HAPPY 60th INDEPENDENCE DAY MALAYSIA!
Selamat Hari Merdeka buat Negaraku!
Whereas 60 years ago today,
Inaugural Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaimed Malayan Independence from Britain -Whereby Malaya, later the Federation of Malaysia shall quote "forever be a sovereign, democratic and independent State founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people and the maintenance of a just peace among all nations."
Whereas 60 years together,
Malaysians can speak; English, Malay (including Kedah, Pahang, Kelate, Johor, Sarawak state varieties), Javanese, Buginese, Banjarese, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, Teochew, Hainanese, Fuzhou, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Punjabi, Portuguese/Kristang, Thai, Semang, Senoi, Iban, Bidayuh, Kadazan, Dusun, Bajau, Murut.
Whereas 60 years later today, we face challenges:
1) Slowing Economic Growth and Inequality
Kuala Lumpur has developed unrecognisably, buzzing with upcoming shopping malls, metro lines, financial districts, a high speed rail and river beautification projects.
Lets hope that the government will expand services further into the rural interiors of Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak ensuring unqualified access to water, electricity, public transport, schools, hospitals, micro-loans and internet broadband which I have been reading through and been having an aunt of mine sharing these with me as she lives in Sabah.
And lets hope again, lol, the government will plug leakages in the economy, continue to identify and support structural diversification of Malaysia's economic competencies- including IoT, fintech, e-commerce, semiconductors, electronics, automobiles, precision devices & heavy machinery, solar panels, petro and oleochemicals and medical devices by rationalising government agencies and policies, employing data analytics, extending industry-driven infrastructural, educational, SME funding and other fiscal policy support.
2) Corruption - interesting
Hoping that the government will streamline procurement systems, automate and publicly publish all government contracts under an open government initiative. Enhance funding, data forensic and IT capabilities of auditing institutions. Increase investigatory and prosecution powers of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, foster intelligent information sharing between the Bank Negara (Central Bank), National Audit Department, Royal Malaysian Police and Customs, Inland Revenue Dept. Institute permanent anti-corruption, integrity and good governance scrutiny committees across all medium and large corporate boards, the public sector and Parliament.
3) Racial and Religious Intolerance
Hope that the government will affirm Malaysian cultural diversity, protecting civil society, political dissent and freedoms of every religious group in Malaysia, continue the state recognition of the Malay language and Islamic religion, along with protecting English and minority languages, racial, religious minorities, LGBT and women rights in Malaysia by censuring instigators and intolerant political and religious sentiments subject to strict adherence to the Rule of Law.
In the future, perhaps individual national patriotism will recede in the face of the increasing scale of international travel, socialisation and interdependence. I probably won't be alive 60 years later but I would like to think that a remarkable story of a young, multiracial project such as Malaysia, with her rough and diverse socio-economic contours, would be invaluable and timeless story for any future polity and political scientist, keeping our flames for political peace, unity, progress and aspiration alive for universal posterity.
Eh and btw yesterday Malaysia hauled a historic 145 gold medals at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games 2017. Would like to say, thank you Malaysia for being such awesome host this year.
Comments
Post a Comment