M Bakri Musa's article On being a true Malaysian suggests that being a true Malaysian often rests on the premise that one speaks Bahasa Malaysia. This is because BM is the national language.

One way to counter Bakri conclusion would be by asking another question: if Islam is declared as the 'national religion' of Malaysia, would it mean that non-Muslims are non-Malaysians?

Isn't Bakri doing the very thing that he refuses others to do unto him - defining the term 'true Malaysian' on his own terms?

Anyway, the subject reminds me of another conversation that I had with my best friend's father-in-law on his visit to the US from Macedonia. He asked me if I considered myself a Chinese or a Malaysian.

I told him, in an international badminton match between China and Malaysia, I' would support the Malaysian player. If the match was between China and other country, I would support the Chinese player.

If the match was between a Chinese-Malaysian and a Malay-Malaysian, I would support both. And, remember, being a badminton fan, I would not fail to admire the one who had better skill and dedication.

I believe being a true Malaysian lies in one's emotional ties. It is not about patriotism or nationalism but a fundamental human connection with the place that one was born and raised in.

It is this invincible connection between me and Malaysia that makes me a Malaysian. I may have been living in the US for over 12 years now, but my emotional umbilical cord is still connected to Malaysia.