#AnakAnakMalaysia: Better together

ON this special day, Malaysians near and far have voiced their hopes for a better future.

Still, they remain keenly aware that any meaningful progress is only possible through concerted, collective action.

Though Malaysia experienced a change of government this year for the first time since our independence, such a change does not guarantee that the country will change for the better.

So says Aizad Khair, who shared an #AnakAnakMalaysia message of hope and love for the nation all the way from Tokyo, as he is currently there for work training.

Instead, says the attorney at Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu Singapore LLP, change starts within us all.

“To me, a better Malaysia is a society with a developed mindset. It means a society that is respectful and courteous to one another despite our differences, a society that will stand up for each other,” says the 30-year-old, who is also an avid photographer.

“We want a better Malaysia for us and for the future generation, so let us all do our part to get there.

“And let’s do it together. Happy Malaysia Day, tanahairku (my motherland),” he adds.

Over in the United Kingdom, human resource senior executive Rubaina Shokat shared an #AnakAnakMalaysia moment at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

“The world is a treasure trove of history and beauty, but in my heart, no place has a soul and spirit like Malaysia-ku,” says the 30-year-old in her Malaysia Day wish for the nation.

The Yap and Chew family also snapped an #AnakAnakMalaysia moment together near the mighty Murray River in Renmark, South Australia, with group representative Yap Hsien Wei wishing everyone a very Happy Malaysia Day ahead.

“My hope for Malaysia is that everyone will stay steadfastly united and take this golden opportunity to show their love for the nation and to march forward together for the betterment of all,” says the 36-year-old pharmacist.

Further away from home is Yeok Yoon Ling, who is based in Derval, a 20-minute drive from Nort-sur-Erdre, northwestern France.

The 31-year-old took a picture with the #AnakAnakMalaysia poster at the local town hall to accompany her Malaysia Day message for her homeland.

“We are all unique, and we live harmoniously and peacefully in a multiracial country with one another.

“I hope our peacefulness will last, and it’s time to show to the world how proud we are as Malaysians, and our spirit of togetherness even though we stay abroad,” she says.

Yeok, who teaches English in St Clair Agriculture High School, was also happy to share about her students’ interest in her homeland.

“My French students love to know about Malaysia, especially our food and language. There’s a similarity between our bahasa baku in Bahasa Malaysia and French, which is the root of pronunciation between the two languages,” she says.

As for freelance travel writer Hayani Ishan, who captured her #AnakAnakMalaysia moment in Brunei, she has always loved to travel as one can learn a lot. But no matter how far she goes, Kuala Lumpur remains her favourite destination.

“It’s the perfect balance of the new and old, much like the feel of the country as a whole.

“Which is why in this Malaysia Baru (New Malaysia), I’m doing my part via Gerak Minda.

“It’s a newly formed mental health advocate group (FB: @bergerakminda, Twitter: @gerakminda), and I’m looking forward to building a more empathetic Malaysia that’s literate in mental health issues,” says the 23-year-old.

In his message to fellow Malaysians around the world, which was crafted near the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, Dr Ong K.A. urges all #AnakAnakMalaysia to proudly embrace new Malaysia together.

“I am really thrilled about the new hopes that will bring Malaysia to the next level in the coming years. I wish that all Malaysians will have a memorable Hari Malaysia 2018, and retain faith that we will always prevail in the end,” says the engineering professional, who is in his 40s.

The #AnakAnakMalaysia campaign brought Malaysians together to celebrate National Day and Malaysia Day.

This year, the theme of #JomKeHadapan explored the idea of moving forward as a nation and continuous progress to realise a greater Malaysia driven by empowerment, hope, and creativity.

The #AnakAnakMalaysia Walk which started at the Eco Ardence Sales Gallery, Shah Alam, on Sept 2, was a collaboration between Malaysia’s well-known property developer Eco World Development Group Bhd and Star Media Group.

Other sponsors included Panasonic (Silver Sponsor) and DRB-Hicom (Car Sponsor).