Merdeka!

It’s our 50th Merdeka, and we have every reason to be proud about it. For such a young developing nation, it has no less achievement in every aspect, comparing with many developed countries; it has several of the tallest buildings and longest bridges in the world, etc…






That’s the smarter part. but...

At the same time… we could be very angry with a young rapper for criticizing the Leaders using the national anthem, while we seemed to be contented with a finding that our national anthem was actually ‘adapted’ from a Hawaiian love song? And we seem to loose count how many young people got killed in the National Service Camps every intake?

God knows how much time and money we have spent for this celebrations; numerous mega banners; fussing over who’s not waving the flags; world search for an antique car; road closures during rush hours in the city to facilitate parade rehearsals; measuring patriotism by shouting ‘Merdeka’ in the parliament; reinventing irrelevant rules; and even to the extend of foregoing the opportunity of becoming the Commonwealth Secretary General? All in the name of preparing for the 50th celebration!

A five-year-old trapped in a fifty-year-old body?

My Merdeka wish? I wish it'll grow up, be mature and keep pace with the time, quickly.

Hey even Google celebrates Merdeka!

Some of us are certainly good at getting attentions. Check out this Merdeka by-product ;)


-hs