To know Malaysia, you need some distance

I touched down in Washington DC after a 22-hour flight reasonably tired. The long immigration queue did not help but, thankfully, my stock of assam laksa Maggi passed customs – thus, as a Malaysian, I would be able to survive the US for the next few weeks.

I am here on a competitive US State Department-funded fellowship, organised by the American Councils for International Education.

I chose the economic empowerment track to better my understanding of the pricing of anti-retroviral drugs and to explore how science can still advance in the midst of a struggling economy.

This opportunity would allow me to develop my skills as a young, mid-career professional and enhance my EQ through intercultural exchange, not only with Americans, but also fellows from Asean and Eastern European countries.

This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to learn more about the US beyond the hype of Hollywood and even, President Barack Obama vis-à-vis the recent hot topic of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreemnet.

At least, that’s my purpose for being on the fellowship, in addition to my personal development and professional growth.

I would, however, not let anything tarnish my impression of First Lady Michelle Obama. I still believe she is an inspiration for young women globally: to be highly educated, to be active, to be all woman, and to be kind. Also, her fashion sense and style is more inspiring to me than that other famous American, Kim Kardashian.

On the drive to the hotel, the driver asked where some of us were from. Upon hearing “Malaysia”, his reaction was “Oh you guys got that plane shot down”.

I could not shake off the sadness that I feel with that statement. It has been a year after we lost not one, but two planes, yet any mention of them still jabs the heart.

Unfortunately, such news made the global media, and would be what our country will now be known for above all else. Well, that, and 1MDB. Asean fellows broached this topic with me, and I could only offer my exasperation for not being able to explain this better.

While my ego and pride as a Malaysian would want to present only good, wonderful things about Malaysia abroad, I also cannot be a hypocrite.

Yes, I am a proud Malaysian. But my patriotism or nationalism should not be measured by how thick the rose-tinted glasses I put on nor should I be forced to take the blue pill.

I believe that honest, transparent conversations are required to better any issue. From the first week that I am here, I noticed that Malaysia and the US face very similar issues.

Alongside capitalism, poverty and homelessness are here in DC as it is in Kuala Lumpur.

Just last Saturday, in the shadow of Capitol Hill, thousands of African-Americans gathered for the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March.

The peaceful gathering was no different than our recently concluded Bersih 4, with impromptu souvenir and food and drinks stalls and an overall family-picnic-like feel amid speeches calling for more responsibility by law enforcers towards African-Americans.

As an outsider, it was a show of how democracy works, one that we Malaysians are advocating for, too. That peaceful rallies can be just that, peaceful rallies.

The US is a diverse melting pot, not that different from us. From attending a short lecture on its history by Prof John Brown, I learnt that colonisation can occur beyond independence. It is our burden, too, with a thought control among our citizens so deep that we choose to sometimes see only the colour of our skin or the mark of our religiosity through the goatee or the tudung.

As human beings, I believe we are more complex than that. Tolerance and understanding cannot occur if we refuse to talk to each other respectfully. Another short lecture by Prof Sam Potolicchio, acclaimed as “The Best American Professor” by Princeton Review emphasised this – in a world so glued to our smartphones and headphones, we are slowly eroding our communicative skills.

We do not know how to communicate any more. We use technology as an unfeeling blank space that separates us from another human, causing many misunderstandings and intolerance.

While both lectures emphasised on American people and culture, I found many similarities with Malaysia.

Perhaps it is also a personal trait that I tend to see similarities rather than differences.

Most Americans have a positive view of Malaysia and vice versa. What both countries need to embrace are our weaknesses and what can we do to solve and better certain issues plaguing our countries.

Engagement and open discussions to better both countries, together. Be it the economy, education, race relations, or governance and democracy.

In this land of the free and the brave, I look forward to getting to know my own Malaysia. – October 14, 2015.

The Young South East Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) is a signature programme backed by Obama to strengthen ties between the region and the US. Applications for the spring 2016 cohort is already open at (http://professionalfellows.americancouncils.org), applications deadline is December 1, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.