August 31st. To others, it meant just another new day to them. Another day for a living but to Malaysians, this day meant a special thing to them. This was the day when Malaysia (back then it was known as Tanah Melayu) achieved its independence from the British. They call it Independence Day. Since then, this land has progressed from just an agriculture-based minor country up until what we and others see it: one of the top, most respected third-world country. Every year, Malaysians would celebrate this day as the day the country began its first steps as an independent country, ever progressing forward, enduring all odds and adversaries up until today. The celebration would be in a grand-scale, with fireworks, parades and festivals all over the country. The people are in high spirits of celebrating it to the extent of raising Jalur Gemilang, the national flag at their homes and vehicles. Some would even sing the patriotic songs. One of the most popular song was Tanggal 31 Ogos by the late Sudirman.
Today, August 31st 2015 is the 58th time the celebration being held. Usually I would be in the spirits of celebrating the Day. However this year, I don't feel the spirits. "Why?" I wonder to myself. It's not just me who doesn't feel it, but other Malaysians too. Over the social medias and online news portal, people are expressing their hollowness of their spirits to celebrate it. There has to be at least a reason to it. Over time, I finally realised the answer to the "Why?". The recent events has made us all in this state. Our emotions are too bruised to be in the mood of celebrating the Day. Too bruised by recent events happening to the country. Tax issues, increase in living costs, political figures vying for power over the need to help the people, big sacndals over the Prime Minister, loss of faith to the government, press medias from ministers that hurt people's feelings, racial and religious provocations...all these things and many more that might not be mentioned, all of them kills the spirit.
I wondered, "Why lose the celebration spirits just because all these things? Shouldn't this be the day to commemorate the deeds of the past instead of lamenting over the present?" Well, try to take the analogy of having break-ups. When you have a break-up with your boyfriend/girlfriend, you will be sad, right? You are sad because all the happy things that have happened before are now gone, and won't be happening again after that. And break-ups don't happen in an instance and without reason, right? You break-up because of bad things such as arguments, misunderstandings, problems, fights etc. These bad things will break the remaining ties you had in each other in form of hatred, distancing each other away. This makes you sad when you have to face it. Even if there are happy things/events going on at that time, your sadness consumes the happiness. Now back to the situation. Everything that happened to the country as mentioned above, that made us sad. Sad because we miss the good days when everything is in order. Sad because now we have to face all these bad things happening to the country. This feeling consumes the spirit of happiness. Happiness to celebrate the Day as we had always before.
Some say that lamenting the past won't change a thing...unless one knows to learn from it. To learn from it means to move forward. Therefore, life must go on forward. Every problem must be solved. Every obstacle must be removed. We need to go forward until the day we give away our last breath. The recently held demonstration "Bersih 4.0" just before the Independence Day is a means to move forward. To solve the problem. To remove the obstacle. To me, it won't make much of a push but even if it didn't make an effect, at least an attempt is better than no attempt just like the Malay proverb said "berpantang maut sebelum ajal". They are longing to see the light they've seen in the old days, the peace of body, mind and soul they had in this blessed land. Just as I am.
The Independence Day have just passed an hour ago as I am writing this. I just want to express what I've been thinking, what I've kept inside me. As to conclude my writing now, I do hope I can see and feel it, everything I've wanted, the good things to return, to bring happiness again to me, to those who wished to see Malaysia whom we wanted always.
Pray for a peaceful, just, blessed and prosperous Malaysia. Happy 58th Independence Day.
Today, August 31st 2015 is the 58th time the celebration being held. Usually I would be in the spirits of celebrating the Day. However this year, I don't feel the spirits. "Why?" I wonder to myself. It's not just me who doesn't feel it, but other Malaysians too. Over the social medias and online news portal, people are expressing their hollowness of their spirits to celebrate it. There has to be at least a reason to it. Over time, I finally realised the answer to the "Why?". The recent events has made us all in this state. Our emotions are too bruised to be in the mood of celebrating the Day. Too bruised by recent events happening to the country. Tax issues, increase in living costs, political figures vying for power over the need to help the people, big sacndals over the Prime Minister, loss of faith to the government, press medias from ministers that hurt people's feelings, racial and religious provocations...all these things and many more that might not be mentioned, all of them kills the spirit.
I wondered, "Why lose the celebration spirits just because all these things? Shouldn't this be the day to commemorate the deeds of the past instead of lamenting over the present?" Well, try to take the analogy of having break-ups. When you have a break-up with your boyfriend/girlfriend, you will be sad, right? You are sad because all the happy things that have happened before are now gone, and won't be happening again after that. And break-ups don't happen in an instance and without reason, right? You break-up because of bad things such as arguments, misunderstandings, problems, fights etc. These bad things will break the remaining ties you had in each other in form of hatred, distancing each other away. This makes you sad when you have to face it. Even if there are happy things/events going on at that time, your sadness consumes the happiness. Now back to the situation. Everything that happened to the country as mentioned above, that made us sad. Sad because we miss the good days when everything is in order. Sad because now we have to face all these bad things happening to the country. This feeling consumes the spirit of happiness. Happiness to celebrate the Day as we had always before.
Some say that lamenting the past won't change a thing...unless one knows to learn from it. To learn from it means to move forward. Therefore, life must go on forward. Every problem must be solved. Every obstacle must be removed. We need to go forward until the day we give away our last breath. The recently held demonstration "Bersih 4.0" just before the Independence Day is a means to move forward. To solve the problem. To remove the obstacle. To me, it won't make much of a push but even if it didn't make an effect, at least an attempt is better than no attempt just like the Malay proverb said "berpantang maut sebelum ajal". They are longing to see the light they've seen in the old days, the peace of body, mind and soul they had in this blessed land. Just as I am.
The Independence Day have just passed an hour ago as I am writing this. I just want to express what I've been thinking, what I've kept inside me. As to conclude my writing now, I do hope I can see and feel it, everything I've wanted, the good things to return, to bring happiness again to me, to those who wished to see Malaysia whom we wanted always.
Pray for a peaceful, just, blessed and prosperous Malaysia. Happy 58th Independence Day.
