Merdeka?

For the past few weeks in the run-up to the 50th (and 44th) Merdeka, the local media in my opinion went ballistics, trying to upstage each other in providing a huge dose of nostalgia and the numerous references to a man much vilified after the May 13 1969 incident - Tunku Abdul Rahman. Suddenly, after being entombed for so long, he's been resurrected this year. I ask myself why? It can't just be due to the significance of the 50-44 celebrations. I suspect it's another yarn by the spin doctors of the powers that be.

So, now that the celebrations are over, we can expect business to resume as usual. My predictions? For the next few weeks, watch the media carefully. See whether what our elected representatives say is reflective of what was proclaimed during the Merdeka bash or otherwise. See what comes out of their mouths (and minds and hearts). If there is no correlation, then we can expect another round of chest thumping, idiotic sounding, people- dividing rhetorics. Parliament should be forever banned for such "leaders". The next General Elections will prove a watershed for ordinary Malaysians. Are we prepared to be hoodwinked, cajoled, threatened, submitted to such mumbo jumbo after 50 years? Or is it time for us to stand up and be counted? "The time is always right to do what is right".

Read here for another meaning of the word "patriotism"

Merdeka! Hidup Malaysia! Hidup Rakyat!