Negaraku and the Honourable Leaders

Since Merdeka Day is a public holiday, I find the worth of contributing time on writing this blog post for readers who are born before Independence, and also for readers born after Merdeka.

When I was a kid, I watched rehearsal by many people in uniforms on Banda Hilir field year after year. They looked real smart in their uniforms. The first time I saw such rehearsal was in 1967 and it was time to emerge from Banda Hilir English School after lessons. I don't know about how others kids felt because I didn't find out from them. I felt nice, and great. They must be preparing for something important but I didn't know what is happening. I asked Mahmud, 'What's going on ?' Mahmud said, 'Merdeka' Come 31st August 1967, I heard those men, women, boys and girls sang Negaraku. At 7, with the rehearsal that impressed me, I learnt to sing the national anthem. I sang the anthem every Mondays and I stood with pride. Therefore, it has become a habit that I stand up upon hearing the national anthem on air. More to that, why 31st August takes the place as the most important date of all dates ? If there's no Merdeka, Malaysians don't rule Malaysia is a simple reason.

With Merdeka, Malaysia is a sovereign nation. My Malaysia, My Sovereign Land. Malaysiaku Berdaulat, Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku. For the first time, the Merdeka theme is extracted from the national anthem, Negaraku.

There are some men whose efforts has made way into the history books in schools throughout Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. The National Monument is a sculpture that commemorates those who died in Malaysia's struggle for freedom. In 1972, I visited the Tugu Negara and Musuem Negara. Lunch for that day at Kuala Lumpur Hilton was lobster. People lunched with comprised of my mother, my elder brother, my younger brother, a Banda Hilir English School's teacher and his girlfriend. We droved up to these places using a Toyota Mark II. Then, I was not aware that Tunku Abdul Rahman has done a great job for us. The sight of Tunku was rare, maybe subsribing newspaper wasn't common, maybe owning a television set at home wasn't common too. Somehow I remember Tunku as a man who stood on a car with his right hand rised as a symbol of freedom. Busy with education and less or no attention on media made most young kids that time quite unaware of what was happening in their sovereigned nation. Over time, we get to know more about Tunku as the communications technology improved. So, Tunku together wth Cheng Lock, Sambathan, Ghafar Baba, Razak, were among the first batch of honourable leaders of Malaysia we can't forget.

Then, only at 14, and just got into High School, RTM aired sad news of a Prime Minister who passed away in London and arrangement for public to make the last respect was announced. He has modernised Malaysia. Tun Razak is the second honourable man we can't forget. Read more about him here.

Tun Hussein Onn is the third honourable man we can't forget. When Tun Hussein was in Office, kids my time have got better chances of watching their Prime Minister as television sets become more affordable. After him, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad become the 4th honourable man we admired. The longest serving ma8n the nation has, Tun has proved to the world Malaysia's abilities. Over two decades, Malaysians could see him on TV almost everyday and often more than once and then Malaysians grow to like him more each day after another as he launches amazing projects that upgraded from standard to standards the Malaysians living qualities. A doctor in the August House, without his precise leadership Malaysia would not be today. Tun Abdullah has took turn to become a steady premier who has opened economic corridors to further strengthened the nation financial position and as the sixth Prime Minister, made Malaysians unforgettable about the International Space Station.

From 2008, Najib Administration coupled with his IQ and EQ has paved two routes for Malaysians to freely get close to him through 1Malaysia. Now, any Malaysians are interactive with Datuk Seri Najib Razak via social media on the seconds. Thus, one of the two routes that Najib innovated for Malaysians to have chances to be close with him is the digital route. The other, is his endless visits to the rakyat jelata to listen to them and to discover ideas to improve services to the public and to make Malaysians happy.

His lastest invitation to use any Malaysians feasible and viable ideas is to again make Malaysians happier on the costs of living, housing and healthcare. Never have we seen a premier executing so much transformations. Prior to Najib Administration, things are on buildings, constructions and developments but now we have smart transformations. Time will prove Datuk Seri Najib's mechanism is right.

Happy Independence Day

Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka