COMMENT | Our nation needs a revival

COMMENT | The declaration of independence that created a new and independent Malaya on Aug 31, 1957, is a noble, legal and spiritual document. It is time to stop paying lip service to God and honour him, that he hates corrupt politicians who invoke his name.

The declaration starts and ends with a reference to God, not unlike the American declaration which also mentioned God. Like ‘God Save The Queen’, the British national anthem, Negaraku the Malayan national anthem that replaced it also appeals to God.

God is a common thread that runs through human history weaving a tapestry of the divine role, especially in the affairs of the state. Malaysia then and now is cognisant of God and it is time to practice the fear of God, to be a righteous nation.

The Merdeka constitution safeguards the position of the rulers and religious freedom. However, it does not provide absolute freedom for the majority race to decide their religion. It seems an anomaly in a declaration of freedom meant for all citizens.

A Malay is born a Muslim, unlike other races whose race is independent of religion. While Malays enjoy many privileges, non- Malays don't. They don't have the freedom non-Malays have where religion is concerned.

Studying its contents, the declaration document returns one to a distant more honest past, a time when virtues were valued, politicians honourable and the government above overt corruption. The Merdeka nation lost its innocence after May 13, 1969.

The original Merdeka Day remains the single most important event in the history of the nation surpassing Malaysia Day. It was in an era when the world itself was sane, moral and devoid of the excesses and decadence of an uninhibited counter-culture, even then in the West. Profane language and the sexualisation of entertainment and society did not harm public morals as they do today.

Immersed in the spirit of those early halcyon years, when the concern was development when politicians were not kleptocrats and when the government was respectable, one senses the people's euphoria of independence from watching old film footage on Merdeka and the auspicious day itself.

Realising how nation-centric the politicians were then is a timely reminder for politicians today. How far the nation has backslid from its Merdeka ideals is played out in the country's contemporary politics.

Politics then and now are vastly different. Then was a time when Tunku Abdul Rahman, though standing up to a domineering Great Britain retained close ties with her, economically and militarily, after independence. There was a bond between the colony and the former colonialist. Nationalism in the country was not openly inimical to Great Britain.

The Tunku spoke of the close ties between Malaya and Great Britain. The Americans had to wage a bloody revolution against a tyrannical imperialist government for their independence. In contrast, the Tunku achieved it without any drop of blood spilt.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, rather unwisely, had to destroy a precious legacy with his brusque and backward “Buy British Last” and jingoistic Look East ideas. He had forgotten what the Japanese did to his fellow countrymen during the Japanese occupation.

Malayans even after Merdeka were adept civil servants and learned to speak and write with a high degree of English proficiency, a legacy of the British educational system. They had a mindset lost today with the British legacy. And I am not thinking of the Anglophiles, now a nearly extinct breed. Still many have retained a bi-lingual capability.

What the Look East policy did for Malaysia hardly anyone noticed, much less cared. One can throw out the baby with the water in a fit of paranoia and insecurity or for a secret political agenda. Other former British colonies like Singapore have capitalised on their British past and do not try to re-write history or change street names that hold historic significance, especially in a place like Penang.

Birth of Federation of Malaya

On the night before Merdeka Day, two minutes before midnight, the lights suddenly switched off. Blackness shrouded the Royal Selangor Padang. At the stroke of midnight, the lights went back on and the Union Jack would be seen lowered for the last time.

The sun had set for the British Empire over Malaya, a crown jewel colony for the British. ‘God Save The Queen’, the heart-stirring British anthem was heard for the last time until the Commonwealth Games held in Kuala Lumpur many years later.

History was being made, and auspiciously on the day after the independent nation, Federation of Malaya was born.

Picture yourself at Merdeka Stadium then, filled to the brink under a hot sun and many holding bamboo and paper umbrellas. Sweltering in the crowded excitement, seated in rows of stadium chairs were over 20,000 new citizens and foreign dignitaries, all magnetised by the man of the hour who had made the day possible.

The stadium reverberated to shouts of “Merdeka” seven times from the regal lips of this man, the prince of independence, dubbed the Father of Independence, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

He had united the three major races into the Alliance Party. The British were assured the colony was ripe for self-rule.

