COME every August, for as long as I can remember, my late father would roll out the flag and painstakingly hang it from our balcony. The cranky old man was invested in three things: God, country and politics.
"Have you registered to vote?" he'd ask with a glare, when we got older. We'd nod, of course, in an effort to placate him. To say anything contrary would unleash his tirade of being irresponsible citizens which we didn't want to hear. Dad also insisted that we learnt the Rukun Negara by heart and would sometimes quiz us just to see if we'd committed those tenets to memory.
Every Merdeka Day would find us being inexorably led to a fight because dad would insist on watching the live telecast of the parade on television. He'd hog the TV, sit up a little straighter when the Negaraku was being played and then watch with interest, with his kopi-O in hand while the rest of us sulked because we couldn't watch anything else.
That's my Merdeka experience in a nutshell. I wasn't as enamoured but for the generation who went through war, Merdeka was more than just a once-in-a-year event; it symbolised freedom and liberty in the truest sense.
Dad represented the salt of the earth, blue-collar man, brilliant despite not having a college degree or prestigious credentials, resourceful enough to put food on the table for his four daughters and educate them to the best of his ability. So, like most among us, he remained unseen. He took care of his family. He endured hard times without becoming bitter. And he loved his country.
My father died in 2018, a few days shy of his 76th birthday. I sometimes wonder what he'd think about the ever-changing political climate, from the very brief "people's victory" not too long ago to another turn of events not too long after?
What would he think of the sweeping pandemic that led to another unifying moment when people banded together under the "White Flag" movement to help those in need? What would he think of his apolitical daughters leaving the polling stations with ink-stained fingers and hope in their hearts?
What would he say of me now? Still being able to recite the Rukun Negara by heart and who — like dad — would stand a little straighter and prouder every single time the national anthem was played?
Both say something profound about the Malaysia he knew and the one he always knew we could become. What does it mean in a moment like this to unroll the flag and hang it with pride in this day and age when fewer flags are being seen on the streets and in neighbourhoods?
Who do we want to be as a nation? Do we lean towards the hopeful, multiracial majority who came together as a unifying force not too long ago? Or do we fall back to the country today that seems to be growing increasingly bitter, destructive, divisive? These are all vital conversations — ones I wish I could have with my father. But he has passed into the light.
Today my mother has taken over dad's role. Painstakingly, the 80-year-old grandmother unfurls the flag. Together we hang it from the balcony of our house, still hopeful and proud to call this nation our home.
ACCEPTING EACH OTHER
PUTERI NURAAINA BALQIS, 27
Communications executive
What does our national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, mean to you?
At its very essence, the Jalur Gemilang embodies the spirit of our country. While it continues to make me feel proud whenever I see the waving flag, I can't ignore the many prevailing issues that seem to assail this country. My patriotism isn't simply defined by the flag. It goes beyond that. I desperately want to see this country become a better home for all of us, regardless of race, religion or creed.
When was the last time you put up the Jalur Gemilang (in any form — on the car, or house or anywhere)?
I was born to two very patriotic civil servants so it's an annual tradition for my family to decorate the house with our national flag. We're talking about at least 10 national flags being put up around our house and fence!
However, I have to be very honest here, while we uphold this family tradition to this day, my heart feels slightly heavy these days. It feels like, "Okay, so now what?" It doesn't seem enough to just put up the flags and celebrate.
I love this country very much. There are so many good things about Malaysia to celebrate, but there are also many recent and continuous troubling issues on ground that are chaining us.
What do you think is the best way to show our love for the country?
I believe it can all start with us being kind to each other. This country is built on the shared past struggles and togetherness despite our differences. We really need to start setting our differences aside, and embracing each other as it is. Tolerance is an archaic concept of boxing each other in their own categories and it's getting old now. We need to continue voicing out on things that matter to us. I love this country enough to want to make it a better place for all of us. I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling this way.
TAKING THE COUNTRY FORWARD
LEA SPYKERMAN, 36
Digital content manager
What does our national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, mean to you?
It's how we identify/position ourselves to the world. On its own, the flag doesn't evoke any sense of patriotism or emotion. However, seeing Malaysians wave the flag during sport or anti-corruption events hits different. It's a symbol of hope. It's a sign that we can be united. It's knowing that there are Malaysians out there who love the country enough to want to fix it.
When was the last time you put up the Jalur Gemilang (in any form — on the car, or house or anywhere)?
I've never put up the flag. The last time I held the flag up was probably during a Merdeka march in school, which was a really long time ago. I've never seen the need to go through the trouble of buying and putting up a flag. Just because I don't have one up doesn't mean I love my country any less. I can demonstrate my love for the country via other means.
What do you think is the best way to show our love for the country?
To do her and her citizens good — to be kind to one another without a regard for race, to keep public spaces clean. To exercise my right to vote so that the country is led by the right people who can take the country forward. To share the wonders of our country (the food, the beaches, our language etc.) to international friends.
NATURAL BEAUTY
ANDREW J. SEBASTIAN, 51
Naturalist, bird guide and chief executive officer of Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia (ECOMY)
What does our national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, mean to you?
The flag is my identity. Together with the people, the food, the landscapes, the plants, animals and even the noise, traffic jams, mamak stalls and politics, they continue to shape, inspire, infuriate and make me a fiercely proud Malaysian.
