Malaysia's 50th Merdeka Day

Today is the 31st of August 2007 and it's Malaysia's National Day. This year, it is more special, as it marks our 50th anniversary of national day celebration; 50 years since the declaration of independence; 50 years since Tunku Abdul Rahman shouted the first "MERDEKA" in our Stadium Merdeka. 50 years may not be a long time but for those who were children or teenagers back in 1957, when our indepence was gained, it must have been 50 eventful years. I hope those 50 years were filled with memories that make you smile whenever they pop up in your head.

merdeka (Malay language) = independence

This year's merdeka theme is "Malaysiaku Gemilang", meaning "My Glorious Malaysia". Unfortunately, I won't be able to celebrate this memorable day in Malaysia. I remember when I was in primary school, I would get up early just to watch the merdeka celebration on TV. Most students would normally still be asleep because it's a public holiday and they would be happy to have a lie in. No need to wake up early and go to school. :D Not me though, coz I would be sitting in front of the TV, holding the pencil/water coloured Malaysian flag I made (thanks to the school teacher who made us do it as part of our art lesson project). I haven't been to an actual merdeka day parade, so I could only have the joy of watching it on TV. Must note down to attend one when I am settled back home next time.

Malaysia's flag, taken from www.virtualmalaysia.com/our_malaysia/

When I grew up and left high school, I stopped waking up early to watch the parade on TV. I became one of those who would prefer to have a lie in. However, I celebrated merdeka day in my own way. I celebrated by way of having barbeque sessions, dinner, clubbing or other forms of gathering with friends. There would be massive traffic jam along the main roads in Penang on the eve of merdeka. Some of the jams would be caused by those on motorbikes, normally carrying huge Malaysian flags. Then, when the clock strikes 12 midnight, the bikes will sound their horns and the cars will follow suit. It's truly a horn-y Malaysian moment.

Maybe you might say "What has bbq or gathering with friends got to do with merdeka? And clubbing, omgoodness, clubbing... it's so-not-Malaysian !" No-lah, it has everything to do with merdeka because those gathering are held in honour of the day. It is to celebrate our independence - us being able to hold celebrations in the open is a mark of our freedom, a result of independence. Yes, we are still restricted in a lot of ways, but hey, aren't we all restricted by laws in almost every country ?

I remember one conversation I had with Kenneth, and I told him I wanna go home and be with my family and friends in Malaysia, how I still plan to go home to Malaysia to settle down and work. He asked me this : "Are you being patriotic or sentimental?" I took a while to ponder upon this. Yes, it's true that Malaysia holds a lot of sentimental values because I was born and grew up there and whilst it is true that I am not patriotic up to the point I'm in the army, I still feel patriotic towards Malaysia. Even when I'm in UK, I will happily tell them I'm Malaysian. I'll tell acquaintances from different countries that I met in UK about Malaysia, explaining to them how our country is multi-racial and we're pretty develop. Some mat sallehs here think we stay in tree houses up in the trees ! They think we do not have highways and we run around barefooted. Wth ! So I do my part in promoting Malaysia. Whether this is patriotism towards Malaysia, it is of subjective perceptions.

I'm proud whenever my Uni-mates or strangers from other countries talk about our Patronus Petronas Twin Towers. Ssometimes conversations will lead to other forms of twin towers. *_0 They will always tell me so-and-so from their family have been to Malaysia to see the twin towers and some of them have been up at the top and how they can see KL from up there etc.

There was also once my Uni-mate, who is also from Malaysia, said an English man asked her where she is from and she said Malaysia. She's Malay and she was with 2 other friends at that time; one Indian girl and one Chinese girl (what a muhibah group :D). The English man asked the Indian girl where she is from and she said Malaysia. He then proceed to ask the Chinese and she said she was from Malaysia as well. He then looked confused and asked my friend "If you are all from Malaysia, why do you all have different skin colours and have different features ?" My friend told him "Malaysia has different races staying together in the same country and there are some other apart from Malay, Indian and Chinese. There are Sikhs, Kadazans, Eurasians and many more from different races and have different cultures." The English man then asked, "And you all can mix and live with one another in the same place ?" My friend said, "Of course, we are all Malaysians" and she admitted to me that she felt so bangga at that time.

bangga (Malay language) = proud

I don't understand why there must be racial discrimination in Malaysia. Eventhough we all have different skin colours, don't we all bleed the same red colour blood ? It's not like some of us are Puteri Gunung Ledang, who can bleed white blood. No matter how we look like, we are all the same deep inside. We are Malaysians.

Eventhough I cannot be there in person to celebrate our 50th Hari Merdeka in Malaysia, my thoughts are on you, Malaysia. May you grow and prosper, and yet be a harmonious multi-racial country. I hope your citizens will stop arguing/fighting over who should own you. MERDEKA !

hari (Malay language) = day