Let's relight the beacon of hope come National Day

By Phlip Rodrigues

The ringing speech of Tunku Abdul Rahman on the day he proclaimed independence for the country seems to have faded away in the mist of time.

Today, although we have become the “masters of our destiny”, we do not seem to be able to master our destiny as we lurch from one side to the other like an unsteady ship in a stormy sea.

Our first prime minister led Malaya by the hand down the road to nationhood in the face of uncertainties and troubled times. He dreamt of making our sovereign nation a “beacon of light in a disturbed and distracted world”.

How we wish Tunku’s dream had come true! This newly independent nation slowly travelled down the long path to nationhood, and eventually formed, together with Sarawak, Sabah and briefly Singapore, a greater entity called Malaysia.

But now we look up and see the beacon considerably dimmed.

It is still a troubled world distracted by the emergence of all kinds of noises that at times threaten to upset the apple cart.

We keep asking ourselves: Are we on the straight path? Are we clinging steadfastly to the ideals of justice and liberty that the Tunku envisaged 68 years ago?

Have we been consistently united in facing the new, daunting challenges that have cropped up over recent years?

Events in the past few years do not seem to indicate we have become a stronger, more confident, more vibrant nation.

Instead, the country appears to be drifting further away from unity as the din from the foul mouths of politicians grows ever louder.

Something did go wrong along the road to build Malaysia with our “hand and brain”.

And what is it? Partly it is the rise and spread of all sorts of divisive doctrines and polemical preachings that can weaken the health of the country.

Mostly, it is the intense and unseemly politicking that has become a permanent feature and a bane of our national life.

We see new ‘heroes’ whose only credential is to champion causes at the expense of multiracial harmony. 

We witness the display of power to intimidate people who make honest mistakes but whose patriotism is beyond reproach.

Time and again we hear incessant clatter about toppling the government. We even see people taking to the streets to try to bring down the tower in Putrajaya.

Many so-called elected representatives – whether in Parliament or state assemblies – are busily mapping out plots to find the best short cut to grabbing power.

Instead of helping the country to flourish, these politicians are more interested in seeing strife, partisan conflict and power play take a grip on the national psyche.

Malaysia in the 21st Century should have become a dynamo in all fields of endeavour. It should have excelled in education, science, technology, and industrialisation. It should have enhanced and entrenched human rights and fundamental freedoms.

In this modern era, Malaysia should have stood out as the brightest star, at least, in the Asian skies.

But Tunku, watching from above, must be shaking his head in dismay at all the happenings that have given his child, now an adult, a bad name. He could never have imagined all the ugly things that have come to pass and marred the once-pristine landscape of this nation. He would never have thought that leaders entrusted with power would abuse it and even steal public funds.

How he would have wagged his finger at all those rabble-rousers – young and old – who want to turn Malaysia into a battleground instead of a playing field where people of all ethnicities can enjoy each other’s company.

However, the Tunku and his colleagues won for us our precious independence. Now it is up to us to use our “hand and brain” to continue to build – and not to destroy – our one and only homeland.

Come 31 August, let’s hit the streets of Putrajaya with a strong show of peace, unity and concord. Let’s reject emphatically the jarring notes of disarray, discord and malice.

Independence is more than the old narrative of freedom from the yoke of colonial rule. In today’s context, it must mean the freedom to live a life of our choice based on our respective religions and cultures.

In the spirit of Merdeka, let’s all – ordinary people and politicians – put our shoulders to the wheel together and keep it turning so that the beacon of hope lighted over six decades ago will glow again.

No one can do the job of nation-building better than us because the “welfare of this beloved land is our own responsibility”. Those wise words of the Tunku still ring true – then, now, forever.

Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist.