KJ John
Malaysiakini
Sep 20, 11

When Malaya gained Independence, I was only seven years old and in Standard One. It was a repeat year for me, as my Dad had emplaced me in the primary one class with my older brother in 1956, but I could not be technically promoted.

I was then moved to Ibrahim Primary School where my Dad symbolically gave the Independence Day speech on behalf of the Sultan of Kedah, although I missed hearing it as I was only in primary one. That was Merdeka and Malaya.

The 48th Malaysia Day was observed last Friday and, this year, we move toward a new era of democratisation, if we can take the prime minister seriously.

We can become 1Bangsa Malaysia or 1United Malaysia if he is serious. We can move slowly but surely towards democratic maturity, after half a century of stunted growth because of the ‘Melayu-first’ agenda that has been abused.

Personally I do not care too much whether Mat Indera is a hero or a coward. But he stood for something, and that is why we can debate or argue about him.

Mat Indera’s unknown neighbour is an individual in our history too, but he stood for nothing much and therefore there is no ‘history’ about him. Can we protest such non-history as ‘unfairness’ too? Modern freedom and liberty to express views and opinions must have some limits. Let us grow up!

Last year, the PM announced that Malaysia Day would be a public holiday; this year he has told us why. He has therefore given all Malaysians a wedding gift for the marriage of our three states to make the nation we call Malaysia.

But, sometimes I wonder, as my friend Anis asks: “Has this marriage ever been consummated?” Or are we merely sleeping, each in our own bed, in this bedroom?

Allow me to congratulate the PM and the cabinet and all their public service colleagues for their acquiescence to the changes announced. It could not have happened without their support and concurrence.

There is clear strategic intent. The PM made the ISA intent clear on April 3, 2009. Then he made Malaysia Day a national holiday.

On Sept 15, he declared that the ISA will be repealed. Well done Mr Prime Minister, I salute your courage! I still doubt and am sceptical if Umno will allow you to do this, but let us wait and see.

Positive implications

‘We R Malaysians’ was the theme song many of us sang on Malaysia Day in UCSI on Sept 16 last year.

What could be the positive implications of a shift from the ‘Merdeka Day mindset’ to ‘Malaysia Day celebrations’? What are the implications of real celebrations of this ‘arranged marriage’? Allow me some reflections:

•All three groups of Malaysians (Malayans, Sabahans, and Sarawakians) can become genuinely united about the meaning of Malaysia Day as our day of formation or wedding day.

•Malaysians can now become aware that the different Independence days that we each received from the British colonial government. It was not something we had to fight for’. In traditional British diplomacy and courtesy (vis-a-vis other colonial powers), following World War II, all Commonwealth colonies were given independence.

•There would be no Malaysia if there were not the independence of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak. We had to be ‘independent adults’ capable of making our choices before the option of marriage was given. The formation of Malaysia should therefore never be viewed as a corporate takeover exercise.

•Malaysia has a greater potential to grow and create new value to become a developed country by 2020 if we can allow greater pride and ownership to all Malaysians about our marriage and formation.

•The PM should ask the people directly to give him a mandate for this agenda of development.

•This offer of a real and more meaningful democracy will give the next election much greater meaning and significance to the people of Malaysia. The offer can transcend political parties.

•All Malaysians, everywhere in the world, will now want to vote in the next general election because they too have much at stake. Malaysian-ness can become a birthright they may not want to give up just yet.

Therefore, my hope and prayer is the consequential emergence of a true-blue two-party state and the demise of the fear syndrome which has beset Malaysians up till today.

‘We are free, we are free! At last, we are free!’ is the song Martin Luther King Jr spoke within his ‘I have a dream’ speech. It can become our song too, Even the mainstream newspapers may now find their free and democratic voice. They too can learn to speak up and speak out for the public interest without self-censorship.

If abolition of the ISA can spur and usher in a newer democracy, wherein we all become primary shareholders and stakeholders of a real Malaysia Day, then I believe Malaysia can be on a roll towards Vision 2020; to become a real and mature democracy in our own mould.

We can and should take the PM seriously, even if with a healthy dose of scepticism! Please believe that he too, like all other PMs, can usher in some real and meaningful change. Just remember that the greater fear has now shifted to those who are non-democrats.

But, we the people still have a say; and we can define the direction in which we want to go. Democracy can be a rule of the majority but with greatest care for the minority in our midst. Yes, we can Malaysia!

Therefore, let us focus our eyes on the next general election and hold the leadership of the BN and government responsible for delivering our expectations on all issues that have become the movement for change in Malaysia.

For many of us, that must include political will to remove corruption far away from all forms of decision making, as this is the most evil root of destruction and performance in this nation.

May God bless Malaysia!