With the recent polemic of "Pejuang Kemerdekaan" and the spat in the media pertaining to the controversial remarks allegedly spit out by Mat Sabu, let us on this Merdeka Day trace the meaning of "Merdeka" ...
To the Indonesians and Malaysians, "Merdeka" means "independent" or "freedom". it derives from the Sanskrit word "Mahardhika" which means "rich, prosperous and powerful". it is also said to mean " a freed slave" in the Malay Archipelago.
"Mardijker" is a Dutch word and was used to designate former Catholic Portuguese and Dutch slaves from India and the East Indies that were liberated by the Dutch if they abandoned Catholicism and embraced the reformed Dutch church. Meanwhile, the Phillipine term "Maharika" also has a somewhat similar meaning as "rich, prosperous and elevated".
The term "Merdeka" was commonly and aggressively used during the height of the anti colonialists era especially after the end of World War II with Indonesia leading the way in the 1940s.
While Malaysia gained independence on 31 August 1957, Indonesia proclaimed their independence on 17 August 1945. On 1 September that year, Soekarno in his speech said:
" Since today we will cry out loud, "Merdeka"!"Continue that loud cry, as the soul calls out loud for freedom! A soul of freedom, one of fighting and working spirit! TO FIGHT AND TO WORK! Prove it!"
Tunku Abdul Rahman cried out loud "Merdeka!" seven times on that august day @ 31 August 1957 at Stadium Merdeka to the jubilant then Malaya citizens.
Looking back, all of us from our forefathers had somehow or rather a hand in the fight for freedom and being "Merdeka" ....
To name a few examples ...
Hang Jebat had a hand in liberating the "rakyat" of Melaka from being mere "blindly" loyal to the then establishment....
Abdullah Munshi had "freed" the Malay literature from the old and conservative form to the modern and "critical" narratives, so as Sheikh Al Hadi and Pendita Zaaba.
The list could go on and on with the likes of Mst Kilau, Dato' Sagor, Dato' Maharaja Lela, Tok Janggut, Ahmad Boestamam, Ibrahim Yaakob, Pak Sako, A Samad Ismail, Usman Awang ....
Thanks to all of them and my last parting word would obviously be "MERDEKA!!!! ....
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
The A Bomb - 66 Year Anniversary ...
On 6 August 1945, a United States B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped the 1st atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. The death toll by the end of 1945 was estimated at 140,000 out of the total 350,000 that lived there at the time.
Three days later another atomic bomb was dropped by the States on the city of Nagasaki. With these two bombings, the Imperial Japan surrendered and hastened the end of World War II...
Apart from the direct result of Japan surrendering to the Western Alliance, the followings, amongst others took place around the globe:
1. The States, United Kingdom and Soviet Union "greedily" dividing the "reconquered" land/states in the west & east among themselves;
2. The rising of nationalism in the far east - including South East Asia - such as India, Vietnam, Indonesia and the then Malaya;
3. The rising of socialism & communism all over the region - from Cuba, Vietnam and South American countries to the chagrin of the States;
4. Most important of all, Japan had practically open the eyes of the colonials occupied countries that the Western powers are not invincible...
Notwithstanding the above, war is a monstrous and despicable act which results in mere destruction to this world shared by us ....
Let there be no more war ....
Three days later another atomic bomb was dropped by the States on the city of Nagasaki. With these two bombings, the Imperial Japan surrendered and hastened the end of World War II...
Apart from the direct result of Japan surrendering to the Western Alliance, the followings, amongst others took place around the globe:
1. The States, United Kingdom and Soviet Union "greedily" dividing the "reconquered" land/states in the west & east among themselves;
2. The rising of nationalism in the far east - including South East Asia - such as India, Vietnam, Indonesia and the then Malaya;
3. The rising of socialism & communism all over the region - from Cuba, Vietnam and South American countries to the chagrin of the States;
4. Most important of all, Japan had practically open the eyes of the colonials occupied countries that the Western powers are not invincible...
Notwithstanding the above, war is a monstrous and despicable act which results in mere destruction to this world shared by us ....
Let there be no more war ....
Monday, August 1, 2011
What a Disgraceful Act/Statement .....
Today's posting is dedicated to several actions by Malaysians which I considered as disgraceful...
Top on my list is the action by a group of non-governmental organisations led by Pertubuhan Suara Anak-Anak Malaysia Chairman Mohamed Ghani Abdul Jiman. It was reported in NST @ 30 July 2011 that they brought 2 sets of brassiere and panties meant for the Penang CM at Komtar. I had a shock in my life when Mingguan Malaysia @ 31 July 2011 even had the cheek of showing the picture of the group holding the brassiere and panties .... The action was a blatant disrespect to women in general especially Malaysian women!!!!
As if that is not enough, it was reported in NST that Ghani when prevented by the security guard from entering the lift - obviously he Wanted to go to the CM's office - was seen flashing RM50 notes believed to total RM1,000.00. If this was not an attempt to bribe, I am lost of words on what it really was.
Ironically, all these happened when at about the same time, the Yang DiPertua Negeri Pulau Pinang was in Komtar to grace the opening of the Ramadan bazaar .... Shame on you Ghani and consider me as not one of that "Suara Anak-Anak Malaysia" ...
