....THE AFFLUENT ME?

Sometime I wonder what Merdeka*really mean to me. I remember, we were once a poor nation. I remember we were once under the direct rule of The British Empire in the Commonwealth Of Nations. I remember I grew up in a not so remote village with bare minimum infrastructure during the era of British Malaya. Even so we were so proud of our village, the Malay Reserve Land with gravel road, structured irrigation system, and piped water supply, which were regularly maintained by the DID & PWD ( Drainage & Irrigation and Public Works Departments) of The British Administration then.

My village was situated on a Malay Reserved agricultural land on the left bank of Sungai Bernam, stretching out along the shore of Selat Melaka to the estuary of Sungai Perak. It was a small Malay Settlement in The Lower Perak District; in contrast to the vast Estate owned by British Plantation Companies mostly along the banks of Sungai Perak, and the tributary of Sungai Bernam.

As the saying goes; "The Colonial Masters have them all." Coconut and Rubber Plantations managed by British Companies each employing hundreds of imported Indian labors has turned the once futile mangrove lands into a leading producer of copra and rubber to the world. I also remember that my country was also known worldwide as an important producer and exporter of tin ores. In short The Malay Peninsula (as it was known then) though to the world standard was an under developed country, it actually was a rich British Colony.

Like all other independent nations of the world, we are very grateful to the contributions, sacrifices and the struggles of our Freedom Fighters. After almost 500 years under the rules of European Colonial masters, we achieved our independent (to this date) 50 years ago.

Since then we are proud to be an independent nation, respected by the world. We brag about our socio-economic successes, that our government advocate good governance, and that our doors are open to the world. We assured Malaysian and the rest, the full achievement of the country’s national goal by year 2020 as a fully developed nation. Collectively we fully fledged our trust and confidence to our leaders, as well proud and lucky to be Malaysian.

I remember when I first visited Kuala Lumpur late 1957; although the country has achieved its Independence the present of the Colonial Masters still prevailed. The luxurious cars on the streets then were still chauffeured by Amat or Omar the Malay drivers for their Tuans & Mems, giving me the notion that Mat Salleh still runs the country. Merdeka did not go well with the Malay city dwellers. They were still congregating in their rustic Kampong Baru, Dato’Keramat, Kampung Pandan, Setapak & Gombak as compared to The Colonials Masters living in Big Bungalows alongside their rich Chinese Tawkey neighbors, mostly in the neighborhood of Jalan Ampang, Jalan Gurney, Jalan Duta and other posh areas of Kuala Lumpur. These foreigners were mostly advisers, senior managers, managers and executives of foreign banks, foreign companies and some in the Malayan Civil Service, Government departments. I observed that their style of administrations and their way of social cultures and etiquettes were still foreign, although The Malaysian Legislative of an Independence Nation is being fully in force. In the Public Service most senior and managerial positions were filled by expatriates while Malaysian largely satisfied themselves as peons, junior clerks, and other lower rank positions.

Lucky though, The National Policy of the Government was well implemented. It was a big a paradigm shift to the style we run the country. What was once the domain of the foreigners are now Malaysia forte to success, as we are the right beneficiary of most things. As a result we changed from a humble and depressed lot to an affluent nation.

I was a kampong lad preparing for my Lower Certificate Examination in a Government English School when the country achieved its independent. I had my early education in a ( pra-independent ) Malay School before being enrolled into a Government English School, against all odds. The Pra-independent Malay Education System provide year 1 to year six of Primary Education. The syllabus provide basic Primary Education: reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, arts & craft, and gardening. On the other hand, The English Education System however, enabled students to proceed to Secondary and higher Secondary levels, with ( for a very few selected 'cream') an opportunity for Graduate Studies.

Enrolling me into an English School System my father was accused of exposing me to Christianity: that on The Day of Judgment, I would be thrown to hell, for being a ‘murtad.’ But my father was adamant. And there was me in 1952, an 11 year old village lad, as being the only one from Kampong Tanjung Bayan (the size of app: 8 sq km with the population exceeding 1000 people) embarking for an English Education. A decision not going well amongst the kampong Malays.

Looking back it was the thoughtfulness of my parents. They believed a sound English Education for their son was a worthy decision. They said that English is spoken by the colonial masters. It’s the worldwide lingua franca of the British Colonies. Furthermore my parents passionately subscribed to the notion that English is the language of knowledge. Ardently they hold to their decision and dispel all criticism of English Scholars becoming a ‘murtad’.

Growing up during the economic depression era caused by the two World Wars, was full of ups and downs for the hardcore poor like us. For most us life was not a bunch of roses then. We came from a humble, and foor family circle – our father and fore fathers were the simple peasant living by the day as fisherman, farmers or labourer. Our family sweats themselves toiling the small plot of land that we owned. Pre and early post independent periods were periods of hard times for my family scampering enough food for the family as well saving money for my schooling.

But being poor, and living below poverty line make one more resourceful, and developed strong resilient to strive for the best. All things were scares those days. Money was hard to find. Diligently ones managed their humble beginnings, struggling on paving our way for a better future.

God’s willing we scraped through.

I passed my Lower School Certificate the year our country proclaimed its independence - a ticket for a Malay kampong boy to prolong his quest for a lifelong education.

Lucky for me: I was able to acquire a sound education to serve my country as public servant for more than 35 years, as well nurtures my lifelong skill on creative endeavors.

Comparatively my present day living surrounded by comfortable and modern living environment with the state-of-the art technology of the 21 Millennium, makes me understand fully what Merdeka really is to me.

My love for you - Malaysia.

“Dirgahyu Ibu Pertiwi .”

MERDEKA - Independent