Merdeka

This pink hibiscus flower blooms this morning in our garden to celebrate our coming Merdeka Day!

Next week, the nation will celebrate another Merdeka Day. I have said my piece six years ago,and I think some of the points are still relevant until to-day.For the benefits of those who had not read it,here it goes again.The posting below was written in August, 1998:

In the next few days,all Malaysians will be celebrating our 41st. Merdeka Anniversary.Every year,the nation never miss the event.It is a very important event in the life of a nation.However it means different things to different people.To our elders who fought with tears and blood,it is the most precious gift-to be free from their colonial masters and be able to live as free people of the world!!!
On the other hand,it is only a holiday with some festivals to our kids or young people.The meaning of Merdeka ,at most, is quite blurred or fuzzy to most people who were born after Merdeka.

Now,all of us are citizens of the an independent nation.What does it means to you personally?I bet everyone has his/her own answer.What ever it is,I think everyone agrees that it is a very precious intangible personal asset that we must protect at all cost,even with own life!Just like water(not equal but similar),it is the most precious of all commodities when you don't have it.Nelson Mandela is the most qualified living person to say about personal freedom.Personally,I consider myself to be lucky to live in this era as compared to those who had to live under our previous colonial masters-Portugese, Bristish,Japanese, Bintang Tiga and the Siamese(for northern states).

But beware of the neo-colonialists in the modern world of to-day.They come in many colours,shapes and sizes. Previously,they came to our shores with ships and guns.Now,they can just 'walk in' through copper wires,optic fibres and satellites. With the globalisation and so-called borderless world,it makes easier for them to influence and even control our political, economic and social systems.They are so subtle that we do not realise that we are being 'colonised' and even being 'hit'.Even after a few decades of being 'independent' nations,some countries are still dependent on their former colonial masters in many sectors such as trade,education,military etc.The worst part is the colonisation of the minds.It is still there with some locals even after a few decades of being independence!!

Currently a few Asians countries are really in deep trouble due to financial crisis that has affected their country's political,economic and social order.The downfall of Suharto is a very glaring example how a financial crisis can affect the political system of a nation.Similarly,our country economy is badly affected by the regional financial crisis.We are at the mercy of a few rich individuals/ corporations who can manipulate our economy through various financial intruments.The more open we are,the more exposed we are to their attacks.What is our MERDEKA if all our assets and strategic sectors can be bought and owned by foreigners?At the current prices,the foreigners can buy them for a song.God forbids...

It is imperative that we must protect our national interests against attacks from external forces.We need more than the army to do this task.The sooner we find the solution,the better it is.Otherwise,all our efforts building up our nation for decades will just go down the drains.Almost 60% of our KLSE market capitalisation(est. around 500billion ringgit) has just evaporated within a year!!!

No nation is an island.No one is 100% independent as along as we are living on planet earth.We are all interdependent of one another.In the coming decades,we must be prepared to live and manage the so-called networked economy.Are we prepared for this?

Apakah itu sebenarnya kemerdekaan?Adakah diri kita merdeka selepas kita menghalau penjajah dari tanah air kita?Jika selaku insan kita tidak mengenal dan mengerti maknanya,amat sukar bagi kita untuk menjadi insan yang merdeka.Kemerdekaan insan adalah amat pokok dan unit asas untuk sesuatu bangsa hidup sebagai bangsa merdeka.Jangan kita kaya,tetapi pada hakikatnya kita hamba di negara sendiri.Pada pengertian saya,insan merdeka adalah mereka yang bebas dari tuntunan hawa nafsu dan hanya tunduk kepada fitrah dan hukum Allah.Negara kita boleh merdeka 100 tahun,tetapi jika fikiran dan jiwa kita masih dijajah,kita belum lagi menjadi insan yang merdeka. Bukan merdeka untuk bertindak mengikut nafsu dan perasaan, tetapi merdeka untuk bertindak berasaskan ilmu dan panduan wahyu dari Allah swt.Negara yang sebenar-benarnya merdeka dan berdaulat wajib mempunyai insan merdeka.

SELAMAT MENYAHUT HARI KEMERDEKAAN KE 41 NEGARA KITA-TANGGUNG JAWAP KITA

Note: The photo was taken using a camera phone. I cannot really focused on the flower:-( I must use my real camera next time.

Comments

[Razin]

Hebat betol merdeka-speech Abedib ni, ke guano? Merdeko manno kito tahun ni? Balik Berih?

Selamat menyambut hari kemerdekaan.

[Adib]

Razin,
Minggu lepas dah balik kampung.Abedib menyambut Kemerdekaan di KL.

Selamat Menyambut Hari Kemerdekaan ke 47 kepada semua.

[naz]

akum...saya baru shaja membaca hujah anda mengenai kemerdekaan. saya ingin berkongsi pendapat dengan anda.pada pandangan anda,apakah peranan remaja dalam menghayati kemerdekaan tanah air mereka memandangkan remaja kini tidak/kurang perasaan nasionalisme.

[Adib]

Naz,
Pada hemat saya,peranan remaja ialah menlengkapkan diri dengan ilmu,kemahiran dan sikap yg baik untuk mencapai tahap 'competence' untuk mengisi kemerdekaan yg dicapai olih jenerasi sebelum mereka.

[rossa]

remaja harus menghayati erti kemerdekaan..jangan biar minda dan hati remaja dijajahi oleh hedonisme terutama dari barat!!!