LET’S face it, 2020 is not what we had envisioned it to be.
Our country was hit by political turmoil two months into the year, leading to a change of administration. Today, Putrajaya is still rocked by instability.
Not three weeks after the new government took office in March, the movement control order to contain Covid-19 was imposed, paralysing the economy.
Amid the pandemic and politicians squabbling to stay in power, have we reflected on what Malaysia Day means to us, and what it means to be Malaysian?
Though there were no big parades for Merdeka last month on account of the coronavirus, we still made the celebration a big deal, with live concerts – albeit without an audience – and elaborate ads playing on loop on social media.
Many among us are unaware that August 31, 1957 was when Malaya attained independence, and not when Malaysia as we know it was formed. Sarawak declared its independence on July 22, 1963, and Sabah on August 31 the same year.
It is important to note that both states were then considered sovereign nations, and it was not until September 16, 1963 did they unite with Malaya and Singapore to form the Malaysian Federation. Singapore, however, was expelled two years later.
What we celebrate as Merdeka Day in the peninsula is something of indifference to Sabahans and Sarawakians. Similarly, many peninsula folk are not well informed of Sabah and Sarawak’s different independence arcs and the circumstances that made them join the federation. This is one of the fundamental reasons for the continued widening of the gap between East and West Malaysians.
To put it bluntly, we in the peninsula often take Sabahans and Sarawakians for granted. We still fail to acknowledge that their lives, rights, needs, economy, welfare and politics are different from ours.
We may be from the same region and have similar cultures, but our historical backgrounds are diverse, shaping our distinct identities. In this age of Covid-19, especially, we must set aside our prejudices and stand united.
Our country and people have been hard hit, with businesses closing down, livelihoods lost and many struggling to make ends meet. It is crucial for us to check in on our fellow citizens across the South China Sea and uplift them, so that we are all shoulder to shoulder.
Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of Malaysia’s economy, and they are among those bearing the brunt of the virus fallout. Many are struggling to stay afloat, with a good number having shuttered to cut their losses.
I often equate the situation to a car that is out of petrol. Until the fuel arrives, you need to keep the vehicle running so that its engine does not die.
We have to help SMEs through this difficult period. The government has rolled out stimulus packages to assist them, but I feel that we must do more.
My colleagues and I at the Petra Group recognise SMEs’ importance to the country, and we are in the midst of launching an initiative over the next 12 months to help them. More information will be shared soon.
Against this backdrop, this year’s Malaysia Day is a lot more meaningful. In fact, I believe Malaysia Day should be our official National Day.
The dates on which the peninsula, Sarawak and Sabah secured independence should be observed as significant milestones in the colonial dismantling of our country, and on Malaysia Day, we celebrate ourselves as a nation.
This year, Malaysia Day was also an opportunity for us to show the world that even a pandemic cannot stop us from rising up again as one and reviving the economy for a return to prosperity.
I urge all of you to take the time to reflect on what it is that makes you truly Malaysian, and what you have contributed to the nation and rakyat.
Satu Bangsa, Satu Negara. Happy Malaysia Day. – The Vibes, September 19, 2020
Datuk Dr Vinod Sekhar is chairman and group chief executive of the Petra Group
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