Yvonne Foong: Fighting NF

‘Young Malaysians Speak’, Youth2 Section, The Star (31st August 2005)

I bet you must have read my opinions here and here in today’s TheStar newspaper, a Merdeka special by Izuan Shah. Very interesting, I must say, because Izuan did a very good job. However, there are more of my opinions that did not fit into the lot. So here goes… (whatever not printed comes into my blog)

Q: “What are the quirks that we have that make young Malaysians unique today?”

A: That has to be our multi-lingual background. An average Malaysian should be able to converse in both English and Bahasa Melayu. A plus for those who speaks and even write in their own mother tongues. Should they ever need to pick up an extra language at university, they can always choose to master their own native languages. This ability also enhances our resume when we enter the workforce. And we don’t have to go abroad to experience different cultures. Even our Manglish has its own identity!

Q: “Is Merdeka Day a cause for celebration for you and/or your friends?”

A: With wars and terrorism happening around the world, we can only be thankful for being able to celebrate Merdeka in peace.

Q: “Is patriotism a genuine feeling for you? Do you feel patriotic when you see the flags on cars around this time of year?”

A: Fortunately, nothing terrible is happening to our nation that requires us to clearly demonstrate patriotism. Malaysia is so peaceful that we hardly question our role in this country. But who can forget 31st August 1957? The spirit of Merdeka has been introduced to us since early childhood education. It has become a significant day to all of us, just as christians will never forget to celebrate Christmas. Perhaps, what makes this day memorable are the Merdeka projects we used to take part in school.

Then… there is this extra bit, probably too sensitive for the occasion.

A: As living standards in the city improve, the young ones are becoming more laidback by the day. Being a teenage writer living amidst an educational hub, I’m able to witness the everyday lives of college students. Sad to say that most teenagers nowadays are driven for worldly things. In my opinion, leisure activities like clubbing and window shopping have little benefit in the long run. Instead of chatting away at mamak stalls, why not contribute to the society? Charitable organisations are always in need of donations and volunteers. As for the physically disabled, they can choose to write and contribute their intelligence to the local NGOs. How about becoming an organ donor and participate in the next cancer awareness campaign? Anything that encourages positive change is a way to demonstrate patriotism to our country. Be proactive and serve the children of Malaysia. Bring forth the spirit of Merdeka.

Now here’s a thing I bet you didn’t know about Merdeka

No wonder time seems to fly on 31^st August!

6 comments