COMMENT | As we celebrate Merdeka this year, it is impossible to ignore the deep dissatisfaction simmering across the country.

The rising cost of living, stagnant wages, decent work, and the perception that opportunities are reserved for the connected and the wealthy have fuelled discontent.

The outrage at the flag fiasco, or the backlash when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged Malaysians to attend a pro-Palestinian rally, is not simply about symbols or solidarity.

They reflect the public’s frustration with a government that...