National Day celebration

“Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!” Each year the shouts of independence echo from every nook and
corner of the country on August 31 to mark “Merdeka Day” or Independence Day. “Merdeka”
celebration is heldthroughout the country of Malaysia on the occasion of Malaysian Independence Day.
The 31

st

day of Augustwitnesses a myriad of parades, cultural performances and street shows. Merdeka
Celebrations have been held withgrandeur for over 50 years, since 1957. Celebrations include parades
involving uniformed personnel, corporate players, school children, cultural dancers, athletes and
Malaysians from all walks of life.The 'Merdeka Celebration' was a month long commemorative event
which drew great participationfrom all students in SMK Sultan Sulaiman. It was held successfully last
weekend. Activities held during theday were talks, marching band, exhibitions, community works,
singing of patriotic songs and others.The colourful and joyous one-hour parade marching past the road
kicked off at about 8am. The participantscomprising of school band, students, and teachers. The parade
started with marching band echoing the drum beatsof patriotic melody. The spectators applauded when
the group of students and teachers began to march past. Thestudents and teachers were dressed
completely in “Baju Melayu” and “Baju Kurung”, the Malaysian’s nationalclothes.All students and
teachers were assembled on the school field. The principal pronounced a speech and
officiallyinaugurated the ceremony. The head prefect then raised the “Jalur Gemilang” flag. The national
anthem"Negaraku" was then played. The students then gave spirited renditions of patriotic songs such
as "Jalur Gemilang", "Cemerlang, Gemilang, Terbilang" and the Merdeka celebration theme song
"Malaysiaku Gemilang".Then, the students were asked to go to the school hall as the assembly ended.
The hall turned into akaleidoscope of colours as the hall presentation comprising 500 performers, a
choir, cultural shows and the other performances got underway. The cultural shows were from many
race like Malay, Chinese, and Indian. Thestudents were really fascinated by the magnificent shows. The
pupils gave a good attention to the amazing singingand the eye-catching traditional dances.The shows
continued by the rhythmic gymnastics presented by the well-trained students. The purpose of thisshow
is to give some patriotic spirit on celebrating the National Day to the students. The music was played
duringthe performance. The picturesque performances look even more interesting and colourful when
the gymnastrolled the ribbons and the hoops and tossed the balls to the others.The time carried on
creeping and it was 12 in the afternoon. Then, the principal gave some speech of hope andwished that
the celebration would be occurred again in the next year and the forthcoming year. The teachers andthe
students departed the hall, symbolically ended the ceremony.Reported by,MONA LISA DA
VINCISecretaryEnglish Language Societ
Patriotism and what it really means?

Question:
How to write an open-ended essay on patriotism?

Answer:
You can write anything you want in an open-ended essay, as long as you stay on the topic.
Since the topic is about patriotism, you can write anything about Malaysia but you should show
that you care for the country.

You can write about

(1) a fictional story about Malaysia
(2) Malaysian history - how Malaysia became an independent country
(3) your favourite country leader or prime minister
(4) your favourite place in Malaysia
(5) your favourite Malaysian food
(6) how Malaysia would be like in 10 years time
(7) the political issues in the country
(8) Malaysian festivals
(9) Malaysian education system
(10) Malaysian people.

The list goes on. You really have the freedom to express your thoughts in open-ended essay!
No one can say that you are wrong as long as you stay on the topic.

Here are some samples of introduction that you can use to start the essay.

Example 1:
Patriotism means more than just standing upright when we sing “Negaraku”, or celebrating
National Independence Day with cheers of “Merdeka”. It is about genuine love and loyalty for
Malaysia, the burning passion to see our country to be a better place for its citizens to live.

Example 2:
Malaysia is a melting pot of races and cultures, a peaceful land in which Malays, Chinese,
Indians and many other ethnic races live together in harmony. Just like rojak which is made up
of many different ingredients, Malaysia is made up of different people with different backgrounds
and beliefs.

Example 3:
To know Malaysia is to love Malaysia. A country blessed with ample natural resources,
beautiful sceneries and an array of wonderful food, Malaysia is home to a multi-ethnic society
who lives together peacefully.

