Monday, August 25, 2008

HOME RULE ! ! !

This is the most popular Merdeka picture. I wasn't born when this was taken of course and I'm sure none of the VVIPs sitting down behind the Tunku are with us today. If you look carefully, long and hard enough, you'll almost hear those famous exclamations of MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA! The call of Merdeka covered the whole stadium and through thousands of radio transmitters across the whole Peninsula seven times over. Tears flowed sending chills through the spine knowing they were finally Masters of their own Soil. If we were there, on the concrete seats of the Merdeka Stadium, perhaps we would be more compassionate about it today and fly our flags (upright) with more conviction without having them to be given to us for free. Enough said. Give this photograph a hard long look and give it due appreciation.

2 comments:

Fauziah Ismail said...

Salam TPJ
I am pretty sure the Information Department or RTM would have footage of this moment. I wonder why it is not replayed during the Merdeka month?
And very year, we seem to have a new patriotic song created to commemorate Merdeka. There is no one song that sticks to the mind.

TPJ said...

Indeed. Actually Filem Negara Malaysia has all rights and footage to Merdeka for Malaya. This documentary has the complete history from the Perjanjian Persekutuan between the Rulers and the British up until the first Speech by the First YDP Agong in Parliament signalling the birth of Democratic Malaya.

Last year they showed footage of it in the afternoon after Friday prayers. I stumbled upon it by chance. I think it's silly to show it while people are at work and played third class Malay dramas during prime time instead.

We from Johor have the capability of seeing the difference between good governance and lousy ones because of our close proximity with Singapore.

The Malaysian govt simply hasn't got the conviction to be the best they can be in anything they do. We don't get the people to want to get involved with National Heritage and don't work in developing their national pride yet we complain when they fly the flag upside down.

Perhaps it's because the ministers are too busy politicking then actually doing their job.

Cik Fauziah, last year, the heritage ministry co-produced a movie called "Hati Malaya". It came close to the real deal and is one movie we should all have in our homes. Yet this movie is not out in the market because it's only for the purpose of making money via corporate sponsorship. Do you see what I mean? It has become really pathetic!

Merdeka for Malaya and the other real documentaries can be purchased at the Filem Negara Malaysia at Jalan Utara PJ.

If you visit http://www.umnopulaitv.com under "Sambutan Hari Merdeka 3", it'll take you straight to the footage which I showed at Danga Bay for public viewing.

Just doing my bit for the Nation. Hope you enjoy it.

Al-Fatihah for Dato' Onn Jaafar and Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. May their souls rest in peace amongst the chosen ones.