Thu, August 20, 2009 - GEORGE TOWN: The proposal by the Cabinet to do away with the need to state ethnic origin in official forms got a strong nod of approval from various individuals and communities.

Penang Mental Health Association president Datuk Mary Ritchie said this would close the racial divide and give Malaysians – regardless of their origin – a sense of belonging to the country they were born in.

Ritchie, whose late father was a Burmese and her mother a Thai Chinese, was married to her late husband who was of mixed Scottish, Thai and Chinese parentage.

“All these years, I consider myself a true Malaysian as I was born and grew up here.

“The move is good as there will be no more feeling of being different and we will all be truly Malaysian,” she added.

Penang State Chinese Association president Datuk Seri Khoo Keat Siew said the proposal was an appropriate move to create national unity.

“It’s long overdue, timely and definitely in line with the Government’s concept of 1Malaysia,” he said.

Housewife Christine Pedley, 60, a Eurasian from Tanjung Bungah, said the move reflected the good intentions of the Government to promote the 1Malaysia concept.

“We are all Malaysians and we voted the Government in like everybody else, so why should there be a discrimination of ethnic origin on official forms?

“I remember having to fill in this section when I used to travel a lot last time.It used to make me feel like I’m not Malaysian,” she said.

Shipping executive Patrick Henry, 52, also a Eurasian, said the proposal, if approved, would create a sense of belonging and togetherness among Malaysians.