A REMARK by Kedah Menteri Besar that appeared to associate Malaysians of Chinese and Indian descent with their ancestral countries has drawn criticism from Kota Kemuning assemblyman Preakas Sampunathan, who said such comments risk undermining the idea of a shared Malaysian identity.
Preakas said the statement, “Cina ada China, India ada India”, was disappointing and out of touch with the reality of a country built by people from different backgrounds.
The Selangor assemblyman said Malaysians should not be defined by where their ancestors came from, but by their shared citizenship and contributions to the nation.
“Chinese Malaysians are not guests in this country. Indian Malaysians are not outsiders. They are Malaysians,” he said in a statement today.
He pointed out that generations of Malaysians of Chinese and Indian heritage have been part of the country’s development, contributing to various sectors including business, public service, education, the economy and national defence.
Preakas stressed that questioning the loyalty or belonging of citizens based on their ethnic origins could create a harmful perception that some Malaysians are less connected to the country than others.
“The issue is not where someone’s ancestors came from. The issue is that they are Malaysians who were born here, raised here, built their lives here and contributed to this country,” he said.
PN election director Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said last night that “Tanah Melayu” (Malay Land) was the only homeland for the Malays, unlike other ethnic communities who, he claimed, had ancestral countries elsewhere.
Speaking in Jempol, he said Malays no longer had any other land they could call their own, arguing that Malaysia was the only place they belonged.
“Malays have no other land. This is the only Tanah Melayu we have. Indians have India, Chinese have China, Cambodians have Cambodia, Thais have Thailand. Where are the Malays? Malays are only here,” he said.
He added that Malaysia’s progress was the result of contributions from all communities, pointing out that the country’s institutions, infrastructure and economy were built through collective efforts across racial and cultural lines.
Preakas also called on leaders to avoid rhetoric that could create mistrust between communities, saying their role should be to strengthen unity and ensure every citizen feels a sense of belonging.
“As leaders, our responsibility is not to create suspicion between communities.”
“It is to bring Malaysians together, protect harmony and ensure every citizen knows this country belongs to them,” he said.
The Kota Kemuning representative said Malaysians should reject any attempt to define national identity through ancestry, adding that ethnicity should not determine whether someone is considered part of the country.
“No Malaysian should be made to feel like a perpetual outsider in their own homeland,” he said. – July 24, 2026
