`


THERE IS NO GOD EXCEPT ALLAH
read:
MALAYSIA Tanah Tumpah Darahku

LOVE MALAYSIA!!!


 


Friday, August 7, 2015

I miss you, Malaysia

All I see now are angry faces. All I hear now are grumbles about political nonsense
COMMENT
sad,-malaysia
When I was growing up, the month of August used to be a special month.
We would begin by celebrating my mom’s birthday on the first of August, followed by the birthdays of a few cousins and close friends of the family. By the end of the first week of August, it would be time to bring out the flags from the cupboard, as we began preparations to celebrate Merdeka Day again.
Mom would lovingly wash both flags by hand – the Malaysian flag and flag of Penang. According to Mom this was the best way to extend the life of the flag. I think she also added a generous amount of fabric softener because they always smelled so good when hung out to dry in our backyard.
I remember watching them dance in the air as I sat on the veranda enjoying mom’s teh halia. It was such a pretty sight that it has remained encapsulated in my memory all these years.
By the second week of the month, mom would have had them ironed neatly. They were then passed on to dad – it was his responsibility to get them hung on the two poles we had in our garden. The 10 foot tall poles stood between mom’s bougainvillea bushes and dad’s sapodilla fruit tree (chiku tree). Dad erected the poles himself – he explained that Merdeka Day was a special day and deserved its own poles. No unused sticks or bamboo or even worse, broomsticks which some people tended to use.
I was always the one to help dad hang the flags – simply because my two brothers would be sleeping like logs on weekends. But to tell you the truth, there was nothing much to do, actually. My job was basically to hand over the flags and when dad raised them up, he depended on me to tell him how they looked from a distance.
“Perfect!” I would tell him with a big grin on my face. Always.
On my way to school throughout the remaining weeks of August, I would look out for flags displayed on the streets. I was entranced at the sight of red and white stripes everywhere ─ hanging from buildings and shops trying to outdo each other, cars with flags on their bonnets, motorbikes with tiny flags on their side mirrors!
I miss having those feelings.
Nowadays I see only old, worn out, torn flags on office buildings and guard houses. They are displayed throughout the year – rain or shine. Come Merdeka, whatever that is left on the flag poles move lifelessly.
There are no more vehicles on the road parading our flags. Very few neighbourhoods display flags as well. Despite having Merdeka songs played repeatedly on our national broadcasting stations, the magical feel is no longer there.
Honestly, it has been awhile since I felt what I used to feel every time August said hello ─ joy in the air, a sense of pride, a dose of happiness in being Malaysian.
It has been a week since we stepped into August and instead of seeing flags raised high in the sky, all I sense is bitterness in the air. Worries. Frustration. Hatred. Anger.
We are too preoccupied with the many issues, scandals and mishaps happening in our country. We have forgotten to appreciate what we have. We have been so busy fighting those who have misused their posts, power and status that we have forgotten what it means to be a nation. We have forgotten to stick together, to hold hands.
I miss seeing friends sitting at mamaks enjoying rounds of teh tarik and roti canai ─ their laughter ringing across the room, travelling across to every corner. I miss seeing parents running around with their munchkins in the park on weekends, filling the atmosphere with love. I miss seeing strangers smiling at each other, holding doors open and greeting each other politely.
All I see now are angry faces. All I hear now are grumbles about political nonsense. Everyone – be it the people on the streets, our families at home, our colleagues at work, even our social network community – everyone is consumed with despair.
Our nation wasn’t built by one man. It took a lot of effort and love to build the Malaysia we have today. Sadly, we are allowing one man, one cabinet, one party to break us apart.
What we keep forgetting is the fact that our government can be changed; the economy can be uplifted; the criminals can be punished; but the love we have for our nation and country –it could take forever to be rebuilt, if lost.
Malaysia could be known worldwide for many things, but the truth is we are Malaysia’s greatest treasure. You and I.
Let us not lose what we have.
So come on, let us raise our Jalur Gemilang this weekend. Let’s show our kids what it represents. Let’s remember our yesteryears with friends and family. Let’s make new memories. Let’s hold hands and learn to smile again.
Let’s do this, Malaysia. Let’s revive Malaysia.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.