Example 4:
[Or you can have the freedom of writing a story of how patriotism is demonstrated in daily
life or through friendship or even the sharing of food.]

Sample sentences you can use to start the body of the essay:
Example 1:
One of the notable aspects about Malaysia is its developing economic state. [You can
then talk about what Malaysia does to generate income (eg. rubber, petroleum, tourism etc) and
how Malaysia can further improve its economy. For example, Malaysia should work hard to
maintain the cleanliness of tourist spots and public toilets to ensure the tourists have a good
impression of the country. Tell the readers about your role as a citizen and how you can help to
improve the country's image.]

Example 2:
One of the notable aspects about Malaysia is the progress of national sports. [Proceed by
talking about Malaysian athletes (eg. Datuk Nicol Ann David, Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Malaysian
footballers, Malaysian football coach, Datuk K. Raja Gopal) who show their patriotism by
working hard to make Malaysia a proud nation in the eye of the world. Tell the readers the
hardships that they go through....]

Example 3:
Being a developing nation, Malaysia is constantly seeking ways to improve on the quality
of education that shapes the young generation. [Discuss issues such as the reversion of English
in Mathematics and Sciences (ETEMS), the low level of English proficiency among students, the
things in school that you are not satisfied with. Talk about the possible solutions and how you
can play a part in solving the issues.]

As for the conclusion, you should try to surprise me! Just pick up your pen, immerse
yourself in the spirit of patriotism and start writing! We can find ways to improve the essay
together next week :

AS our beloved country Malaysia celebrates her 61st Merdeka next week, it is time for us to
show her our deepest appreciation. Having been through a significant period of change this
year, she has definitely come a long way since then.
Renewed by the spirit of the New Malaysia, here are six ways you can show your love and
patriotism to the country we call home.

Performing our civic duty

Back in May, we have witnessed how powerful a single vote can be. And now, it is time for us to
pay our dues.

Likewise, we should also improve on our attitude by obeying traffic rules, picking up after
ourselves and to always be punctual.

Respecting the Jalur Gemilang and Negaraku

When we were in school, we often get reluctant whenever we are asked to do anything patriotic.
But that should not have been the case.

It should have been instilled in our hearts because Malaysia is our home and we should always
love our country no matter what happens.

That is why this coming Merdeka Day, we should wave the Jalur Gemilang up high and sing
“Negaraku” loud and proud.

Explore every part of Malaysia

Divided into 13 states and three federal territories, Malaysia is a treasure trove of cultures and
wonders. And what better way to learn about the uniqueness of each state than to visit each
individually.

Want to learn about the nation’s early trading history? Visit the historical cities of Melaka and
Penang and see the blend of old and new in vibrant display.

Or perhaps you are more into nature and natural wonders? Then hike the tallest mountain in the
region - Gunung Kinabalu - in Sabah or explore the largest cave chamber in the world at Mulu
National Park, Sarawak.

There are many destinations in the country that are yet to be explored.
Celebrate our differences
Made up of a multicultural and multifaceted society, each thread forms the fabric that is uniquely
Malaysian. Let us celebrate our diversity and be more tolerant towards one another especially
after the recent wave of change.

Even though we may have our differences, at the end of the day we are all human beings living
under the same multiracial and harmonious roof.

Eating (and Instagramming) our drool-worthy food

Malaysia is without a doubt a country that is well-known for its food. It has been making
headlines from the nasi lemak dress to the crispy chicken rendang, and just recently, the
famous curry laksa that made its way onto Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Eatlist.
While curry laksa may enjoy its time in the limelight, there is one other dish that best describes
Malaysia in one plate – the rojak. This unique local dish combines elements from the different
races and the combination truly reflects our distinctive and beautiful flavour.

Regardless of what Malaysian food is your favourite, eating is perhaps the easiest way to show
our love for the country. So be sure to Instagram it to the world!

The value of patriotism

Published 3 years ago on 12 February 2016

By Siti Nurliza Samsudin

FEBRUARY 12 ― “We do things for the country because of our love for the nation.”

This phrase is frequently quoted by many, from politicians to mere rakyats like us. In this
country, the value of patriotism has been continuously emphasised by many parties.

