The independence achieved does not only mean a physical freedom from colonization but also a freedom in spirituality and mentality. The meaning of independence is of being free from the hold of foreign forces and to thrive in creating a dignified nation. The strength of politics to achieve independence must be backed up by deep knowledge in order to hasten the nation’s development.
Looking back to the Malays’ fight of freedom from 1511 to the World War II era 1941-1945, the country went through 3 stages of struggles. The first stage, through military or guerrilla, persuasion through religious groups and later by nationalists through the pen. All three stages of battle went on separately until a suggestion to have the first Malay Congress on 1-4 March 1946, which combined all three stages in a more systematic and orderly manner. Hence formed UMNO during the council which strengthened the fight for nation’s freedom.
It is the responsibility of the new generation to remember and to appreciate the meaning of independence. Our duty today is to fill our minds with higher knowledge so that the independence achieved can be guarded and preserved. Without knowledge, the recent independence that we have will be weakened.
This fortunate land has given birth to many capable leaders while the nation struggled in handling troubles of every kind such as poverty, low education level, the unity of races and even communist threat during the proclamation of the Emergency state since 1948. By introducing the New Economic Policy 1970-1990, the Green Book and Red Book programmes, plans in elevating the understanding of bumiputra economical state with other races, must be harmonized. The education policy which began from Penyata Razak and Rahman Talib till now has succeeded in freeing the people from the sphere of ignorance to a modern society.
A few policies have been introduced such as Looking to the East policy, Industrial Policy, Company Policy and Wawasan 2020 have made Malaysia a developing nation. Independence has made us free and self-governing to plan for our next direction. We are free in terms of economy, politic, peace, culture and religion. Free in the true meaning of creating our own mould and our own wishes to build the essence of sovereign Malaysia.
Delving into the meaning of independence by going through the tapestry of history will rouse the people that the fight for freedom never really ends. In truth the glory achieved is to be a reminder for the new generation to follow through with the excellence attained. The sacrifices of previous generations must be an inspiration to us all to work even harder in becoming a developed and modern race..
RSS