Isabel: You don’t need to wait until you grow up to serve your country - you can start by carrying it in your heart.
“WHERE are you from?”
It is a question I have been asked more times than I can count – at airports, on foreign stages, in halls draped with flags from every corner of the world.
And every time, I stand a little taller, smile a little wider, and answer with pride: “I’m from Malaysia. Saya anak Malaysia.”
Since primary school, I have carried the Jalur Gemilang to international competitions – not just as a student, but as a Malaysian.
Each time, I wasn’t just holding a flag – I was carrying the soul of home with me: the languages we weave into every conversation, the laughter that erupts even in chaos, the quiet strength that runs through our people.
I remember one moment from my last event in particular. When the organiser asked me that familiar question, I didn’t just reply – I declared: “I’m from Malaysia.”
Then, from my bag, I pulled out the Jalur Gemilang I had carefully folded and held it high. The organisers saw the extra flags I had brought and waved them alongside me.
At that moment, it wasn’t just a flag – it was belonging, it was identity, it was home.
Later that night, in the soft glow of my dorm room lights, I shared small souvenirs from Malaysia with my roommates from other countries.
We sat cross-legged, talking about our festivals, our cultures, and the flavours that reminded us of home.
I told them about the joy of watching lion dances during Chinese New Year, the warmth of Raya open houses filled with laughter and food, and how, in one kampung, you could find Chinese lanterns hanging beside ketupat decorations.
We didn’t just exchange gifts – we exchanged pieces of ourselves.
It was then that I realised I wasn’t just representing Malaysia in a competition – I was sharing her heartbeat with the world.
Patriotism isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s soft and steady – like the voice of a mother waking you up for school.
It lives in everyday moments. In the way we stand still when the Negaraku plays, even when no one is watching.
In the way strangers become bang and akak in a crowd. In the way nasi kerabu, char kuey teow and murukku can all sit on the same table – no questions asked.
We may stumble. We may argue. We may be different in more ways than one. But deep down, we all know the rhythm of this land. We all know what it means to fall, to get up, and to move forward – together.
Of course, I have been nervous during competitions. But what keeps me going isn’t the promise of a medal – it’s the mission: to let the world know Malaysia is more than just a spot on the map.
That understanding fuels me every time I step onto a new stage.
This October, I’ll once again stand on the world stage as a participant of a competition – not for the applause or the trophy, but to show that even a young, ordinary Malaysian girl from a small town can carry the semangat (spirit) of a nation across borders. That our youth, too, can lift the pride of a country and say, “Malaysia boleh!”
My love for Malaysia isn’t wrapped in grand speeches. It’s quiet but fierce. It lives in the little flag pinned close to my chest. In the way I say “Malaysia” without hesitation.
In the way I wave the Jalur Gemilang not because I have to – but because I want to. Because you don’t need to wait until you grow up to serve your country – you can start by carrying it in your heart.
Saya anak Malaysia.
And I will keep saying it – loud, proud, and without fear. Because this is my home. This is my story. And this... is my flag.
Isabel, 14, a student in Johor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1 Pair up with a friend and take turns being an international interviewer and a Malaysian student. The interviewer will ask “Where are you from?” and follow-up questions (e.g., “What’s special about your country?” or “What’s your proudest Malaysian moment?”).
2 In pairs, prepare three pictures (e.g., of Malaysian food, landmarks, traditions, or the Jalur Gemilang). Then, join another pair. Take turns describing your images in English without naming them, while the other pair guesses.
The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes English language learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
