Category: Merdeka Stories/Essays

WEB EDITION :: 51st Merdeka Stories Tan Siok Choo says we have much to celebrate this year in terms of export earnings. However, things cannot stay rosy forever. By Tan Siok Choo, Columnist, theSun FIFTY-ONE years after Independence, the Malaysian economy remains enmeshed in a culture of dependency. The country depends significantly on commodities for… Continue reading Still a dependent economy

By S. Jamal Al-Idrus aka Walski69 Wednesday, September 3, 2008 No one gets to choose where they’re born. Walski knows he sure damn well didn’t… it wasn’t like there was some pre-birth geo-domicile form that he had to fill out. Well, at least that he can remember, anyway. Nope. Just like when or under what… Continue reading Merdeka in Chains

MERDEKA ESSAY: What Patriotism Means to Me By Sabrina Tan,a Malaysian resident in New Zealand August 31, 2008 It’s August 31st. The same Merdeka rhetoric that comes by every year, passes each person’s life in the same manner as the year before. But here’s a thought on what patriotism really means: – it’s about feeling… Continue reading What Patriotism Means to Me

A Different Merdeka By Wan Fadzrul Wan Bahrum, YouthSpeak Coordinator August 31, 2008 I have a confession. I am not the most patriotic Malaysian out of our vast sea of 26 million. I am, in the most recognized term, an apathist; albeit one that is fully aware of what he is apathetic about. With all… Continue reading A Different Merdeka

MERDEKA ESSAY: What is Merdeka? By Eugene Chua K.H. August 31, 2008 Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! This resounding proclamation of joy rang out over the Merdeka stadium fifty one years ago, representing freedom and hope to all the people of Malaya, and subsequently Malaysia. What does this word mean today, after so… Continue reading What is Merdeka?

MERDEKA ESSAY: A Merdeka upside down? By Dr Azly Rahman August 31, 2008 Education is the solution. I believe we need a radical overhaul of everything, philosophically speaking. We have the structures in place but we would need to replace the human beings running the system. “Our Nation, Malaysia is dedicated to: Achieving a greater… Continue reading A Merdeka upside down?

document.write(parent.prscreen) Are we a free nation? – A joint Merdeka day message By Haris Ibrahim, People’s Parliament August 30, 2008 Independence means that the nation is free from any imposed political domination, citizens are sovereign and are masters of their own destiny. For that to be true, they must at least be able to think… Continue reading Are we a free nation? – A joint Merdeka day message

Saturday, August 30, 2008 Blogging and Merdeka Yes, it’s the eve of the 51st Merdeka Day, so soon after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Merdeka Mission accomplished in Permatang Pauh on August 26. At a personal level, Desiderata-YLChong has marked each Independence Day with the MERDEKA ESSAY series in his own blog, and I hope this… Continue reading Blogging and Merdeka

This book contains Dr. Phua Kai-Lit’s ideas (based on knowledge learned from ther social scientists as well as his current state of thinking) on how all of Malaysians can live their lives so that all citizens can help to bring about a better Malaysia for themselves, their children, grandchildren and their subsequent descendants. Dr. Phua… Continue reading After 50 Years of Independence: What We All Can Do For A Better Malaysia