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?