KUCHING: Merdeka Day is a significant day for Malaysians to take pride in their multicultural nation and all its achievements over the years.
“Malaysians celebrate Merdeka Day once a year as a symbol of unity and freedom,” said project finance officer Aimi Hafiza, 29.
To her, the auspicious celebration was more than just a colourful parade, loud music and the waving of the national flag. She said it was a day where all races, be they Malay, Chinese, Kelabit, Indian or Melanau, gather to appreciate the melting pot of a culture.
“The divide and conquer was a theory used to colonise our country back then. Merdeka Day is the perfect time to liberate ourselves from racial propaganda, poverty and corruption as a holistic community,” Aimi said.
Research and development technician Emily Rachel, 24, also echoed the same thoughts, emphasising the nation’s multitude of races living harmoniously.
“Merdeka Day should be celebrated festively so that the “merdeka” spirit would not fade away over the next generation,” she said.
The celebration of Merdeka Day makes student Natasha Melintan, 19, feel that Malaysia is a very fortunate country compared to others facing unstable situations.
“We all respect each other. Furthermore, we also take the time to reminisce what our fighters did to gain us our freedom and land in the past against colonisers,” she said, adding that forgotten warriors in each states can relive their glory moments through the celebration of the day.
“Forgotten warriors such as the famous Sabahan Murut warrior Ontoros Antanom and other globally unrecognised Malaysian warriors would be remembered,” remarked Melintan.
She believed that Merdeka Day was a good opportunity for youths to appreciate the nation’s fallen soldiers who strove for a greater Malaysia.
Creative executive Alyssia Harun Wong, 27, also felt that the holiday celebration was a way to remember Malaysia’s forefathers and how they toiled to gain independence for Malaya.
“Without the independence of Malaya, there is no Malaysia,” she stated. Chemist Tan Shao Chien, 26, said, “Merdeka Day signifies the growth and development that Malaysia has achieved since the first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, announced our independence.”
He highlighted the national parade held annually on Merdeka Day, which consists of the three major races in the nation — Malay, Chinese and Indian.
“This symbolises the peace that we have attained through our hard work and the racial harmony which was achieved through tolerance and understanding. I am proud to say that I love Malaysia!” he exclaimed.
Living up to the true Sarawakian kopitiam culture, engineer James Chuo, 26, said, “Merdeka Day is going to my favourite breakfast kopitiam in the morning to soak up the rich and diverse atmosphere that brings the beauty of this country together.”
