MERDEKA « SJ Echo

Wednesday, 6 August 2008

MERDEKA

Merdeka. What is Merdeka? Come 31^st August 2008, this will be the celebration of the 51 years of independence prior to the formation of the country, Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Malaysia is actually 45 years old this year.

I cannot help but state that it is important for us to also understand what Merdeka means. Merdeka is independence. Yes, in the years of yore, it was the independence from the colonial masters and the opportunity for us to run our country as a united nation of many and diverse race and religion.

Now, I would like to also state that politics have gone far away from being independent that it has become so blindly united. To succeed in making this country a country of merdeka, race and religion should never be used as a bargaining chip. Race and religion should be appreciated and respected by all.

I really feel that it is wrong when people also say '“We must TOLERATE” and “Kita mesti bersifat TOLERANSI”. In my opinion, we should not use tolerance but to use understanding and respect for one another. Respect and understanding is not the same as tolerance. Respect and understanding creates unity. Not tolerance.

To me merdeka means we should all respect and understand each other. We should be able to trust our neighbours. We should ensure we take time to teach our children not to hate but to respect and understand. Merdeka means that we should also evolve in our thinking. We must understand what we are dealing with and not sell ourselves or our rich history and environment for the greed of wealth.

We should share and also ensure we have sustainable resources. We must have pride. I remember pride. Pride is when we ensure we are at the best behaviour when representing our country. It saddens me when I see ugly scenes overseas and in the airports of Malaysians being obnoxious to a point of belittling others. It makes me proud when I see Malaysians take the pain to promote and protect their country via good and informed arguments when faced with misunderstanding.

When we are cut, our blood is all red. There is no other colour. When we again learn to respect and understand each other, we will have peace and prosperity. I also believe in meritocracy. If you are good at something then you are given the responsibility. In real meritocracy, there dwells the real merdeka. There’s no one who isn’t good in anything. It is where opportunities should be given at all levels for us to all work together in a social system towards a communal goal.

I once said to friends before. Development should not only mean the building of buildings and the changing of culture to the erdeka aping of others. We should build from our strength and always protect sustenance for the future. Merdeka means not raping the earth of all its bounty and leaving nothing for the next generation.

Merdeka means ensuring history is not changed in school texts and the teaching of milestones should also be the same and not altered for political reasons. Merdeka? How many even respect the flag? Look around us. Many people never even change their flag when it is torn. Do we stand up straight when we hear the national anthem? Do you know how to draw a flag if I ask you to do so now?

If we ever want to feel and love merdeka, then look at us now. Are we free to decide? Are we free to sit and talk without calling each other some animal names and create callous descriptions? To me, merdeka? No. But we are moving there. It is up to us again. The colonial masters are no more. But we are subjected to too much ridiculous issues which even common sense do not seem to exist. In such a society, the social state of mind needs to be evoked. This is merdeka.

The end