From my childhood right up to my adulthood, and hopefully in my twilight years, I continue to hope and pray that this country and her flag will continue to represent unity and beauty that's prevalent in her natural heritage and diversity.
When was the last time you put up the Jalur Gemilang (in any
form — on the car, or house or anywhere)?
I put the Jalur Gemilang on my car six years ago and have never taken it off!
What do you think is the best way to show our love for the country?
The best way is for us to remind ourselves that Malaysia is beautiful! There's always hope in people and always ways in which we can set aside disharmony by just being good to each other, and kinder to the environment. Malaysia's natural heritage and rich biodiversity are very much part of our national identity and deserve our attention and care.
Can we collectively as citizens use our voice and focus our efforts on protecting what we have? It's simply not enough to wave a flag. We have got to move beyond "showing" to doing something profound for our country.
Be kind to the environment, protect our forests and wildlife and be part of the solution instead of the problem! We must also always remember that we can love our country and not necessarily like or approve of the government and politics!
BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS
PATRICK LEONG, 49
Gospel singer/songwriter
What does our national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, mean to you?
A funny yet poignant memory stands out every time I look at our flag. Back when I was growing up in Sitiawan, Perak, we didn't have much access to chocolate as much as we would like to.
Yet, every Aug 31, a certain type of "patriotic" chocolate would surface without fail — colourful chocolate-filled candies packed in a long clear tube with the flag attached to it. My friends (of many races) and I would wave the flag gleefully with our mouths crammed with these cheap chocolate candies!
When was the last time you put up the Jalur Gemilang (in any form — on the car, or house or anywhere)?
In recent times, I've been using the flag as my background while doing my online broadcasts. How's that for patriotism? I've never lost my sense of patriotism but I do fear for the younger generation.
A huge majority of them no longer study at government schools for a variety of reasons, including parents wanting better options for their children. But this in turn means that the national language seems to be no longer a priority to learn because their children do not find the need to communicate in Bahasa Malaysia.
When the language becomes irrelevant, the establishing of friendships or relationships with other races becomes irrelevant. Their social media content preferences add to the disconnect and disassociation from any feelings of patriotism. So, I worry more for these young people as opposed to those in my generation.
What do you think is the best way to show our love for the country?
Make an effort to build friendships and relationships with all groups of people to understand each other's cultures and backgrounds through social interaction and communication. This social integration will naturally instil within us a sense of unity and oneness. Together, we can spur each other on — for the love of this nation and her people.
SAVE OUR PLANET, SAVE OUR NATION
JEHAN BAKAR, 51
Retired legal practitioner, full-time environmentalist and soapmaker
What does our national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, mean to you?
Jalur Gemilang is literally the glorious stripes, which are supposed to reflect the state of the nation, possessing qualities like magnificence, splendour, excellence in quality and wonderful in appearance.
It's a sign of pride and patriotism, a positive affirmation of loyalty and commitment. The sight of it reminds me of its symbolism via its colours — red for valour, white for purity, blue for unity through peace and obedience, and yellow for royal sovereignty. It's the symbol of shared values and the ideals of Malaysians.
When was the last time you put up the Jalur Gemilang (in any form — on the car, or house or anywhere)?
More than three years ago. I've stopped putting up the Jalur Gemilang because the standard printed flags sold widely at retail outlets are made from polyester. It's the same fabric used to make nearly half of the world's clothing.
More than 70 million barrels of oil are used to make polyester each year. It's made from a carbon-intensive non-renewable resource and requires twice the energy of conventional cotton to produce.
It uses harmful chemicals, including carcinogens, that if emitted untreated to water or air, could cause significant environmental damage. Polyester isn't biodegradable, meaning it will take between 20 and 200 years to decompose.
As much as I love my nation, I believe we should love and be mindful of the Earth first because without the Earth, there will be no nation. I carry my love and loyalty for this nation of mine in my heart and one piece of cloth shall not be the ultimate symbolism of my patriotism.
What do you think is the best way to show our love for the country?
Vote! One of the best ways to honour the principles upon which our nation was built is to vote. Be an active citizen. Demonstrate your love for the country by being part of its political process.
Learn and embrace our history. Study and analyse what are the great things people have done in the past for the nation and how they showed their love for the nation then. What are the things that people have done in the past — with good intentions but poor results? Learn from our nation's history — both the good times and the bad.
Encourage our children to love this nation so that they'll have respect for it as a citizen. The best way is to set a positive example ourselves. As our children grow up, explain to them why we feel they should hold their nation in high regard. But remember, blind patriotism can be dangerous. Encourage our children to use their minds.
SHOWING OUR SUPPORT
FRANCIS WOLF, 48
Business owner
What does our national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, mean to you?
I quite like flags in general. I love the pageantry of it all.
When was the last time you put up the Jalur Gemilang (in any form — on the car, or house or anywhere)?
The last time I was at the stadium to support the Harimau Malaya. Nothing better than heading down to the game with your jersey and the flag wrapped around you. You can't support your national team without waving the Jalur Gemilang like a mad man!
What do you think is the best way to show our love for the country?
You don't need to show anyone how much you love your country. It's not what you show or how you show it. It's who you are. If you love your country, it'll inexorably show. You're Malaysian until you yourself decide otherwise.