KUANTAN: It would not have been easy growing up having Malaysia as part of one’s name.
“I am proud and am very thankful to my late parents for naming me Malaysia, after I was born on the most special day in the nation’s history.
“Though during my childhood, I was embarassed when I was called Malaysia, however, over time, the name became compatible with me.
“I am also not sure the secret as to why I was named as such,” said Rosni Malaysia Buyong.
Rosni , was born at 8.15am, when then the third Yang Dipertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Harun Putra ibni Syed Hassan Jamalullail declared the formation of Malaysia Sept 16, 1963.
After my late mother (Cik Hamidah Ahmad) delivered me, the authorities at the Armed Forces Hospital in Jalan Padang Tembak informed my birth to then Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.
“My late father recalled that when Tuanku visited us, he not only brought along present’s but also tied a yellow sash in my left hand as sign that I was one of his foster children in conjunction with the formation of Malaysia,” she told NSTP, here.
Rosni said that she was also adopted as a foster child by the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein on Oct 27, 1966, when he was the Defence Minister.
The soon to be 55-year-old said she was born at No. 675, Defence Ministry quarters, Jalan Padang Tembak, Kuala Lumpur, when her late father Buyong Ali was serving in the armed forces.
Rosni adds that when she was one-year-old, she and her family were invited to Tunku’s residence, who then also nicknamed her ‘Ros Malaysia’.
“However, my actual name in the Identity card is Rosni Malaysia and the name Rosni was chosen by my parents before I was born. The combination of two names, made it a special name for both my parents.
“In most places, I am better known as ‘Ros Malaysia’ or ‘Millie’, a nickname which was coned by Tunku Abdul Rahman,” she said.
Rosni said she used to be embarrassed when her parent’s introduced her to their friends and relatives as ‘Anak Malaysia’ and the foster child of Tunku Abdul Rahman dan Tun Abdul Razak.
However, after growing-up, she understood the uniqueness of the name Malaysia which was given to her.
"Malaysia is a big name and wherever I go, it’s like bearing a sovereign nation that indirectly reflects the personality of the race and the dignity of my family," she said at a National Day celebration held at her school.
Rosni who is known as ‘Cikgu Malaysia’ is a teacher at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (P) Methodist.
She is married to Ahmad Nazri Abdul Karim, 60, the couple have three children.