Let’s celebrate National Day not politicise it

LET us all take a breath and put politics aside this week, because on Thursday we celebrate National Day.

After one of the most fiercely fought general elections at the end of last year, we had barely caught our breath before we went into bitter, divisive elections in six states.

We have by-elections coming up, but they don’t have the same “all or nothing” feel to them, so, hopefully, the rancour will die down.

Perhaps Aug 31 could be a reset button of sorts? A time to remember that day, 66 years ago, when Tunku Abdul Rahman shouted “Merdeka!” seven times.

And, of course, six years later, on Sept 16, 1963, Malaysia was formed with Malaya, North Borneo (as Sabah was called then), Sarawak and Singapore (which quit the Federation in 1965) as equal partners.

Why are we recalling a history that every secondary school student knows?

Because we need to be reminded of that unity in the early days. Because in this time when we should be coming together, a politician proposed a divisive idea: for Opposition-controlled states to have their own National Day logo and theme and, presumably, their own celebrations separate from the rest of the nation.

The idea was met with anger, not just on the part of government MPs but also ordinary citizens. Even people in those states didn’t agree with this idea, if indignant social media posts are anything to go by.

There’s no law against not using the same logo or supporting the same theme, of course, but many Malaysians have pointed out that not doing so would create an atmosphere of disunity.

We are a federation of states united as one country and National Day and Malaysia Day are when we celebrate this fact.

It should be a celebration of how we are “Segulai Sejalai”, that Iban phrase that means “Together in Unity”. The phrase caught Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s attention when he attended the kickoff of Sarawak’s Gawai Festival in June. The Prime Minister said he would adopt the phrase as a motto for unity of the nation.

So, we’d like to say, “Segulai Sejalai, fellow Malaysians!” and call on everyone to take a breath, step away from the politicking and put aside our differences, whether race or creed, and see ourselves as Malaysian first.

Let’s not politicise National Day.