By Allahyarham Norajelan Maamor
28 Augusr 2023
This year we will be celebrating our 66th Merdeka. I was only four years old in 1957, having a faint memory of this historic event.
The only thing that I can remember was watching the bright display of fireworks from our government quarters which was located on top of a hill in Jalan Padang Tembak ( then Jalan Gurney and today Jalan Semarak) an Army Headquarters known then as Malayan Command. This was the central command post established by the British during the Emergency ( 1948 - 1960 ).
Later it became our Ministry of Defence , in short MINDEF.
It must have been a very joyous occasion for Malayans on that day.
Finally after 133 years of British rule since 1824 when they took over from the Dutch. Since then our country went through an illustrious journey beginning with the murder of a British Resident General, the Pangkor Treaty , the expulsion of a ruler, the infamous gangfight between 2 rival mining factions, the nationalist movement of the 20s, the Japanese occupation , the Bintang Tiga rule, the Malayan Union, the Emergency, the Reid Commission and finally on 31st August, 1957, the Union Jack was replaced by the Jalur Gemilang.
For a new nation that was born just in the second half of the 20th century, we should be proud of our achievements today. No longer are we an undeveloped country, but we have thrive to be one of Asia's Economic Dragons and I believe and confident that we are getting better and better, though there's some hiccups here and there , then and now, but I also believe we have that resilience to survive whatever glitches we are facing and going to face. Insyaa Allah.
A nation is like a family, and like a family, there's always a happy and troublesome moments. All of us has gone through a roller coaster journey of nation building, but for what it was, we still stood firmly as a family.
Some cracks may still exist within our walls and need to be repaired. Leaders play a very crucial role here. Like the Malay sayings ' umpama menarik rambut dalam tepung ' literally pulling a hair from a pot of flour, the hair should not snap, and the flour should not be a mess. Generally that means , to do something with extra care, not to do any damage.
My sincere hope, that all leaders play their role well in a rational, meticulous and subtle so as not to incite ill feelings among our multiethnics , multicultural, multireligous, as safeguarded under our constitution.
I am still happy to see that Malaysians from all walks of life stand up to the spirit of ' Kita tolong kita' and we see these on many occasions especially during calamities, and the joy seeing the togetherness when come to celebrations. That really makes our day.
Our diversity and richness in cultures, languages and even in our cuisines , are now recognised worldwide, a testament to our unity in diversity. Malaysia indeed is ' Truly Asia '.
My prayer, that this beloved nation of ours, will be forever blessed, be more stronger, resilient and harmonious.
Late Tunku Abdul Rahman once said ' My ambition is not a mighty Malaysia, but a happy Malaysia'.
Well, we are quite mighty now , so, let's makes it mightier and at the same time a happiest Malaysia.
SALAM MERDEKA KE 66.
Ajelan : favourite Malaysian
pastime.....FOOD.
Copy and paste:
11/2/2025: 1.30 a.m
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