In May, we invited the “adults” to pose their one question to our youths as part of R.AGE’s Questions for For You(th) project.

Two personalities, Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes and Khairy Jamaluddin, posed questions relating to race and nationality, and these questions were two of the most answered in the project. The youths responding to the questions asserted that they see themselves as Malaysian, and did no see why they had to state their race in forms and what not. Last week, the Government announced that it is considering removing the race cateroy from offical forms, but the youths who participated in R.AGE’s project proved that they have long moved beyond that.

Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, CEO of Air Asia asked: What will it take for you as the youth to think ‘Malaysian’ first and Chinese/Malay/Indian next?

Regina Yeo, 17, Selangor “Already thinking it. Too bad, those asking us to do it doesn’t seem to think that way. Yeah, and there’s this constant “must fill column” in almost every forms asking for your race. Can we put Malaysian instead? Now that’s a question to you!”

Daphne, 21, Johor “Can’t nationality and ethnicity live peacefully within us??”

Parthiban Muniandy, 24, PhD student “I try not to think that way at all. Racial boundaries, national boundaries are all social identities that mean different things to different people.

My studies and personal experiences have led me to question and deconstruct these identities to further understand what makes them so complex and controversial.

For my part, I realize that I am a product of an Indian-Hindu upbringing, my best friends are Chinese and White, my early education is Malay-English and I am currently a student of an American university.

As far as I can tell, my identity is as complex as it is unique, and there is no need for me to prioritize any of it in particular.

Yong Chen Wei, 20, Nottingham, UK “To stop being reminded of it again and again at every possible opportunity; this question for instance.”

Khairy Jamaluddin, Umno Youth Chief asked: When you look into the mirror, do you see a member of an ethnic group (Malay, Chinese, Indian etc) or do you see a Malaysian?

Albert Khor, 22, Glasgow, UK “A Chinese. But who can blame me for that? I have been brought up to carry this belief. Occasionally, when I watched the television several leaders made racist remarks and tried to disturb the harmonious relationship between us all. When I read the papers, political leaders tried to play the race cards to gain political leverage, especially around election times. Considering myself as a Malaysian is never an easy job to do. The older generation has produced this perception for the younger generation. However, I share the vision with a small group of young Malaysians that we shall not be divided anymore in the future.”

Jane, 19, Malacca “I see a Malaysian Chinese, not as an ethnic, but as a part of my culture that I’ve been brought up in.”

Ong Wei Lin, 16, Penang “I am used to recognising myself first as a Malaysian rather than a Chinese. When I heard someone is saying the other ethnics are this, are that, I will stand up and say: “What are the differences? We all have two eyes, two ears, one nose and a mouth!” Sundara, 18, Klang “I feel the Malaysian first concept has already been instilled within us youths. Especially those of us in colleges and universities, we hang out with friends regardless of their ethnicity and we feel the ‘oneness’ amongst each other.

“Not many youths in other countries have the privilege to live in a multicultural society like Malaysia. We seem extremely carefree and oblivious to the ethnic discrimination.

“In my opinion, one way of eliminating this discrimination would be to omit the need of asking someone to state their ethnicity in registration forms (banks, examinations, etc) - as there doesn’t seem to be any positive outcome of this. Come on, its not like the banks are giving bonuses during Hari Raya, Chinese New Year or Deepavali?”

For more answers from youths regarding these questions and to check out the R.AGE Questions For You(th) project, click here.