought about how truly important Merdeka is to a country. I just thought that it was another public holiday. When I was a little girl, I wanted to live where it snows and go to a school where I do not have wear a uniform, probably in a western country. I thought I’d have it all in such a country.
I never thought of what living in Malaysia meant to me until I joined a missionary trip to Cambodia last year. I learnt then that Malaysia is more a home to me than I’d ever realised.
There are so many contrasts between Cambodia and Malaysia.
Even though Cambodia has this awesome heritage archaeological site, Angkor Wat, living conditions there are so different from ours. For example, we saw many street children – some as young as six – who had to work to earn a living. Malaysian children, on the other hand, have the opportunity to study and play.
It was an eye-opening experience for me to see how much poorer another country is compared to ours.
But what really affected me was when I visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh. The museum used to be a high school that was converted into a concentration camp by the Khmer Rouge regime during their reign from 1975 to 1979.
Known as Security Prison 21, or S-21, it was where the Khmer Rouge imprisoned and tortured their perceived detractors during the civil war. The Khmer Rouge regime was a time of terror for Cambodia, when millions perished and intellectuals were killed. The museum is a reminder of that dark period, and Cambodia is still recovering from it.
When I was at the museum, I shuddered to imagine such atrocities happening in Malaysia. I began appreciating the peace and development we enjoy.
I’ve began to admire and appreciate what our first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, did in not only gaining independence for the country, but also in uniting people of different races and cultures under a common flag.
Lastly, I’ve started to value the country I am living in. I am really lucky and proud to be a Malaysian. I live in a “Rainbow Home” with different races, religion, cuisine and culture.
I am beginning to understand the real meaning of Merdeka. Most importantly, I understand that this is a country where there is more than enough to fulfill my expectations.
Cassandra Ng is a sixth-former who loves to swim, travel and take photographs.
I never thought of what living in Malaysia meant to me until I joined a missionary trip to Cambodia last year. I learnt then that Malaysia is more a home to me than I’d ever realised.
There are so many contrasts between Cambodia and Malaysia.
Even though Cambodia has this awesome heritage archaeological site, Angkor Wat, living conditions there are so different from ours. For example, we saw many street children – some as young as six – who had to work to earn a living. Malaysian children, on the other hand, have the opportunity to study and play.
It was an eye-opening experience for me to see how much poorer another country is compared to ours.
But what really affected me was when I visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh. The museum used to be a high school that was converted into a concentration camp by the Khmer Rouge regime during their reign from 1975 to 1979.
Known as Security Prison 21, or S-21, it was where the Khmer Rouge imprisoned and tortured their perceived detractors during the civil war. The Khmer Rouge regime was a time of terror for Cambodia, when millions perished and intellectuals were killed. The museum is a reminder of that dark period, and Cambodia is still recovering from it.
When I was at the museum, I shuddered to imagine such atrocities happening in Malaysia. I began appreciating the peace and development we enjoy.
I’ve began to admire and appreciate what our first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, did in not only gaining independence for the country, but also in uniting people of different races and cultures under a common flag.
Lastly, I’ve started to value the country I am living in. I am really lucky and proud to be a Malaysian. I live in a “Rainbow Home” with different races, religion, cuisine and culture.
I am beginning to understand the real meaning of Merdeka. Most importantly, I understand that this is a country where there is more than enough to fulfill my expectations.
Cassandra Ng is a sixth-former who loves to swim, travel and take photographs.
14 comments:
you idiot, Cambodia is better than Malaysia.
This is what Cambodia Strawman Hun Shen needs to read for bedtime story.
AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave needs to open his fucken blind eyes because this is not Cambodian people saying bad about Cambodia all these years! Now even a foreigner say bad thing about Cambodia! Cambodia as a country can never outshine as long as AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave continue to listen to the Vietcong master!
Duh! Cambodia had been gong through 4 major wars for over 30 years and Malaysia was at peace and if Malaysia doesn’t progress and I would see Malaysian people are the dumbest people in the world.
Ah, the wonderful KI trolls out in force again. You people (anonymous 11:29am and 2:48pm) should be ashamed for saying such things to an 18 year old girl!
I thought Cassandra's article shows great maturity for one so young. Well done for actually getting out of a comfortable life in your own country and grasping the briefest glimpse of another - it's more than many people in the world do.
Steve, you sound idiot too.
(a 16 years old boy who posted comment at 11:29 am )
Please, read our history
MAP OF KAMPUCHEA KROM
http://www.khmerkromngo.org/map/map.htm
Kampuchea Krom is rich in history and civilized culture before the Vietnamese settlers arrived on the northern border with Champa Kingdom.
Kampuchea Krom is the oldest land in Southeast Asia.
The Khmers called this part of the Khmer Empire [Present day Kingdom of Cambodia], Kampuchea Krom. Kampuchea Krom is also known as Lower Cambodia, Mekong Delta, or Cochin China. The Khmer populations of this beautiful landscapes share the same race, religion, national language, culture, custom, tradition, and great history as the Khmers in Cambodia. Kampuchea Krom is slightly smaller in size than her motherland, Kingdom of Cambodia.
KAMPUCHEA KROM AT A GLANCE
Kampuchea Krom is composed of 68,965 square kilometers, 21 provinces and municipalities, two large islands - Koh Trol and Koh Tralach, 171 districts, 1,368 communes, 14,778 villages, more than 13 million Khmers, more than 567 Buddhist pagodas and more than 20,000 Theravada Buddhist monks.
