Much has been said today, maybe I’ll only add this (hopefully not duplicating anyone).
Looked at one way, Merdeka can be thought to be a rather colonial-centric celebration, much the academic discipline of post-colonialism.
Granted, born over 20 years after the fact, I am in quite a position to take for granted the freedoms that came with independence. With that caveat, I’d say that perhaps there are other – at least equally important – things to focus on, today and every day, with regards to defining moments of Malaysia.
First of all, a forum participant recently made a brilliant comment: “Sarawak and Sabah didn’t join Malaysia, we MADE Malaysia.” All too true :) so let’s not forget that fateful juncture as well.
A less comfortable source – Gen-M, the latest grassroots support for TDM’s cause – lends us another useful axiom: perjuangan belum tamat – the struggle is not over.
So alongside glorifying the day we threw off the yoke of our oppressors and all that, let’s take a moment to remember the things that continue to oppress us: corruption, racism, abuse of power, repression, poverty and unequal wealth distribution, ignorance.. the list goes on. All things I’d like to try and continue writing on.
These many things continue to subjugate Malaysia and all Malaysians, the only difference between these tyrannies and the evil colonials is the “white man.” At the end of the day I believe there is no real Independence without freedom from these afflictions.
The struggle is not yet over, but neither – I’d like to believe – is our fighting spirit. Hidup rakyat!
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