True meaning of independence

MERDEKA! Every Aug 31, this old familiar cry of Malaysia’s independence echoes through the air, a nostalgic reminder of the day in 1957 when we shrugged off the burden of colonial rule. The question arises, though: Are we still heeding the essence of this rallying cry?

Once the euphoria of independence had settled, we found ourselves facing the challenge of mastering our destiny. We were like a child taking its first steps – unsteady, uncertain, with a mixture of exhilaration and trepidation. Then the unsightly spectre of modern-day colonialism soon emerged, and the once-clear waters of our identity grew turbid.