Unless there is strong resentment, one would embrace his school, state and national anthems just like he embraces his parents – no matter what, how and who they are.

You may see it as a non-issue. After all, unless you are a public servant or student, how often do you get to hear the play of Maju dan Sejahtera (Progressive and Peaceful), the Federal Territories anthem which is going to be replaced come next Feb 1.

Make no mistake, though. There is more to the change of a song than meets the eye.

Well, if truth be told, it will continue to be Tomorrow is Another Day for you and me even if they could give us a song that rivals Queen’s We’ll Rock You or John Lennon’s Power to the People . We, however, do have cause for concern, for to say that the proposal to do away with the existing anthem is a result of one man’s desire to boost his ego is one thing; it is quite another when we are told that the change has got the green light of the cabinet.

At the very least, we now know that we don’t just have one, two, or three ignorant, narrow- and shallow-minded yes-men in the cabinet. The fact that such a redundant move could get the nod of the cabinet only goes to show that the country is being run by a bunch of incompetent and parochial people who cannot tell black from white or right from wrong.

Gazetted and launched by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail on Aug 20, 2006, Maju dan Sejahtera has been here for more than four years. Not a word of discontent had been made in the media prior to the recent report by the Star about having a new anthem for the three Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya.

Why is there a sudden need to fix something that ain’t broke? Are those who said ‘Yes!’ to Maju dan Sejahtera back in Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s cabinet now dancing to the different tune of Najib Abdul Razak’s administration?

I’m quite sure a large majority of those who followed the Star ’s relatively more extensive coverage on this unnecessary and unwanted episode would feel that the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry’s reasons for the change simply can’t hold water.

In fact, they are so superficial that I would fear for its minister Raja Nong Chik, its secretary- general Ahmad Phesal and Labuan MP Yusof Mahal if they were to form a three-member debate team to go up against a team of three 15-year-olds. Do we need another three more clowns to amuse the world after one MACC lawyer has recently done that by demonstrating to the world how one could strangle himself?

They say that the anthem is too slow. They must be too lonely and detached in their own tempurung to know that even rival fans have to concede that Liverpool Football Club’s anthem, the slow and melancholic You’ll Never Walk Alone , can sometimes make the hair on the back of their necks stand. I may be bias, being a Liverpool fan: but can they be so na ï ve not to realize that songs like Auld Lang Syne and Happy Birthday can gain universal recognition without having to be upbeat?

They say the anthem is lacking in patriotic spirit. They must be so patriotic to even have the cheek to question the value of a song that has been approved by the cabinet, sanctified by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and accepted by the public. Any student, primary or secondary, knows that they have to embrace their school anthem once they step into the school. Don’t people of their stature know that an anthem is an anthem and it will grow in you if there is love and pride?

They want a new anthem with lyrics that is in line with the ‘1Malaysia’ concept. Uh-huh! That could be the real reason behind the change. One smart aleck must have seized the opportunity to curry favour with the prime minister and convince him to discard the anthem, seeing that the prime minster is now going all out to promote his brainchild.

There is nothing wrong with ‘1Malaysia’ as a concept. But there is something very wrong about Malaysians and concepts. Many of us, especially those in the government, seem to think that we can turn a concept into reality just by thumping our chests – or showing our index finger in the case of ‘1Malaysia’ – and crying out slogans.

To suggest that a new anthem be introduced to go in line with the ‘1Malaysia’ concept only goes to show how low some in the government are willing to go when it comes to apple-polishing. Our real concerns, however, come from the fact that the prime pinister has bought into such a shallow idea as this.

If our Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, is sincere about making a success out of his ‘1Malaysia’ concept – which include the promotion of a culture of excellence and the value of meritocracy, among others – wouldn’t it be wise for him to get rid of all these losers and surround himself with more capable and sincere personnel?

If the prime minister can’t see this, God save Negaraku.