The Kuala Lumpur Traveler

50 years of independence that is increasingly not?

by CJCM on August 29th, 2007

It is obvious that the Government has been trying hard to instill patriotism among Malaysians with all kinds of Jalur Gemilang-flying campaigns especially in commemoration of the 50th year of Malaysia’s independence from foreign colonializations. The issue of Malaysian public not seen as patriotic are discussed in great depth especially by the mainstream media, be it printed or electronic media as if patriotism is nothing else but flying Jalur Gemilang, the beloved symbol of our country Malaysia.

I fully agree with the Government that we need to be patriotic to our country but I beg to differ if the definition of being patriotic is solely measured by flying Jalur Gemilang. I say this because it seems the campaign to fly Jalur Gemilang only happens once a year and it always happened during the month we celebrate our Motherland’s independence. Does that imply we only need to be patriotic during this month only? Of course not… you know, I know and the Government also knows that is not true.

One question begging to be answered is why are less Malaysians flying the national flags? Are they not flying the national flags because they are not patriotic or because of other reasons? I am very sure if you go out and ask every Malaysian on the street “Are you a patriotic Malaysian citizen?”, everyone of them will answer “Yes”. So what then are the reasons them not flying Jalur Gemilang?

Sim Kwang Yang’s article in Malaysiakini provides an interesting reading for those who are trying to relate and reflect what does “Merdeka” means to us Malaysian.

I found these facts interesting and at the same time worrying, if not disturbing:

• Relying on our media alone, outsiders may even get the impression that Malaysia is indeed a paradise on earth, and that the people here are the luckiest lot on earth!

• Alas, things are never what they appear to be in this country of a thousand contradictions. The national media are tightly controlled and owned directly or indirectly by those very close to the power centre. They have always been instruments of social engineering and thought control, rather than being an unclouded clear mirror that reflect the national soul.

• I asked my neighbourhood pharmacist why he had not flown the national flag and shown his patriotism as extolled by the government. (He is not Chinese, and such qualification becomes inevitable when discussing Malaysian politics.) He smiled his wry smile and said making ends meet had taken all his energy. In a country where people abstain from commenting on politics openly, what he did not say out loud deafens the ears!

• Likewise, it is hard to tell the difference between the true patriot and the traitor. Prominent personages who hold impressive political office would like to monopolise the right to brand people as patriot or traitor, naturally.

• Liberty means more than liberation from foreign domination. It means also liberation from domestic domination, from the clutches of racial, religious, and socio-economic schism, as well as freedom from pandemic corruption at high and low places. Otherwise, independence from British rule can only mean jumping from the frying pan into the fire, and what kind of independence is that?

• So I will take what is given me. The National Day this year falls on a Friday. Many residents of this oppressive Klang valley would welcome a long weekend’s reprieve from the drudgery of work. More than a few would be planning a short trip out of town with the family perhaps.

If that is not enough, make your way to HarakahDaily.net, and you will feel those patriotic campaigns by the relevant authorities are nothing but jokes.

Semalam, tinjauan mendapati lebih 80 peratus kenderaan di kawasan Parlimen tidak mengibarkan bendera Malaysia - ‘Jalur gemilang’ sebagai tanda patriotisme dan membukti semangat kemerdekaan yang ada dalam jiwa rakyat Malaysia.

Umum mengetahui, majoriti kenderaan di kawasan Parlimen merupakan kenderaan rasmi kerajaan Malaysia dan dimiliki oleh menteri-menteri, setiausaha parlimen, ahli-ahli parlimen Barisan Nasional (BN), pegawai-pegawai kerajaan, media-media kerajaan, kakitangan parlimen dan lain-lain penjawat awam.

Ironinya, apalah yang diharapkan daripada rakyat Malaysia jika pemimpin rakyat dan negara sendiri tidak menunjukkan contoh terbaik lambang kecintaan mereka kepada negera dengan tidak mengibarkan bendera Malaysia dan saranan Menteri Kebudayaan dan Warisan Dato’ Rais Yatim nampaknya dipandang sepi oleh rakan-rakan termasuk dalam parti komponen BN sendiri.

For the benefits of those who do not read Bahasa Melayu, the above excerpt from HarakahDaily tells us about 80% of vehicles parked in the Parliment area do not fly Malaysian flag. So what is there to expect from the Malaysian public when the office bearers of Malaysian Parliment themselves do not show good example for people to follow?

Now, will you share with us whether you do fly the national flag or not, and why if you do or if you do not.

[tags]independence, 50 years of independence, Jalur Gemilang, Malaysian flag[/tags]

Share This

Related Stories

RPK sent to Kamunting: Another desparate move by sinking BN Government
GASAK formed, nationwide media-boycot campaign is on the agenda
31st August 2008: Are we really independent?
Pak Lah quit in 2010: Why endure another 2 years of weak leadership?
Reforming ACA: Why takes so long?

POSTED IN: Government, Malaysia, People, Politic