I have always believed that Malaysia is a fortunate country. We are blessed with fertile soils producing (and top producers no less) commercial crops such as rubber and palm oil, a climate with no seasons (even though on the hot side) so we don't have to worry about the elements, no natural disasters such as volcanoes and earthquakes (though we do experience some tremors when a big earthquake occurs near us, and just sometime back, we were hit by a tsunami).

Our former colonial master, the British, actually left us with a set of good roads linking all the major towns, a good rail system that links east and west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. They have also left us with a good administrative system and an English speaking civil service. They have also, by practicing racial policy of divide-and-rule, been partly responsible for some of the problems we are facing today.

Despite some misgivings about certain policies, I consider myself lucky to be a Malaysian. I was born here, bred here and would most probably die here. This is my country and I am always proud to announce to my foreign friends that I am a Malaysian first and foremost.