MERDEKA! Merdeka! Merdeka! Words that bind us as Malaysians. For over 61 years, we have cultivated a heritage that is truly unique - and truly ours. Unfortunately, as modernity threatens to take siege, some of us have forgotten the little things that make us — o r have made us — who we are. So, how about reliving the nostalgia? Here we offer 10 suggestions that you can try out during this month of Merdeka to reignite the spirit of nationhood within us. Like the saying goes: “You can always take Malaysians out of the country, but you can never take Malaysia out of them.”
1 ENJOY THE TASTE OF OLD MALAYA
As Malaysians, we’re always spoilt for choice when it comes to food. It’s also one of the things from our country that we miss most when we are overseas for long periods of time. Even something as simple as the ubiquitous kopitiam-fare (coffee shop) of half-boiled eggs, roti bakar (kaya and butter on charcoal toasted Hainanese bread), and kopi-o (black coffee) will ignite memories for many of us.
However, did you know that many of our kopitiam staples are actually localised versions of British meals? They were introduced by Hainanese migrants who were known to be great household helpers and cooks in colonial homes. During the Great Depression, many of them found themselves out of a job. Fortunately, shop rentals were cheap. So, many of them opened kopitiams and served what they knew best — fusion Chinese-British fares. One beloved kopitiam located in the middle of Kuala Lumpur city still rolls out the same food since its establishment back in 1928. Currently run by father-and-son team, Jack and Mervyn Lee,Yut Kee serves up a delectable selection of old-time favourites such as Hainanese chicken chop that’s paired with roasted potatoes, peas and carrots, as well as their ever popular roast pork belly, kaya swiss roll, and marble cake. Enjoy this very Malayan meal and appreciate the fruits of our cultural amalgamations.
2 CHILDHOOD SNACKS AND TOYS
Remember the excitement of getting your small but valuable daily allowance and skipping to the nearest sundry shop with friends to splurge on what your parents always believed to be seemingly worthless stuff?
But to you, all these family-ran establishments were filled with treasures that could bring joy to any child. From fruit-flavoured bubble gums whose wrappers contained temporary tattoos, to small boxes of cheap round chocolates you never bothered eating because all you ever wanted was the cheap toys contained within.
And who can forget those lifesaving tubes of flavoured ice that were heaven-sent on scorching hot days. Almost all of these old-fashioned sundry shops have seen better days. Some have been unceremoniously replaced by the modern and larger hypermarkets. There are only a handful of them left and most of these can be found in smaller towns such as Ipoh, Melaka, Batu Pahat, Raub, and Penang. So why not drop by to one of them and say ‘hi’ to the popo or gong gong (grandparents) who still runs them?
3 TRADITIONAL GAMES ANYONE?
Dust off that congkak board, roll out the bottle caps, and choose the country you want to represent on your chosen eraser. It’s time to battle it out with your colleagues, friends and relatives. Test each other and see if you can all still remember the sequence to Batu Seremban or if you still have the skills to knock off that tower of rubber slippers. And whoever touches their handphones first while playing any of these games should get a flick on the wrist!
But if you’re looking for something less competitive, why not go in search of a saga tree and pick its bright red and heart-shaped seeds for a loved one. It used to be presented as a symbol of love as its Chinese name Xiang Si Dou (longing peas) would attest.
4 LEARN A LITTLE HISTORY
What better way to learn about our beloved country than to pay a visit to the various museums that dot the city as well as in the other states. You’ll be surprised to discover that many of our museums are free to enter, or at the most, charge a very minimal admission fee. One of the more striking ones to visit is the Royal Malaysia Police Museum located at Bukit Persekutuan. Not only is it free, it’s also filled with fascinating relics, armoured vehicles scattered around the compound, and comes with detailed information that dates as far back as the British colonial era.
For a truly experiential affair however, take a trip to Sarawak’s Cultural Village, located about an hour’s drive away from Kuching town. This is the best place to learn about our brothers and sisters living in East Malaysia.
5 HAVE A LAUGH. LITERARILY!
He’s our very own lovable kampong boy who eventually moved to the big city. He’s Lat. And every Malaysian knows him (or they should).Relive the nostalgia of when times were simpler in our country by revisiting your Lat collection (or go to the nearest bookstores and buy some!) and savouring the familiar stories as you rifle through the pages of the classics.
While another ‘work of art’ may not resonate culturally with us the way Lat and his kampung boy do, for many Gen Ys, it’s the futuristic kitty with his magical pocket that offered all the magic during our school days. Remember those times we got reprimanded for sneakily reading Doraemon comics under our desks while the teacher was conducting a class? And who shed a tear during the final episodes of Doraemon’s much loved anime series on TV when it was revealed that the beloved cat died?
6 TRULY MALAYSIAN VIEWING
Speaking of television series, have you ever taken the time to appreciate a truly Malaysian movie? A big favourite of mine is P. Ramlee’s timeless classic, Bujang Lapok, a film which chronicles the trials and tribulations of three over-aged bachelors and best friends called Ramli, Aziz and Sudin as they overcame challenges in love during the late-50s in the kampung.
Aside from that, how about revisiting the late Yasmin Ahmad’s works? Her movie Sepet will definitely make you reach for the tissues.
7 CUTI-CUTI MALAYSIA
It isn’t a holiday until you’ve gone on a trip somewhere. And since Aug 31 falls on a Friday this year, why not go on a short weekend getaway with family or friends to any well-preserved colonial towns? Taiping, Perak is a charming option for its smattering of striking historical architecture built during the tin mining boom of the 19th century.
Apart from that, there’s also Alor Star, Kedah, the lastmajor town before the Thai border and a distinctly Malay city. Alor Star is also home to Masjid Zahir—Malaysia’s largest and most impressive mosque, as well as the Balai Besar (Grand Audience Hall) —a 19th-century building that features pillars decorated with Victorian iron lacework along with noticeable Thai influences.
8 PLAY DRESS UP
Should you decide that travelling is too tiring, why not gather everyone around for a delightful tea party at your home? Make sure that everyone turns up decked in traditionally Malaysian garb. Recreate the iconic Cuti-Cuti Malaysia banner if you like. But most of all, celebrate our beautiful traditional costumes because they truly do give us our unique identity.
9 DECK THE HALLS WITH THE JALUR GEMILANG
I remember the days when every centimetre of the country— from shops to houses and vehicles — were decked with our national and state flags whenever it was Merdeka month. Sadly, we don’t see much of this happening today. But it’s never too late to reignite that sense of pride and fly the Jalur Gemilang once again. Be liberal, be fancy,be creative, and go crazy! But most importantly, be proud to let our Jalur Gemilang soar.
10 CELEBRATE WITH EVERY MALAYSIAN
At the end of the day, what truly makes us unique is our culture of inclusiveness. So, celebrate the day with fun and games at our nation’s governing capital, Putrajaya, together with our fellow countrymen. Celebrate the day, and celebrate ‘us’ as a united people. Above all, sayangi Malaysiaku because this nation is ours.