Merdeka Day 1957 itself is hallowed history, permanently recorded in audio-visual film for posterity and replayed every anniversary. Race and religion were not weaponised then. Life then was basic and simple for most people and peaceful.

Yet, how many citizens today grasp the significance of that auspicious day? How many have read the Merdeka declaration of independence? How many understand the true importance of the words in Tunku's proclamation? How many politicians respect their nation's constitution? How many honour the God, engraved in their country's constitution?

The Federal Constitution is the fountainhead, the bedrock, the cornerstone, all rolled into one, of the nation. Every law that is made must comply with its provisions, not fall outside or against it.

The constitution is the measure for all laws. Any law that falls foul of the constitution can be challenged as unconstitutional, hence deemed unlawful. Yet many things done in the country escape the test of constitutionality.

As I studied the declaration of independence document proclaimed by the Tunku, I felt a mysterious sense of awe. I was struck by a God-centric declaration that readily invoked the authority of God.

The Tunku uttered inspiring words such as in this extract - “and with God's blessing shall be forever a sovereign democratic and independent state founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people and the maintenance of a just peace among all nations”.

How sadly Tunku's quasi-prayers were not answered. And the words he proclaimed then now seem empty when politicians ignored them. I have not met any happy Malaysians, happy with their government for a long time.

Years later especially after the constitutional crisis of 1988, Mahathir had all but turned the Merdeka Dream into a delusion.

It is a sad indictment of the nation when a Malay professor wrote in a MySinChew article, suggesting his sons emigrate for a better life.

The Tunku was reported as not “disappointed but disgusted” by Mahathir whose name he refused to mention in a New York Times report. Mahathir must have felt a familiar sense of deja vu when he himself got embargoed when he was out of government.

Tengku Maimun a God-sent

Events leading up to Merdeka Day give a reason for hope. Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat has proven a God-sent. Her indomitable stance has seen justice upheld. Najib is in his proper place, in jail where he can better serve the people. He must not be given a “get out of jail” card.

To his credit, Prime Minister Sabri Ismail Yaakob stood his ground and refused to be pressured into interfering with the judicial process.

Najib's supporters should learn from history. The German people foolishly and blindly followed Adolph Hitler to their utter ruin. The children of Hamlyn followed the vengeful Pied Pieper to disaster.

Najib's daughter is to be commended for her loyalty to her father. She is not aware though there are higher stakes than his freedom. She has resigned the matter to God and divine justice may be sterner than a human court of justice.

God is not mocked. He does not punish the innocent. Only guilty politicians punish innocent citizens. God is not finished with Najib yet.

What purpose does it serve a man to win the world and lose his soul? All the money, diamonds and handbags in the world are not worth the value of a soul. I hope misled people come to their senses like the Prodigal Son.

It is God's will for a nation under God to conduct its affairs in a godly manner. Merdeka Day was when Tunku committed the new nation to God. At the beginning and the end of his proclamation.

God does not suffer fools who pay him lip service and think they can invoke his name or misuse religion to do their bidding.

It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of an angry God who hates lying, stealing, murder and all wrongdoing. Government ordained by God is for punishing the evildoers.

Najib needs a divine pardon more than a royal pardon. God forgives those who recant their sins. The stiff-necked he sends to hell. Najib deserves not a divine pardon or a royal pardon if he persists in accusing others have wronged him when his crimes are stacked against him.

The nation needs a revival.

Politicians ought to stop being arrogant and dishonest and think they can fool the people when they too will reap what they sow.

A nation under God makes sense. God bless Malaysia. Selamat Hari Merdeka.

STEVE OH is a long-time Malaysiakini contributor who believes good leaders, not corrupt politicians, are the hope of the nation.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

MP SPEAKS | This Merdeka, let's remind Umno that rakyat are kingmakers

LETTER | Merdeka - a new narrative

'Merdeka baby' hopes for ‘independence’ through citizenship status

Public advised to avoid flying drones during National Day 2022 celebrations

LETTER | Merdeka should bring out our humanity

LETTER | Are we ready for New Malaysia?

MP SPEAKS | My Merdeka wishlist for 2022