Apa yang membimbangkan ialah ada kalangan rakyat Malaysia yang tidak mengambil berat sambutan ulang tahun kemerdekaan jauh sekali berfikir untuk mempertahankannya. Bagi kelompok ini, laungan merdeka hanyalah rutin tahunan yang tidak membawa sebarang makna.
Manakala cuti umum pada setiap 31 Ogos hanyalah peluang untuk berehat dan menghabiskan masa bersama keluarga. Tiada yang istimewa tentang tarikh keramat ini. Bagi kebanyakan rakyat Malaysia, ia cuma hari kelepasan umum sama seperti cuti-cuti umum lain tanpa ada sebarang usaha untuk mencipta perbezaan atau kelainan.
Jika pun ada keprihatinan untuk memperuntukkan sedikit ruang bagi kemerdekaan hanyalah apabila mereka menonton sambutan kemerdekaan menerusi televisyen. Itu pun sekadar menonton dengan ulasan-ulasan negatif seolah-olah memperlekehkan usaha pihak yang berkenaan bertungkus-lumus untuk menjayakan sambutan ulang tahun kemerdekaan negara.
I am attracted with the message the writer tries to convey here. Apparently so, I am one of the people who just watched the Merdeka celebration on the idiot box. Physically, the only act of patriotism I've shown was when I helped my brother to hang the national flag, Jalur Gemilang, on top of my house. And exactly as what the writer has pointed out, I also had given negative comments during last night's celebration. Here's why..
I'm sick of the way the celebration was done. I don't deny you that the performance, the fireworks, they were marvelous. Heck, my younger brother even performed in that celebration (too bad the cameraman didn't focus on his face LOL). Seeing many of country leaders were there together celebrating the glorious event, it was a blissful sight. I was really happy to see our beloved Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Mizan and Tuanku Nur Zahirah, our Prime Minister Pak Lah and ex-PM Tun Mahathir, Deputy PM Najib and many more sitting there enjoying the event. But to tell the truth, I was also looking for Opposition's party leaders to be there. And sadly, there was none shown on the tv. I felt even sicker when it was shown some of the crowds carrying BN and UMNO flag. Well I'm not being politically biased here, but this is the magical question. Isn't Merdeka supposed to be for everyone? If I am not mistaken, I remember Raja Nazrin Shah had reminded all of us that Merdeka celebration shouldn't be bordered by political groups. What had happened last night really took all the Merdeka spirits in me. Either last night's celebration was only one-sided, or the cameramen were instructed not to shoot any of the Opposition's party members, or the cameramen forgot that there were other people there. That kind of attitude shown on the tv, and you expect me to not give negative comments? Don't lecture me on patriotism, my dad is an ex-army. He knows what patriotism is and I damn sure I've had a full load of it inside of me. Who is it to blame when my patriotism is slowly washed away? Government, media, environment, or myself? I would say, all of them..
My precious Merdeka spirits, imagine it to be a glass ball, someone took it to the top of Petronas Towers, and dropped it from there. Selamat menyambut Hari Kebangsaan ke 50.
p/s: I'm not an Opposition supporter or anything. In my mind, Opposition parties need to be there to ensure there's a check and balance in the government. Hence, the importance of their presence. No, I have not registered to be a voter. Yes, I know there are many places where I can register. No, I'm not planning to register in the near future and that will be discussed off-topic. See me face to face and I'll tell you the reason why :)
p/s/s: Jangan sue saya, saya tak ada duit. LOL..
