This year our
Merdeka is of special significance. It is 57th year of independence
that was obtained from the British in 1957.Independence did not come
automatically, it was hard-earned with the blood and sweat of our forefathers
of all races. Despite having come from different lands and diverse cultures,
they came together as citizens to fight for our independence and to make this
land their cherished motherland for them and their children.
They then worked hard to
develop this land to what it is today. No one community can claim sole
responsibility for our success as it was with the concerted efforts of all that
we could achieve all that have today. Our forefathers started from extremely
humble beginnings, being poor padi farmers, rubber tappers and tin miners. They
gave everything they had to make this country their own,which they were proud
to call Malaysia.
But today the
country that we have inherited from our forefathers is far from what it was
before. We are now into our third generation after independents but things have
begun to go wrong, far from the ideals of forefathers on which the nation was
founded. We are so divided by race, creed and colour of our skin like never
before. The very existence of a multiracial population is being questioned by
the younger generation who seem to be have guided by a distorted history of our
origins.
Belonging
to the second generation of immigrants to this country it is sad to know all
our contributions and sacrifices are not only not appreciated but our sincerity
and loyalty to the nation is questioned.We have nowhere to go and many have not
set foot in any foreign land including that from where their ancestors came.We
are not here to question the provisions of the constitution under which our
nation was founded and which must be
safeguarded at all costs by all. The citizens of all races are all here to stay
for good and it is time for our leaders to accept this as a fact and emphasise
it to the youth to ensure lasting peace
and progress of our nation.
As
an environment of gloom and despair looms over us by the increasing
polarisation of the people, the suppression of the rights of the people,
injustice against those who defend truth and the fear that grips those who do
good, let us search our hearts sincerely to see where we have gone wrong.Let’s
get rid of the hatred and suspicion from our hearts for people of different race and faith
and replace them with goodwill and tolerance as it was during the days of our
founding fathers.
