What is important is how far have we achieved and there goes our pride to be proud, the moment we achieve the target goal.

Guess what? Comparing the kampung to the heartlands, like what others have said before, is like comparing apples to oranges. The city state that Singapore is simply precludes that option.

Secondly, a Malay from KL would probably have had a similar experience. So, your point about not seeing a non-Malay face is not unique to someone from Singapore only.

Thirdly, I am not even sure what the statement “proud to be a Malay Singaporean (or Singaporean Malay)” mean. Lucky – perhaps; pride in what Singapore has achieved and the opportunities it has provided you – okay; blessed – fine; proud – don’t know. Because you being proud, in this context, has a thick air of, how shall I put it, superiority about it. Neither classy nor effective ….seriously.

Anyway whatever it is, it is ideas that work, my dear, not slogans.

Joe & J (one & the same? under annonymity)
Khartini and all the other writers here write very intelligent & enlightening pieces, am I considered clever now?

Hope I am allowed to share my thoughts:
Is it WRONG not to be proud of our country or worse ashamed? What if one is ashamed of his/her govt or country for things they have done? Is this not allowed? For me, pride is individual feeling, if I ask a class of 40 students to write what they feel about their country, there is no right or wrong, good or bad answers, its just personal feelings, but if anyone starts to justify their ‘made-up’ pride not very cleverly, then no marks from me, and problem starts if it is publicised & worse in a cyberspace blog. ~ If my thought is stupid, pls explain.

Really enjoy reading the exchange between EC and Mr Zulkifar Shariff. At least it is sensible and disagrees with Khartini’s article in an intelligent way.

Maybe the deeper underlining current is has meritocracy worked over affirmative action?

To all my malay friends out there, blessed holy month of Ramadan to you all!