Happy Merdeka! Well, contrary to what is advertised, Malaysia is not 57 years old but 51! Federation of Malaysia was enacted in 1963, not 1957 and the actual date is actually on the 16th September! I personally actually hold a personal bias for it to be celebrated on the 31st August. When I was a baby, even though I was due earlier, I held on longer and made sure I came out and made a proper entrance only at the shout of Merdeka approximately 20+ years ago. I am proud not just to be called a Malaysian, but am proud that I am a Malaysian. I love my country and the nations we are made out of. The very diversity we experience is a value and merit that we are proud to possess. This year’s theme speaks of a nation where our love for her is born (Di Sini Lahirnya Sebuah Cinta). Same may question, where does this love come from, or do we even possess this love since many are disillusioned by what is going on in our country. Tunku Abdul Rahman himself had noble aspirations and declared during the Declaration of Independence for our nation that Malaysia was ideally to be the beacon of light amidst distraction. However sadly, we many times have fallen into decay for being distracted more instead of actually being a beacon. I however believe in a hope and a future for our nation. This year, as we celebrate our Merdeka, let us stand together and declare independence from all the different distractions and cancer that has crippled us as a nation. We must declare our independence especially our independence from racial or even religious prejudice and discrimination. Unity through diversity is a Malaysian ideal which we strongly show to the world. With that, we can no longer ask for passion in patriotism without acknowledging that we are equal, with none being more equal than others. We must declare as well independence for all forms of extremism and hate. I hope we will grow as a nation in love where we all will find a need, and meet a need, find a hurt and heal that hurt. The best way we grow strong is to grow stronger on the shoulders of each other through acceptance, respect and be done with all the hatred spews. The best antidote to counter hate is only love, and love that abounds. And of course, we must all declare independence from all apathy and the fear of standing up for what is right! Let us not fail our generation and generations to come when we see injustice but stood still as it passes-by. The strength of the nation is the strength of the voice of the rakyat, and we must not let our voice be colonised again. Well, di sinilah lahirnya sebuah cinta. My love to see my nation transformed and takes its place as a beacon of light in our world today. That, is my wish and hope for my nation and my country. Happy Merdeka Everybody!
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 18:23:24 +0000