Whilst not a great fan of patriotic anthems per se, I do agree with Pelita Negara's letter that the idea of an even more upbeat version of Negaraku would devalue its solemnity and take it ever closer to the realms of amphetamine-induced Latin American anthems.

However, I disagree that Negaraku is one of the most inspiring and beautiful national anthems in the world, given its competition.

To my mind, that recognition goes (hands down) to the former ANC, now Republic of South Africa's national anthem Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika (God Bless Africa). It was written as a prayer and is sung acappella without the need of over-sentimental orchestration.

The anthem is imbued with an incredible amount of humanity (and not just national pride), and its very performance - even when one doesn't understand the lyrics - reminds listeners of an oppressed people's long road to freedom.

I have never sat through its rendition without feeling a lump in my throat, and goose pimples on my arms.

I suppose this demonstrates that no amount of nationalistic rhetoric and emotive metaphors about blood being spilt, etcetera in an anthem can ever have the same effect on one as a benign version - which prays for forgiveness, education, self-upliftment and mutual understanding - written in response to a struggle (where a great amount of blood was actually spilt).