Renunciation of citizenship

These have been running through my mind for some time now whether I should give up my home country citizenship or simply remain as permanent resident in OZ.

It took me years to make this decision. I guess it is all about the emotional attachment with home country where I have grown up, educated and eventually departed. When I bumped into Malaysian in any place of the world, I would still introduce myself as a Malaysian and followed up by answering the subsequent question – where about in Malaysia? – which normally took me a moment to explain where is it about Sekinchan in Selangor state. 

During gatherings with Malaysian friends, the topic of renunciation of the Malaysian citizenship will pop up once in awhile. When asked why, one of the most common responses given will be, unsurprisingly, "Don’t la, keep it for future plan to come back". Yes, that’s the only reason to keep it, but think about it, does it mean you cannot stay in Malaysia for good if you are no longer a Malaysian? There are always alternative path like Malaysia My Second Home Programme, etc. But that is only if you want to come back for good.

Liveability continues to be my main motivation behind most of my life-changing decisions. Work life balance is the main motivation why I roamed overseas to eventually what I call settling down now. Pity to say, I could have never guess how much I would be motived by a great dense having gone through my childhood in a woefully broken culture, then spent my teenage period stricken with the infirmities in a broken education system that I could not have begun to guess what grandeur my life might hold.

I am currently having my 1month break in my home country. It has been 4 days since I landed and tonight I wrote this post. Things happened for the last few days coupled with the memory that conjured up in these period, it further affirms that my decision was right. Looking at the newspaper with some ridiculous proposals from the ministers, I really think I deserve a place with better off leadership. I am blessed that today, I can sing ‘Advance Australia Fair’ replacing the nostalgic ‘Negaraku’ that I have gone through in my primary and secondary school on a weekly basis.

Lastly, I just want to state that no matter how long I am away from my home country, no matter how well I learn to speak and behave like locals, the Malaysian in me will never be diminished.