My Thots on Merdeka

I was asked to post some comments on the recent Merdeka 50th celebration. The comments were supposed to be incorporated in one of the weekend article in the Star Newspaper. Sadly, the article subsequently appeared without my thoughtful comments. Something to do with the final editing, I am told. I prefer to think that the contents of the article would have to be severely toned down, being a pro-government newspaper. Possibly my comments may not exactly gel in. However, instead of letting a good piece of writing go to waste, I have decided to post the same comments here, verbatim :-

" My comments are as follows :-

Q1: How did you feel about the Merdeka celebrations?
A2: Not much. Why? Refer generally to Answer 2.

Q2: Why does the public seem to lack enthusiasm to celebrate this Merdeka?
A2: I don't actually celebrate my wife's birthday anymore. Just a simple dinner will do. When I was wooing her decades ago, it was a different story. Her birthday is celebrated big-time. Does this mean I don't love her anymore. Of course not. I still love her to bits. But after so many years, and the fact that birthdays come every year, it doesnt really matter even if there's no celebration.

I know this is the 50th Merdeka. But for many of us, it is just another day. Heck, for most of us, our 50th birthday is also just another day. So it doesn't really matter if some of us don't celebrate or show lack of enthusiasm. It really don't mean that we don't love ourself, our wives and our country.

Q3: Are you proud of Malaysia? And being Malaysian?
A3: I will answer this in the context of a Malaysian Chinese. As a Malaysian Chinese, we all have lots of grouses against Malaysia. First and foremost the NEP. There are other related issues :- Chinese schools, racial discrimination, lack of opportunities, lack of seats in public universities etc. The list goes on.

But am I proud of Malaysia, and more importantly, being Malaysian? Yes. Deep inside we all are. We all want to. We have our issues, but we won't sell the country away. I have issues with how the NEP is being implemented, but if I see a fellow Malaysian, say a Malay, injured on the road, I will not hesitate to help. Most of us do.

Remember when Malaysia won the Thomas Cup years ago. We were proud of the win. Now, that was something worth being proud of. Malays, Indians and Chinese united in the badminton stadium cheering for the players regardless of their race. What about the football team? We all hate them, don't we? Are we not proud of our own team (made up mainly by Malay youths)? No. But deep inside we want to. It's just that there's no reason for us to be.

Years ago I witnessed my father watching the match between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia (played in Riyadh, I think). My father cursed each and every of the Malaysian players (this is the Zainal Abidin, Dollah Salleh era). The match eventually turned out not too bad for our boys. Though we lost (4-3, I think), I saw my father's eye twinkle with approval by the team's gutsy play and fighting attitude (though outward he is still cursing the loss). This is what I mean. At the end, we are proud, and we all want to be proud of Malaysia and being Malaysian. But there is not much opportunities for us to do so.

Q4: What should patriotism really be about?
A4: Some of us don't stand when the National Anthem is played. Some of us don't fly the flag. Some of us don't give a damn that it's the 50th Merdeka. There will always be another one next year, albeit 51st!

But it doesn't matter. Some of us are just not that patriotic in an extroverted kind of way, so to speak. That really shouldn't be the yardstick for patriotism. HOWEVER, I, FOR ONE, KNOW WHAT PATRIOTISM IS NOT ABOUT:-

a) taking bribes, giving bribes
b) not paying back PTPL loans;
c) being rude on the road;
d) selling off your country (this applies to the loads of UMNO politicians mentioned in RPK's site);
e) close one eye;
f) close two eyes;
g) bulding palaces without approval;
h) building palaces without paying quit rent and assessment;
i) allocation without Auditor's General approval;
j) not writing judgements;
k) blowing up Mongolians;
l) not patching up potholes, sinkholes, ceiling holes, bridge holes, MRR2 holes, as_ holes etc etc;
m) not allowing members to speak at MAIKA AGM;
n) deceiving other fellow Malaysians;
o) scaring other races with traditional weapons;
p) creating nonsensical records;
q) having a Malaysian Book of Records to record the nonsensical record;
r) having a Malaysian astronout eat Roti Canai in space;
s) having more Nuris crash;
t) having more Fokkers crash;
u) etc, etc, etc

That's all. Thank you.

Truly,
Jason Seow Hock Peng
USJ, Selangor.
* No pseudonym required. I stand by what I say. "