Bring back the spirit of Merdeka too

Let’s look at the commonness not the differences

I refer to the report “Vintage car for N-Day event”(Star August 7).

It was very interesting to read that a vintage car, similar to the one Tunku Abdul Rahman rode will be brought in from the United States for the launch of the 50th Merdeka Month celebration. Equally interesting are the various programmes that are lined up throughout the month for the celebrations. It is indeed fitting and proper to mark the historic day with such elaborate celebrations as it occurs just once a life time.

Great efforts are being made to bring back various physical items of the past to remind the present generation of Malaysians what really happened at Merdeka in 1957.While these may be good and should be encouraged, it would be even more meaningful if we also bring back the real spirit of Merdeka that was prevalent among the leaders and people at that time.

Hoisting and waving the national flag, singing the national anthem, shouting “merdeka” at the top of their voices and hosting elaborate banquets and other events were just symbolic gestures of independence. The true spirit of Merdeka that filled the air in 1957 was one of unity and goodwill among Malaysians of all races, what we used to call muhibbah.Without this unity merdeka is meaningless.

At that time Malaysians of all races, led by Tunku Abdul Rahman, celebrated their hard-earned independence as one united nation. All of them at that time happily and proudly shared the common brotherhood in the new-born nation, Malaya.

It is sad that after fifty years, the spirit of brotherhood that existed among Malaysians appears to be slowly eluding us for sure. Each community seems to have become comfortably confined within their self-made cocoons. The cultures and believes of each has become alien to the other. Strains in the inter-ethnic relationship are emerging which is becoming a main cause of worry in our multiracial and multi-religious country.

Much has to be done to arrest and improve this deteriorating race relation in the country. There is an urgent need to remind our young, the important contributions all races to the development of our country. We must emphasize on the commonness that bind us as Malaysians rather than keep repeatedly harping on the few differences among us which is threatening to tear the nation apart.

Dr.Chris Anthony

Comments

drchris,

The essence of Merdeka that you so passionately pointed out is so true that it hurts. Your unity call to us is so painfully clear. How I wish our current leaders could feel like you.The tears we shed for our country as one brother and sisterhood flowed unnoticed into a political abyss. We are voices in a sound-proof room. The key to letting our voices heard is held by our leaders. We kept on calling out to be heard but all we get is an engaged tone with a lady telling us that..."nombor yang anda dial, tiada dalam perkhidmatan, terima kasih"....somebody wrote this sad statement last week," I love Malaysia but does Malaysia love me?"

My name is Muhammad Hakim. I am Malaysian and I will teach my children to be Malaysian so they can show their friends that it is alright to be Malaysians.'Muhibbah' was not a dream. I was there and I felt it's magic and I still do. I hope our children will have the opportunity to feel that same magic as we did. It is up to us to show them how. Thank you drchris for this headsup post. Hidup Malaysians.

By nagahakim, 17-Aug-2007