Doubtful and curious to be malaysian?

I was abroad in London on holidays after my STPM exams (Malaysian equivalent of A Levels). My eldest Brother treated me with a return Aerofloat ticket to London. I have never been so far away from home. The objective of the trip was for me to get away from my frequent visits to the local snooker hall. Not very educational for a 19 year old kid, they came to that conclusion

Anyway, one of the places to go to is International Student House (ISH). Cool place. Met people from all over the world. I have never seen so many different skin colours or heard so many different slang to The Queen's English.
Was talking to this woman who was organised the event at ISH. She commented on my proficiency of English and asked what am I?
Being educated and brought up in Malaysia, instinctively I told her I am CHINESE!
You are from CHINA, she replied and added that she did not remember Chinese speaking English like me.
I quickly corrected her saying that I am from Malaysia but of Chinese origin, Malaysian Chinese? Chinese Malaysia? I was like lost, thinking what am I?
Then you are Malaysian, she corrected me. She is a native English speaker, so I supposed she is right about me being a MALAYSIAN.
It took me more than 7,000 miles and almost 14 hours cramped up in an economical seat of the now defunct Soviet airline to find out that I am a MALAYSIAN!
All through school we went through the conditioning in the system to differentiate ourselves among fellow Malaysian. Melayu. Cina. India.
It took someone from another country to tell me WHO I AM!........LOL