Tasmania brought out the Malaysia in me.

It's sure been awhile...Not sure if anyone still visits this dusty, cobweb-ridden blog. But, whatever, it's my blog and my rules! :)

Anyway, this will just be a short update about the recent Merdeka celebrations we, the mob of Malaysian students here, had in Hobart, Tasmania.

I don't know what is it about the 31st of August that ignites the patriotic flames in Malaysians, however fickle and small it is. I mean, Australia Day (26th of January), which is the equivalent of the national day here, is celebrated very differently. The only pomp and ceremony they have here is the march past of all the former soldiers and army men who fought for Australia and some Awards and recognitions panned out to outstanding citizens. And, that's it! To most Aussies here however, Australia Day is just another public holiday when everyone just puts on their bathers, have a day out at the beach, play some cricket in their backyards, chuck some meat on the barbie while downing some goon. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But, coming from a country which celebrates her National Day with colourful parades with tens and thousands of people participating in them, presentations from people of different races and culture, dazzling fireworks displays, jet fighters performing stunts in mid air and what not, you kind of expect something more from Australia Day.

But, then again, one might argue that maybe all that pomp and ceremony with Merdeka celebrations is just a huge waste of resources to put on a good show to distract its citizens from underlying problems which plague the country such as racial polarisation and inequality, corruption in government and what not. Or maybe Aussies are more comfortable in their own skin and don't need all that hype to reassure them of their national identity and pride.

Whatever your views, they are perfectly valid and justified.

But, for me, and as a Malaysian, Merdeka is about peace and the sense of camaraderie and mateship between people. One should look past all the ceremonial pomp and try to appreciate the true meaning of Merdeka. To me, Merdeka, or Freedom in English, is about being free from oppression and threat, and being unfettered to chart out our own course and future. Oppression is not just limited to colonial authority and prowess. There is one form of oppression that is far more detrimental - that is the oppression of the mind. If we live everyday, constantly moaning and complaining about how unfairly we are being treated, or how corrupted we think the government is, how "free" do you think we really are? We are constantly bogged down by all these issues. And, the problem is, we continue to let them bog us down.

'Change' cannot be associated with passivity. Change is what we MAKE it to be. And, instead of talking and thinking ABOUT change, start LIVING change and living FREE. Merdeka is not all about the desire to "change", it's about living free - and that includes being free from our own negative perceptions and bias.

I read a quote somewhere which reads: "We are not born winners. We are not born losers. We are born CHOOSERS."

So, choose to be free, and to love one another for who they are - human beings - and not because of their race or creed. That's Merdeka to me.

Group picture


Economics students unite! How awesome is that supply and demand curve? *Because we're such nerds. *


Law students unite! Woot! I get to be in both pics!


Our attempt at re-enacting the Petronas Twin Towers. Can't you tell?


A Malay acapella medley we did for Multicultural Night some time back...