Happy Birthday, Malaysia!

Malaysia was formed on this day 42 years ago, a date Malaysians hardly remember or care about. How do I feel being a Malaysian citizen - born and bred in this country for the past 25 years? Undoubtedly, good. Why shouldn't I be? I live in a peaceful country experiencing robust economic growth, with bountiful employment, giving its rakyat total freedom to do as they choose, where you are treated as equals regardless of race, colour or creed, equal opportunity and rights to top-quality education with admission based solely on true meritocracy and knowing you are safe from a vast list of natural disasters. So if everything is so great, why do I have this sinking feeling inside of me? What gives?!?

We are always reminded of our nation being regarded as a model nation for many developing nations (and in recent times, some developed nations too) but how much of that is gloss applied over to cover the truth? Everytime we hear of promises and start to have that fell-good factor, things will start to sour after all the initial uphoria has dissipated. Why is this so? Have the nation come to a point where we have reached our full potential? Is this it?!? Is our progress being halted by an invisible glass ceiling? Are we going to dictate who, how, where and when we are being impeded or let the glass ceiling determine that for us? The vast majority of Malaysians might decide on the former but what can we do when a select few who wield the power decides on the latter?

Every now and then, we are being reminded we do not belong to this land although we are rightful citizens born and bred in this country since its formation. Of course this doesn't come from the closest of friends or people we know but still a particular group of ultras will always find the opportunity to remind us of our rightful place in history, of our position in society today and the occasional calls for us to return to our Motherland. THIS IS OUR MOTHERLAND!!! We would think that after four decades of living together, such ultras will cease to exist or not to be taken seriously but somehow, they are dictating Malaysian's path for the future. It's these type of people that make Malaysia unbearable for Malaysians.

So, Happy Birthday Malaysia....you still have a long way to go. We will always be there to slog with you through the good times and the bad times...but for how much longer under such circumstances?