Are you patriotic?

You guys must be wondering why isn’t there any merdeka post form me in AnT Farm. Well, to tell you the truth, there isn’t much mood or reason to celebrate. To many, it’s just another public holiday, time to relax. To others, it’s a reason to celebrate our nation’s success after 50 years of independence. What does that mean anyways? To be independent? Yes, we are blessed, Malaysia is a rich nation, in natural resources, timber, oil palm, petroleum, etc etc. Which is in some way we are still doing ‘good’ at the moment. We have one of the tallest building, hold some ridiculus world record, and soon sending a Malaysian to the moon. Not bad for a country like Malaysia We are lucky in that sense. But, there’s something wrong isnt it?

There is something wrong with this country.

There’s a saying that goes, “Everybody knows what is the problem, nobody wants to take responsibility of the problem, and somebody will be rewarded for solving the problem.” Which describes Malaysian attitude quite accurately. Only when some sh*t happens, something will be done. Typical of Malaysia, you would say. Like the Bkt Gantang accident which claims 21 lives on an express bus. Who is responsible? After that another express bus accident occurs, leaving the passengers injured. The driver of the bus who since been caught had fled the scene earlier. And some time later, in Johor, a pillon rider, killed, because of a pothole in the middle of the road. His father said, “Because of somebody’s mistake, my son paid with his life.” Sad but true. The pothole was closed 2 days later. That was efficient. After a death only somebody will take action. Who is going to take responsibility of that? No one. Typical Malaysian.

What happened to the Government buildings in Putrajaya that are leaking up, down and around. The court complex and the immigration department. Poor quality materials and workmanship. More funds would have to be spent to inspect the building, several million if not mistaken, and several more to patch up the shoddy work. Great.

My boss asked me in the car on Merdeka Eve. “You both proud to be Malaysian?” ( He was asking Kenny and me.) Silence. No answer from both of us. Why is that? Am I not patriotic? No, I don’t fly the flag around or hang it in my room. If the mere act of displaying the Malaysian Flag shows patriotism and this act is acknowledged by the Goverment, then I have a stupid Government. There are those who sticks about a thousand flags on the their car, blocking his own view and endangering other road users. What if one of those flags happen to came off and hit another motorist? I’m not against flying the flag, I’m just against people with no common sense.

Because of these, I’m not proud to be Malaysian.

However there are good things here. Many will say its the food, places, multiraciality, the choices we have, the freedom, the diversity, the shopping, the weather, etc etc. But I would say it’s the people here who make Malaysia special, regardless of race and religion. It’s you, me and all the normal Malaysians you see everyday. The mamak guy, the makcik, the auntie, the ah neh, the uncle and the brother and sisters. Cheers to you fellow Malaysian if you are reading this.

With that, I reproduce the Rukunegara below:

MAKA KAMI, rakyat Malaysia, berikrar akan menumpukan seluruh tenaga dan usaha kami untuk mencapai cita-cita tersebut berdasarkan atas prinsip-prinsip berikut :
KEPERCAYAAN KEPADA TUHAN
KESETIAAN KEPADA RAJA DAN NEGARA
KELUHURAN PERLEMBAGAAN
KEDAULATAN UNDANG-UNDANG
KESOPANAN DAN KESUSILAAN

Translation:

NOW THEREFORE WE, the people of Malaysia, pledge to concentrate the whole of our energy and efforts to achieve these ambitions based on the following principles:
BELIEF IN GOD
LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
THE SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION
THE RULE OF LAW
COURTESY AND MORALITY

Seems like this is a Merdeka post after all without realising it.

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