99% of population are Theravada Buddhists.
The Khmer kings, governments, regimes and citizens have never relinquish (give up) this part of their country to foreigners.
Kampuchea Krom has been under an ongoing colonial control since her division from motherland, Cambodia.
June 4, 1949 is the date that the Khmer Kampuchea Krom citizens grieve. The Khmer Kampuchea Krom people have organized Buddhist Service annually to honor the fallen Khmer Buddhist monks and heroes, who sacrified their lives for Kampuchea Krom and Theravada Buddhism.
Colonial France divided, ceded and transferred Kampuchea Krom to colonial Vietnam on this date. The freedom of Khmer Kampuchea Krom has been mostly stripped by the Vietnamese ruling regimes and governments since. The French colonial adminstration committed injustice upon the more than 13 million Khmers of this beautiful fertile land.
Justice remains elusive for Cambodia, Kampuchea Krom and her citizens.
And...the struggle to regain freedom and human right by the Khmers in Kampuchea Krom continues as long as injustice commits by the ruling Vietnamese regime(s) has not produced a fruitful result.
The followings are Khmer provincial, municipal and island names that the Vietnamese authorities have changed repeatedly.
1. Preah Trapeang province
in Vietnamese - Tra Vinh
(Vinh Binh)
2. Khleang province
in Vietnamese - Soc Trang
3. Mort Chrouk province
in Vietnamese - Chau Doc
4. Kramuon Sor province
in Vietnamese - Rach Gia
5. Pol Leav province
in Vietnamese - Bac Lieu
6. Tuk Khmau province
in Vietnamese - Ca Mau
7. Peam Banteay Meas province
in Vietnamese - Ha Tien
8. Prek Russey province
in Vietnamese - Can Tho
9. Long Hor province
in Vietnamese - Vinh Long
10. Peam Barach province
in Vietnamese - Long Xuyen
11. Raung Domrei province
in Vietnamse - Tay Ninh
12. Prey Nokor city
in Vietnamese - Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon)
13. Tuol Tamoak province
in Vietnamese - Thu Du Mot
14. Phsar Dek province
in Vietnamese - Sadec
15. Changva Trapeang Sraka Trey
province in Vietnamese - Bien Hoa
16. Me Sor province
in Vietnamese - My Tho
17. Preah Suorkea province
in Vietnamese - Baria
18. Koh Koang province
in Vietnamese - Go Cong
19. Kampong Russey province
in Vietnamese - Ben Tre
20. Kampong Kou province
(New name) in Vietnamese - Tan An
21. O Kab province
in Vietnamese - Vung Tau
22. Koh Tralach (Tralach Island)
in Vietnamese - Con Dao (Con Son)
23. Koh Trol (Trol Island)
in Vietnamese - Phu Quoc island
6:08 PM
I think we have taking everything out of context. I don't think there is anything bad about Cambodia from this young woman letter. She is only trying to show her appreciation for what she has been taking for granted in Malaysia. For which we, Cambodian, ought to learn from her, especially for those who live abroad. But with negative outlook in life we have turn everything good upside down. Just a thought!
To 4:23PM Say what?
Some of you stupid Cambodian people don't even understand the concept of subliminal message or insinuation! There are many ways to say bad about things without saying it directly! Now all you stupid Cambodia people who think that Cambodia is not bad enough then I suggest you go paint your face with mud and kick yourself in the ass because AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave dictator is happy to stand by you and you are proud to have a dictator as your leader!
I can't stand stupid Cambodian people like you!
KICK THE DUMB ASS, I WITH YOU 11:14PM
you fucking idiot are living abroad, do not insult Cambodia. We love Cambodia, it doesn't mean that we love government, come to face the real situation in Cambodia, you idiot.
To 11:57PM Pretender!
You live in cage and what do you know! I know a lot of people like you and if you have all the money in the world and you would buy your way out from Cambodia in a heartbeat and you would never look back! In case you didn't know I had come to face with the real situation in Cambodia many times already and I found out there are so many thuggish Vietcong slave idiots running the country!
The first experience for any oversea Cambodian people is at the Cambodian airport and when the oversea Cambodian people go through the airport and they will face the real situation of corruption committing against them! When these Vietcong slave idiots check the passport and they will demand some money! Now if these thuggish Vietcong slave idiots claimed to commit corruption to make a living because their salary is too low and why can they declare in writing to the public that additional money will be charged at the passport checkpoint! I don't want to holdup the line just to look for money or make a fool out myself because to make these thuggish Vietcong slave idiots think that I want to enter Cambodia illegally! Where I came from I carry only plastic card to spend the money!
I have come to face the real situation in Cambodia and it is hell and I would never want to live there! And who know when there is a change in government I might change my mind!
Cambodia is such a beautiful country which deserve more than love from Cambodian people! What Cambodia doesn’t deserve is AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave dictator who is trying to create Cambodia in his unholy image!
11:57 PM again.
Yeah, I understand the feeling of our people living abroad. However, you have to understand the feeling and the difficulty of the people living inside Cambodia too. We can't all escape the country because the leaders are bad, Have to face them. WHAT I WANT TO SAY, insult or criticize government is ok because they are really shit, but don't insult CAMBODIA.
AH HUN SEN is making Cambodia into such an unbearable place to live and I know why most Cambodian people want to leave the country and soon the Viet will take over!
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