What are you really celebrating on Merdeka?
They had asked us what we can do for the nation. But we forgot to ask them what the nation would do for us. And more importantly what it would do to us. Those who demanded equity for themselves did not give equity to others. And it has been that way since.
By Steve Oh
“This coming Merdeka will you be writing something about our country?” the unexpected question came in an e-mail from an old friend I hadn’t seen for awhile. “Do e-mail me a copy if you do,” he wrote.
I feel ambivalent writing on Merdeka. Between the mainstream and online news lies the balanced truth, as Malaysians today go through the angst of political change. The one who uses the pen instead of the sword must draw blood without destroying. And like the surgeon who heals, he or she has to make the incisions.
Malaysia is a young nation. It is still a work in progress. And young nations need the discipline to focus on the vision of the founding fathers and the genesis of their existence even as they adapt to changing times. The danger of not changing is fossilization. And fossilization is the result of being regressive.
“In many counsellors there is victory,” says an old proverb. The late President John F. Kennedy had the knack of tapping into the brains of those in his cabinet and committees. He always listened and weighed carefully what others said. That according to some observers was his forte.
It is something we all need to do. It is something governments need to do.
There is conventional wisdom that if you want results employ those who are smarter than you. Sadly fear makes people do the opposite. And it is fear that makes people treat their neighbours shabbily and governments take a hard approach when they should be more understanding.
A non-muslim goes to a surau with an olive branch and good intentions. But the Pharisees pick on this hapless politician. A Malaysiakini report says she is going to apologize to the Sultan. Why? What has she done wrong? This is an example of a regressive approach and political opportunism: the nit-picking and making a mountain out of a mole hill to score political points. Sadly there’s too much of it.
We reflect on the past that we may be wiser now and in the future.
And as I reflect on the past I am hopeful there is a silver lining in the cloud. Sometimes people can’t learn except from their mistakes. It is a painful way when prevention is better than cure. And sadly, some people never learn from past mistakes. Thus the saying ‘those who don’t learn from history are wont to repeat the mistakes.’
There are many lessons we can learn from our history.
The image of Bapa KeMerdekaan – Tunku Abdul Rahman – raising his first into the air to shouts of ‘Merdeka’ at the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on that auspicious day 53 years ago has become iconic, and Merdeka and its aftermath offer valuable lessons.
We know the Tunku died a disappointed and disillusioned man – a victim of a nation’s history that failed him and its true sons and daughters, and left them with a dashed hope. We can easily forget the sacrifices he and others made to gain for us our independence and freedom because history is often written not in truth but prejudice when politicians hold the historian’s hand.
I still remember the day the Tunku came to his alma mater, the Penang Free School, and delivered an awespiring speech to us, mostly Chinese students, during a school assembly. We were all children of the Merdeka generation, full of hope and promise.
“You are the future leaders of the country, “the Tunku said, with a hint of a Cambridge accent, “so you must study hard, be law-abiding, and do your best to serve your country.” We did study hard, furthered our studies at home and abroad, and equipped ourselves to serve the nation.
But when we were ready the Tunku was no longer there.
It was the ominous start of Merdeka lost.
