This Merdeka there will be no Jalur Gemilang for me.

  1. What's so 'gemilang' when you stop at a red traffic light only to see the other car plastered with flags and stickers but not stopping for the red light?

  • What's so 'gemilang' when your children go out to town but you're gripped with fear for their safety?

  • What's so 'gemilang' when your children can't get into their preferred local universities not because of their results but because of government quotas?

  • What's so 'gemilang' when the civil courts says that you have no legal recourse as in the case of the late M Moorthy's widow?

  • What's so gemilang when our forests are constantly 'raped' by politicians in the name of development?

  • What's so 'gemilang' when none of the high-profile businessmen (who have squandered billions of ringgit for their own benefit) have ever been put in jail?

  • What's so 'gemilang' when our neighbours welcome Afta (the Asean Free Trade Area) but we are still thinking of deferring it?

  • What's so 'gemilang' when most of our GLCs are running at a loss?

  • What's so 'gemilang' when a mob in a local university (UPM) can go scot free for hassling and intimidating innocent students?

  • What's so 'gemilang' ... ahh ... the list grows long and weary.

    • No, I'm not going to put out my Jalur Gemilang for all to see. I will not be like those who when they pray, choose the most crowded places so that everyone can see. And when they perform charity, they give with their names written all over it. No!

    Instead, this Merdeka I'm going to put the Jalur Gemilang right at the centre of my heart. That's the place when God will see it. Instead of celebrating Merdeka, I will be praying to God Almighty that He continues to shine His favour upon our land.

    That He will grant us wise leaders with Godly counsel. That He will provide special favours for our prime minister to execute his duties in a God-fearing way. That greed, corruption and all the ills of society will be arrested.

    That all cabinet ministers, government officials, public officers and our police will have the fear of God in their heart. I pray that God will help our prime minister to be a leader for all Malaysians. Lastly, I pray that God will bless our beloved land, now and forever.