How do you go about showing your patriotism? And what does Merdeka Day mean to you? Here are some responses from 12 Malaysians

Kamarul Azahar Razali, 44

Doctor

Merdeka: August 31 is a historic day, the dawn of a new beginning of a liberated country. Though the British allowed independence, it was with conditions. We're still not truly independent. Tunku Abdul Rahman was an Anglophile. Mahathir is more of his own man, but the system is still the same.

Being independent means to stand on our feet, being able to apply our own ideas, our own decisions in order to be just. However, serving God must be the motive behind our actions. What's the point of being free if we are not serving Him?

When your country is in the doldrums, are you going to stand by your country? Or would you leave for other 'greener pastures'? That's why I am still in the government service. People ask me, 'why don't you set up a private practice? You could get much more money that way!' But to me, money is not everything. By being in a government hospital, by sacrificing the higher pay (of the private sector), I'm serving the people.

I believe that to be patriotic, you have to be critical of the government because you want things to improve. You provide those checks and balances, you provide constructive criticism so that those things that you value can improve even more.

Ganesan, 25, and Puvaneswari, 25

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Engineers

Merdeka is about our independence. We celebrate Merdeka to understand the importance of independence and freedom. However, we think some people are taking the Jalur Gemilang thing too far, suggesting punishments against those who don't fly the flag. How does flying the flag help anybody? It's become somewhat commercialised.

Also, there are many young people who are only looking to celebrate the occasion without knowing or appreciating the meaning behind Merdeka. Merdeka is about what you can do for your country.

To be patriotic means to exercise your rights as well as to respect the rules and regulations. A patriot is also someone who serves his community and his country in any way he can.

Even criticising the government is a patriotic thing to do, if it is positive criticism, constructive criticism. Criticism should be a catalyst for improvement. But not too much, lah . If you are a patriot, you will love the country. But in order to love the country, you should feel yourself as an equal citizen, the same as everyone else. If not, you wouldn't love the country.

Chai Ched Chang, 30

Engineer

Merdeka reminds us how hard it was to get independence from the British. It's a time to celebrate. It's like a new day, new year, a new era for all Malaysians. Whereas Jan 1 is a new year in the (Christian) calendar, Chinese New Year is for the Chinese, Aug 31 is like the first day of a new year for Malaysia. It's something to look forward to, a renewal of an even better Malaysia.

To be a patriot is to obey all the rules. There are some rules each individual may not like, but rules are not meant to make everybody happy. There will bound to be something some people will not like, but you still have to follow those rules. Being patriotic also means promoting Malaysia, having an attitude that reflects a good, decent image of the country.

Sheikh Ahmad Othman Bajunid, 88

Former school headmaster

Patriotism is about doing anything that doesn't cause harm to others, or affect them negatively. For example, if you are gaining wealth at the expense of other people who are harmed by your actions, that's being unpatriotic.

Since the birth of our nation, we are free. Everyday of our lives we are faced with exercising our freedom. The decision to be free must be made everyday of our lives, not just once on Aug 31, 1957, and not on Aug 31 every year.

Its just like being Muslim. You have to renew your declaration of being a Muslim five times a day. Similarly, we have to renew our independence, we have to renew our freedom, everyday of our lives. Everyday we have to decide whether we want to be free or not.

Cecilia Moo, 21

Airlines officer

Being patriotic means following the rules of the nation, and not doing anything harmful. Merdeka is about a revival of the spirit of doing things for your country. It means appreciating the success of our country, plus the fact that we are not under anybody's control.

Hasni Mohammad, 50s

Human resources development director

To be a patriot, you have to understand and fulfill your role in contributing to the country. Of course, the highest level of such patriotism is the willingness to safeguard the country's peace and security.

Being patriotic also means ensuring that the country is in good hands. Being patriotic also means correcting our leaders if they have done wrong, for that is in the interests of the people. It has nothing to do with the saying, 'My country, right or wrong.' To me, it is wrong to support anybody in doing wrong. Patriotism is not 'assabiyyah', which has to do with defending one's tribe or group regardless of whether the group is right or wrong. That is not patriotism.

Having said that, every citizen of this country should pray that this country's peace be preserved. God is the one to bless a country. But in order to get those blessings, you have to have faith in Him. Merdeka is about gratefulness and thankfulness to God for having given us the right to manage our own country. We also have to be grateful for the many gifts that He has given this country. Merdeka is about remembering that we cannot put ourselves in a comfort zone. We must improve ourselves.

We have to make sure that our independence must also have meaning to other people. Our gifts cannot be merely showcased to other people, should be used to help them as well. If we have gifts to enjoy, we must share such gifts with our neighbours. Refugees, for example. We have to treat them as any sense of humanity demands us to treat them well. We have a duty to help those who come to us for help. If we are developed, we must help our neighbouring countries to rise up and develop as well.

Ruzaini Rozlan, 16

Student

To me, Merdeka teaches me to appreciate the achievements of our ancestors, to appreciate that we have our own government, not having to follow other people. Patriotism doesn't just consist in waving the flag.

For us, the young people, being patriotic means working very hard so that we can be just as successful as other people of other countries. We have to prove ourselves. We have to achieve things for our country. As Muslims, we must show that Malaysia can also be successful.

Thilege, 26

Civil engineer

Patriotism can exist regardless of location or even the circumstances of one's country. Take the Indian IT experts in Cyberjaya, for example. Despite the economic problems of their country, they still believe India's the best country in the world - to them. But it applies to us as well. Wherever you are, you can have the feeling of being patriotic. It can be triggered by something as small as seeing ' air bandung' .

The feeling of patriotism most often surfaces when Malaysians are amidst people of other countries. At international conferences, for example, that's when I feel most patriotic, when I have a sense of belonging amidst other people.

Though Indians and Chinese might belong to the minority groups in this country, we still have the identity of being 'Malaysian', when we see ourselves as occupying a certain position among people of other nations.

Austin Saba, 57

Retired civil servant

Being patriotic means loving your country and enjoying the benefits that the country has given you. You must be ready to defend your country. As a civil servant, I fought against the communists who were trying to destroy the country. You must be willing to protect your country from its enemies.

Tracy Lau, 20

Accounts assistant

Merdeka is about being happy when you're with your friends during the Merdeka celebrations. At home, you wouldn't be so happy. Maybe I'm just happy because I'm with my friends. Maybe I don't even feel anything about Merdeka. I guess it doesn't mean anything to me.

Normah Daud, 59

Finance officer

Merdeka is a word with so many meanings to it. Merdeka is special to me because we appreciate the fact that not only are we free from colonisation, but we stand among other well-respected nations.

To be patriotic means to be ready to fight for your people, for your country. It means giving whatever you have for the nation, and to ensure freedom for your people. Being patriotic can be in working sincerely for your nation, even for your family. It consists in contributing to the nation by helping your family, office mates, housemates.

I don't think flying the flag contributes at all towards being patriotic. You're not doing anything for anybody, how can you be contributing to the country?