Merdeka 101: Why We Keep Having Limited Choices?

They say self praise is not a praise.

But you know how Malaysian politicians are, right? They have just too much of thick skin on their face to realise that sometimes they are at the wrong place at the wrong time. Take this story titled “Khairy all geared up for role in celebration” in the Star for instance.

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno deputy youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin is used to having thousands of eyes watch his every move and thinks nothing of it. However, what he has been asked to do tonight has got him feeling like a bundle of nerves.

He has been given the important task of hoisting the Malayan flag during the re-enactment of the countdown to independence, which occurred at Dataran Merdeka in 1957, when an Umno Youth member hoisted the flag.

Tomorrow night, he will carry the Declaration of Independence to be handed over to the VIPs at the mammoth Merdeka celebration at Merdeka Stadium. “I am scared, really. I have been practising and wanting to get it perfectly right. “This is huge and makes the Merdeka more meaningful to me personally,” said Khairy when met during a rehearsal at Merdeka Stadium last night.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim were also present at the rehearsal.

Khairy said he received a call from Umno Youth leader Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein a few weeks ago who informed him of the “duties.” “I was overwhelmed then, and I still am,” he added.

Reading this piece of news in the papers is like reading a fairy tale story – hard to belief and spiced up story (but just add “intelligence insulting” for this one).

The question is who is Khairy to be given such a high ceremonial task? It is ceremonial in nature but to be giving the task to a highly racial politician is another thing altogether.

Ya, he is that “famous son-in-law” (which probably explains why he is “given” the task in the first place) but other than this, what positive thing he has done for Malaysia and Malaysians in general? Famous for beating up racial statements, making stupid statement about bloggers and involved in the ECM-Libra boo boo, this UMNO “future PM” wannabe is big disgrace to the nation. UMNO youth in 1957 is a far more honourable than the so-called youth movement these days.

And Khairy, please tell us in what sense Merdeka is meaningful to you? If you are in a position to make positive progress and you instead make a mud of it, what is the point of celebrating Merdeka? It is a waste of time and money to be “re-enacting” the past Merdeka moments but without practising the spirit of Merdeka in the first place.

There are many other things to be worried about on this Merdeka day – things like corruption, unity, economic growth, etc and all Khairy can do is to worry about hoisting the national flag. Sigh!

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