Malaysia in the Commonwealth: Defence, Duty, and Diaspora
- Dr Hannah Nazri
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
On Malaysia’s 68th Independence Day, I reflect not just on Malaysia’s journey, but on my own one shaped by Commonwealth ties, intergenerational service, and a city that raised me in contradictions. To be precise, this anniversary marks Malaya’s independence in 1957, when it became the tenth member of the Commonwealth. Malaysia as we know it today emerged in 1963 through union with Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore (though Singapore departed in 1965). This layered history matters. It reminds us that nationhood is not a moment, but a mosaic.
I was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, bilingual from childhood - though truthfully, my first tongue was Manglish, that uniquely Malaysian blend of English and Malay, laced with Chinese and Tamil expressions. I later uprooted myself to England for medical school, and two decades on, now serving within the NHS, my heritage remains central. I speak with reverence, conscious of the privilege that shaped my journey and of what it means to honour Malaysia at 68. I remain a proud KL-ite, with no kampong to return to during festive seasons, for the city itself has always been my home. The Kuala Lumpur that raised me, where skyscrapers rise beside mismatched houses, and wildlife and greenery weave into the fabric of concrete, ever sprawling, ever growing, a city of contrasts and constant becoming.
Yet Malaysia is more than Kuala Lumpur, just as the UK is not simply London. Beyond the metropolis lie countless stories, landscapes, and lives. Across all communities and socioeconomic classes, we share universal challenges: hunger, pain, exhaustion, injustice. That recognition fuels my health equity work in Malaysia, across Southeast Asia, and throughout the Commonwealth and globally. Even so, I feel a deep pride in being Malaysian. Since 1957, we have come a long way: resilient, diverse, and always striving toward progress. Our strength is reflected symbolically too, with Malaysia now ranked 11th in the Henley Passport Index (August 2025). But progress must also be measured in lived realities
Post-independence was not without hardship. During the Malayan Emergency (1948–1960), our young nation relied on Commonwealth support against communist insurgency. My maternal grandfather was part of that history - serving with the British Royal Air Force in Singapore, then in Kinrara, Kuala Lumpur, before continuing with the Royal Malaysian Air Force into the 1970s. Though the Emergency ended in 1960, regional security remained a priority. In 1971, Malaysia became a founding member of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) with the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. Unlike the Emergency, the FPDA focused on regional cooperation after Britain’s “East of Suez” withdrawal. It remains one of the world’s oldest multilateral defence partnerships: a quiet testament to Malaysia’s enduring Commonwealth ties.
Living now in Royal Leamington Spa, I am reminded of that legacy by the town’s war memorial: a bronze soldier atop a granite plinth honouring those lost in conflicts including the Malayan Emergency. Malaysia’s struggles were never isolated, they were shared across the Commonwealth. My grandfather’s service, and mine, reflect a quiet continuity: of civic duty, of partnership, and of the evolving role of Malaysians in global public service.
Malaysia’s Commonwealth journey has flourished through sport. Since debuting at the 1966 Games in Kingston, Jamaica, Malaysia has competed consistently, and in 1998, Kuala Lumpur became the first Asian city to host. As a schoolgirl, I joined a pen-pal initiative tied to the Games. My correspondent, Lucy from Queensland, proudly wrote she was a girl - so I began my reply, “I am Hannah, a girl too.” In that childhood innocence lay the essence of the Commonwealth: connection across borders. Most memorably, I was a dancer in the Opening Ceremony, a moment of joy that stays with me still. Today, as an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society, I have judged the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition and served as its Equality Lead for Europe (2020–2023).
Malaysia has hosted key Commonwealth moments, including the 1989 CHOGM in Langkawi, which produced the landmark Langkawi Declaration on the Environment, and the 2014 public service conferences. Today, Malaysia remains actively engaged - supporting trade and digital reform through the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda and advancing sustainability through the Blue Charter’s Aquaculture Action Group.
Our Commonwealth story continues in action, through sustainability, connectivity, sport, and shared values of equity and progress. It is not a story of erasing colonial legacies, but of reconstituting them into partnerships grounded in equity, cooperation and shared purpose. As a member of the British Malaysian Society, I invite all - Malaysian or not - to discover our culture, our story, and our world-class food.
As a Malay woman, far from home but never far from heritage, I carry my Malaysian pride quietly but unwaveringly. In dedicating my life to public service across the UK and Malaysia, I honour the legacy of those who came before me. Happy 68th Independence Day - Saya Anak Malaysia. Now and always.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr Hannah Nazri is a UK-based Malaysian obstetrics and gynaecology doctor dedicated to women’s health and reproductive rights.
With experience in over 35 countries and leadership roles in global health organisations, she bridges medicine, academia, and advocacy. She is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
She represents a new generation of diaspora voices, curating legacy across clinical, diplomatic, and editorial spaces.
Website: https://hannah.nazri.org/
Instagram: hannahnazri
LinkedIn: Hannah Nazri
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Royal Commonwealth Society.