This is of no surprise, however, as pride in our nation has been embedded in us perhaps since
our Melaka days. The very strong emphasis on patriotism is increasingly becoming the base of
what we are and what we do as a nation.

Personally, I believe that the emphasis of patriotism is justified, but how we emphasise its value
is questionable.

It’s a well-known fact that Malaysians have this long-standing ideology where patriotism has
always been seen as a necessary value to impart upon the next generation.

It is almost as important as other values such as politeness and gratitude. Our government
especially, has implemented various programmes to instil patriotism among the youth, such as
the compulsory National Service and Biro Tatanegara (BTN) camps.

Patriotism is also prevalent in our education system, especially in Sejarah where almost every
lesson learned from every historical event emphasises the importance of loving the nation and
our responsibility to contribute to her.

In every chapter, it is almost always possible to find the line that says we must all have this
sense of patriotism; otherwise our nation will be doomed to fall.

And there’s also our Pendidikan Sivik and Pendidikan Moral syllabi, where we are taught to
respect and love our national symbols: the national anthem, the national emblem, the national
flag, etc.

Even if we ignore the national curriculum in its entirety, many cannot deny that for a Malaysian
to be unpatriotic would be some sort of sin in the eyes of our society.

For instance, take a look at how patriotic sentiments are at an all-time high now especially since
the 2013 General Elections, where anyone who is eligible to vote but did not do so is regarded
as unpatriotic.
There are also the Bersih rallies where a Malaysian who doesn’t attend is regarded as showing
no love for the country. And perhaps the best example is when we criticise those who leave the
country for good. Pengkhianat negara is what we usually label them.

But is patriotism even important and necessary in the first place?

The usual argument for the necessity of patriotism is that we owe our country to a larger extent
more than our race or religion. Having a nationality is indeed a privilege, and therefore it is then
necessary to be patriotic as a sign of gratitude.

Patriotism is also important in the sense that if many are patriotic, then many are willing to
contribute to the nation. With many contributing, the whole nation will consequently prosper and
the prosperity of the nation will ― by the “karma effect” ― come back to the rakyat.

But are we using the right ways to instil patriotism? We’ve seen time and time again where our
government would spend a big chunk of the taxpayers’ money on fostering patriotism
like launching a campaign for more Malaysians to fly the national flag or creating patriotic songs
that accompany almost every nation-wide campaign.

As mentioned earlier, the government also made compulsory programmes like the BTN camps
and National Service, which are filled with activities like marching under the scorching sun while
singing patriotic songs.

And the most debatable part of it all would be the condemnations of those who are unpatriotic,
not only by shaming but sometimes even by conviction of law.

Those who breached the freedom of speech laws to make fun of national symbols are major
examples of this. All these methods are often belittled or dreaded. Yet they seem to be the only
methods seen as viable to foster patriotism, but the fact that force and compulsion are used is
probably the reason why people are becoming unpatriotic instead.

Perhaps to a certain extent, yes, patriotism is important and necessary to teach our younger
generation. But we need to start teaching it in a better way: by first ensuring that patriotism isn’t
forced upon but is a value that is learned naturally.

We need to let the younger generation know that patriotism isn’t just about waving the Jalur
Gemilang and singing Negaraku.

Patriotism is about being sound and able enough to exercise our rights and to defend the rights
of our fellow countrymen. Patriotism means understanding the problems around us, and doing
something to solve them.

Patriotism is respecting every one of our fellow rakyats, irrespective of gender, race and
religion. All these definitions of patriotism can be taught only through a nation that develops
holistic and expressive Malaysians who can think critically.

At the same time we should also allow people to be unpatriotic. Just like race, religion and
gender, our nationality is another human category we are born into.

To call those pengkhianats as such is condemning them for a choice they never made to be a
Malaysian. We need to realise that patriotism cannot be developed by force or compulsion, and
that pride in one’s nation will develop naturally if one feels that one’s nation is worth being proud
of.

Maybe then, “we’re doing things for the country because of our love towards our nation”
becomes a line that will be said not because it is a generically right thing to say, but because
our actions are purely out of sincere love and pride.