On Wednesday, Americans commemorated the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s historic “I have a dream” speech made in Washington on August 28, 1963, which evoked the American Dream which envisioned an inclusive nation where justice and freedom are enjoyed equally by her citizens regardless of colour or creed.
Although much progress have been achieved in the past five decades to achieve these goals in the United States, the American Dream is still very much a work-in-progress.
On the occasion of our 56th National Day, it is my hope that all Malaysians can rally behind a Malaysian Dream to build a more united, democratic, free, just and prosperous nation for all Malaysian citizens so that Malaysia can stand tall in the world.
Is this too much to hope for when in recent months, the language and politics of hatred, suspicion and distrust seemed to have taken dominion of public spaces whether in print or Internet, causing concerned Malaysians to be worried about the nation’s future?
Just as their divisions, setbacks and failures in the past five decades of American nation-building have not been allowed to hold back the onward march of the American Dream, Malaysians must not allow our own divisions, setbacks and failures to obstruct the achievement of the Malaysian Dream – which envisions a plural society where all her citizens are united as one people, rising above their ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic differences as the common grounds binding them as one citizenship exceed the differences that divide them.
I believe the overwhelming majority of Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region, are patriotic citizens.
Regardless of our racial, religious, linguistic, cultural and regional differences, we are one Malaysian people who owe undivided loyalty to the country, we share one motherland – Malaysia – and we must come together as one people to develop the greatness of the country which we are capable of, deriving from the best practices, values and traditions from the diverse races, religions and cultures which have made Malaysia their home.
It is only on the back of the Malaysian Dream that Malaysia can achieve a tryst with Destiny to accomplish greatness in various fields of human endeavour and to become one the leading nations of the world.
(56th National Day Message on Friday, 30th August 2013)
Ok Ok Ok.
Enough.
Uou can stop dreaming now.
Malaysia belongs to umno.
So shadup.
And just comply.
Fly the flag.
And sing the anthem.
errr.. ok
“Negaraku …..”
Well said, Mr Lim.
Allow me to add some of my thoughts.
I believe in a Malaysia which cares for her poor and needy by their level of income and not by the colour of their skin nor the religion they follow.
I believe in a Malaysia which measures the worth of a person by what he does, what he says, what he thinks and not by the colour of his skin nor by the religion he follows.
I believe in a Malaysia which does not judge a person by the colour of his skin nor the religion he follows.
I believe in a Malaysia for all Malaysians.
I join Malaysians in welcoming your merdeka message and still harbour a distant hope that there will come a day we will rise above and be united with all races of Malaysia. However, with the continuous negative information in our main media, how is a national reconciliation possible? My dream as a Malaysian? Peace, harmony, stability and able to make a decent living with low living cost. The future does not look bright thus far, therefore, our hope is in the oppositions to be our voice in Parlimen.
Does UMNO subscribe to the Malaysian Dream? UMNO champions Ketuanan Melayu and this is incompatible with the Malaysian Dream. The Malaysian Dream will only remain a dream.
Let’s get it right.
The historical fact is that Malaysia was formed on 16th September, 1963 with the passing into history of the Federation of Malaya on midnight 15th September, 1963. It’s 50th and not 56th National Day to be exact.
31st August, 1957 has no significance to Sabah and Sarawak!
On the 56th Merdeka Day, Malaysia is still embroiled in racial and religious topics instead of nation building. This is a sign that our country is going backwards (not to mention the ringgit), primarily because of the mismanagement and corruption of UMNO and BN. As long as corrupt UMNO leaders are at the helms of the country, Malaysia will backpedal towards Malaya.
So many people are still confused between Merdeka Day (31/8/1957) and Malaysia Day (16/9/1963) including politicians and newspaper writers. What to do, the ruling party is also confused about their anniversary date.