KUANTAN: Growing up, Nor Malaysia Rose was used to being the subject of attention by curious schoolmates and collegemates.
“Who is this Nor Malaysia; which one is Nor Malaysia; so this is how Nor Malaysia looks like, were among the remarks by people when I entered new schools and Maktab Perguruan Seri Kota Kuala Lumpur,” said the 55-year-old retired teacher from Taman Kempadang Makmur, here.
Her unique name came about as her father wanted to commemorate Malaysia Day.
“The selection of my name by my parents was rather incidental, because I was born three hours prior to the formation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963,” she said.
Nor Malaysia said her late father Rose Ahmad and mother Ajar Akob, initially wanted to name her ‘Normala’ but was later changed when her father went to the Benta police station, Lipis to register her birth.
“My late father, who was a retired teacher, when relating this story to me said he had spoken with several policemen upon arriving at the station.
“They talked about the history of Tanah Melayu. My father was keen on the name Malaysia and decided to register my name as Nor Malaysia in remembrance of the historical day.
“My mother accepted the name and praised the combination,” she said when met at her house recently.
Nor, or specifically nur, means light in Arabic.
“Such patriotism and his love for the country prompted my late father to name me as Nor Malaysia.
“When I was a child, I remember being sheepish when I was called Malaysia. As time went by, however, I became delighted because the name made me a person that was easy to get to know and remember,” she said.
She said as the ‘carrier’ of the country’s name, she had experienced interesting encounters including being invited as one of the special guests at the 50th Malaysia Day celebration in Sabah in 2013.
“A lot of people with names related to the country were also invited and were given special treatment at the event,” said Nor Malaysia who is married to Tengku Mokhtar Tengku Zainal.
She said she was also made a ‘target’ by her pupils when talking about the country’s history and the formation of Malaysia.
“This has indirectly made it easier for pupils to remember the date. They would point at me and said ‘Remember Malaysia Day... remember Cikgu Nor Malaysia’,” said the SK Sungai Soi former teacher.