Sixty-three-year-old Bidin Bujang of Kampung Moyan Ulu in Asajaya is happy and proud to participate in ‘Semarak Merdeka’, a recent pre-Malaysia Day programme. He knows that flag-waving is not a real measure of love for the country, but as an outward display of one’s patriotism it is appropriate and quite necessary especially as the country is wracked by political turmoil and the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Ramidi Subari