Disgraceful Act No.2 is when it was reported in NST on the same date that Penang Wanita MCA is upset with the Penang CM for not awarding Drainage And Irrigation Contracts to the Chinese. It is a disgrace when our political parties are still being communal in their approach to gain political mileage...
As for me, I am confused here - some quarters are saying that the Penang CM is not being fair to the Malays but now even the Chinese are saying that the CM is not being fair to his own race ... Which is which ... As I look at it, he is most probably being fair by not simply giving contracts to either the Malays or Chinese .... Perhaps the newly appointed Minister at the PM Department from MIC might have something to say after this .....
The 3rd disgraceful act was committed by Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) - I could not explain but always being sceptical when an organisation has the word "Melayu" for the wrong reason - when they held a peaceful protest in front of the Bar Council office in Kuala Lumpur. They wanted to hand over a memorandum to the Bar Council alleging that the Bar Council was prejudicial in its political stand and failed to carry out its professional duties.
The JMM President, Azwanddin Hamzah was reportedly as saying that he had proof of council members are aligning themselves with certain political parties. It seems that JMM being a "jaring" is just "serkap jarang" as I trust that the Bar Council had been and always be professional in their stand on the social/political issues in this country .... My advise to him is "Cakap siang pandang-pandang, cakap malam bisik-bisik" ... History has proven otherwise as far as the Malaysian Bar Council is concerned as they had stand up courageously without fear or favour and had been impartial in its stand.
The final disgraceful act was also like the above was reported in NST @ 30 July 2011. We are fortunate that this act was committed by a non Malaysian ... He is none other than the Zimbabwean President who was reportedly spending about RM10 million (2 million pounds) a month on luxurious foreign travel. He was reported as having practically overspent his annual budget for transport. Just consider this .. most state workers in Zimbabwe only earn about 60 pounds a month and millions are unemployed!!!!
Till we meet again and "Selamat Menyambut Ramadan" ... Also not forgetting Al Fatihah to Allahyarham Mohd Asharaf Hafiz ....
Top on my list is the action by a group of non-governmental organisations led by Pertubuhan Suara Anak-Anak Malaysia Chairman Mohamed Ghani Abdul Jiman. It was reported in NST @ 30 July 2011 that they brought 2 sets of brassiere and panties meant for the Penang CM at Komtar. I had a shock in my life when Mingguan Malaysia @ 31 July 2011 even had the cheek of showing the picture of the group holding the brassiere and panties .... The action was a blatant disrespect to women in general especially Malaysian women!!!!
As if that is not enough, it was reported in NST that Ghani when prevented by the security guard from entering the lift - obviously he Wanted to go to the CM's office - was seen flashing RM50 notes believed to total RM1,000.00. If this was not an attempt to bribe, I am lost of words on what it really was.
Ironically, all these happened when at about the same time, the Yang DiPertua Negeri Pulau Pinang was in Komtar to grace the opening of the Ramadan bazaar .... Shame on you Ghani and consider me as not one of that "Suara Anak-Anak Malaysia" ...
Disgraceful Act No.2 is when it was reported in NST on the same date that Penang Wanita MCA is upset with the Penang CM for not awarding Drainage And Irrigation Contracts to the Chinese. It is a disgrace when our political parties are still being communal in their approach to gain political mileage...
As for me, I am confused here - some quarters are saying that the Penang CM is not being fair to the Malays but now even the Chinese are saying that the CM is not being fair to his own race ... Which is which ... As I look at it, he is most probably being fair by not simply giving contracts to either the Malays or Chinese .... Perhaps the newly appointed Minister at the PM Department from MIC might have something to say after this .....
The 3rd disgraceful act was committed by Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) - I could not explain but always being sceptical when an organisation has the word "Melayu" for the wrong reason - when they held a peaceful protest in front of the Bar Council office in Kuala Lumpur. They wanted to hand over a memorandum to the Bar Council alleging that the Bar Council was prejudicial in its political stand and failed to carry out its professional duties.
The JMM President, Azwanddin Hamzah was reportedly as saying that he had proof of council members are aligning themselves with certain political parties. It seems that JMM being a "jaring" is just "serkap jarang" as I trust that the Bar Council had been and always be professional in their stand on the social/political issues in this country .... My advise to him is "Cakap siang pandang-pandang, cakap malam bisik-bisik" ... History has proven otherwise as far as the Malaysian Bar Council is concerned as they had stand up courageously without fear or favour and had been impartial in its stand.
The final disgraceful act was also like the above was reported in NST @ 30 July 2011. We are fortunate that this act was committed by a non Malaysian ... He is none other than the Zimbabwean President who was reportedly spending about RM10 million (2 million pounds) a month on luxurious foreign travel. He was reported as having practically overspent his annual budget for transport. Just consider this .. most state workers in Zimbabwe only earn about 60 pounds a month and millions are unemployed!!!!
Till we meet again and "Selamat Menyambut Ramadan" ... Also not forgetting Al Fatihah to Allahyarham Mohd Asharaf Hafiz ....
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