31st August
August 31st, 2006
i just wanna share with you the best Merdeka moment i had this time around. it beats seeing little Msian flags waving happily from the roofs of usually-jaded malaysian citizens, it beats seeing the guards at my apartment building pasting flags and ‘We Heart Pak Lah’ stickers all over the guardhouse, it beats the lady at the photocopy place shyly wishing me a Happy Merdeka on the 30th, and then when i reminded her that Merdeka is tomorrow, she said “we should celebrate Merdeka everyday”.
so i was walking into the airport, that cold sterile place with too many perfunctory overhead announcements and overpriced Mcdonalds (that said, i actually love the airport). the moment i walked in, i heard the ending vocals of ‘Keranamu’ being played. i started laughing and said to no one in particular, wah damn semangat!. memang. it put a smile on my lips to know that KLIA was making an effort, albeit one that was fairly giggle-worthy. this is very nice, i thought.
then suddenly, Keranamu faded away, and Negaraku started playing. i was tickled beyond belief - the national anthem was playing in the airport! it was the exact same version we sang along to every Monday morning back in high school, and i immediately thought of Kezanne reciting the Rukun, and i thought of that cute junior prefect who raises the flag during every assembly. everytime he does that, all of us would follow the flag with our eyes until it touches the top of the flagpole - it was like an unconscious habit that everyone subscribed to. either that or you’ll be staring at Mr Kenny and thinking, eh actually this guy is quite buff wan.
i was interrupted from my nostalgic highschool reminiscence when someone behind me suddenly said loudly, “woi, Negaraku ah!”
i turned around to see who said it, and it was this gangly gawky teenage boy who was sitting in the lounge area. he is elbowing a boy who is younger than him, presumably his younger brother.
“so?” the younger boy asks.
“so stand up lah!” gangly gawky teenage boy says with a big grin, as he stands up and hauls the younger kid to his feet as well. he’s only kidding around, good-naturedly making fun of the situation - but when he and his younger brother stand up in mock stiffedness, something cool happens. something great.
the people in the nearby seats start to stand up as well. newspapers are folded away and handbags are set on the floor. coats are adjusted and skirts are smoothed out. people are standing up in acknowledgement of our country’s national anthem.
at this point i am very awed. a couple of people are smiling embarassedly, but they are standing nevertheless. people who are walking past, upon seeing the people at the lounge area on their feet and with their arms by their side, stop mid-step as well and stand up straight. there were all these businessmen with briefcases who were standing still in such seriousness, i couldnt help but gawk. i couldnt help but stand up straight as well.
i hear Negaraku a lot. usually it’s just something we just wanna get over with as quickly as possible. but this time around it sounded different. it felt warm and personal in its out-of-placedness, it felt lively and energetic against the professional crispness of the airport. and standing amongst people who were also standing in honour of the national anthem, people who werent forced to stand … it was something else altogether. it was very cool.
and when the song ended, we all shared a little smile and a little tilt of the head. then we continued on with our lives - checking in luggage, getting a book from the airport bookstore, playing games on the PSP. we all went our separate ways to do our own individual things, but for that brief moment in which we stood up together to sing the national anthem, we remembered that we are Malaysian.
39 Comments Add your own
1. aug31 | September 1st, 2006 at 3:15 pm
Happy Merdeka Day and Happy Blog Day. Interestingly, both fall on the same date. This date also brought several unfortunate events; Princess Diana passing away few years back and this year it is Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda, the two people who have contribute significantly to mankind.
2. joshua | September 1st, 2006 at 3:49 pm
Ain’t it a special moment for our country? It is things like this, although small, but so special that invokes a sense of patriotism that lays hardwired deep inside of our minds.
:)
3. Az1 | September 1st, 2006 at 4:01 pm
How very touching. *sniff sniff*. Now I’m really proud to be Malaysian….and happy Merdeka to all. Next month…pasar Ramadhan will be back in your neibourhoods. Oh shoot, I forgot to bayar balik the days I didn’t puasa last year. ;-P
4. meanoldman | September 1st, 2006 at 4:38 pm
if you were on the travelator, i hope you were standing on the left, so that less patriotic people or foreigners with big luggage and butts can get thru. arghghgh im no. 4 again.
5. prawn | September 1st, 2006 at 7:26 pm
WOW… you really dont see that happening often. Its shows that we do love MALAYSIA =)
6. Karen | September 1st, 2006 at 7:30 pm
That is an awesome story. Over here in Australia, the Malaysians celebrate Merdeka by making it an excuse to go clubbing.
7. Kz | September 1st, 2006 at 7:55 pm
Karen, it’s not very different here in KL as well. And most Malaysians in Australia, are also from KL.
8. entwined | September 1st, 2006 at 8:29 pm
lovely anecdote. reading it makes me feel proud that we’re malaysians. somemore in KLIA! the prettiest airport in the entire world! well, prettier than hongkong, bangkok or shanghai anyway :P
9. pinkpau | September 1st, 2006 at 8:38 pm
aug31 : the 31st is Blog Day??? oh man .. 6 years of blogging and i never even knew..
joshua : definitely special :) i was very touched.
az1 : omg omg omg i cannot wait for pasar ramadhan..!! theres one just like.. right NEXT to my house, muahahaa whee! eh naughty, why never bayar balik! isnt it like too late already?
meanoldman : stand on right or left? you and number 4 are meant to be. your cable tv is damn complicated
prawn : i know .. i was honestly so shocked. there were all these ADULTS just standing up and taking some time off to honour the anthem. it was very cool
karen : hehe i was going to say the same thing Kz said. it’s the same thing here in kl.
entwined : totally agree, muahaha. have yet to see an airport nicer than ours.
10. justakid | September 1st, 2006 at 9:45 pm
aww how touching :) malaysia boleh!!
11. tze | September 1st, 2006 at 10:32 pm
your post was very heartwarming. although i have made fun of negaraku billions of times, i guess the situation you described really brought out the best in us malaysians.
although malaysia sucks because stupid policeman saman my boyfriend rm100! and keep into his own pocket! mahai!
12. alvin | September 1st, 2006 at 10:50 pm
my my, what a story.
13. jennie | September 1st, 2006 at 11:05 pm
it was so good to read that. i felt the warm fuzzy feeling in me once again :) selamat hari merdeka everyone!
14. Jay | September 1st, 2006 at 11:10 pm
You see this all the time are sporting events, movies, etc. Whenever the National anthem is played here, people tend to stand up (or stop walking), remove their hats and honor our country. This has increases since 9/11 in New York. I think we all know why. (Damn, in 10 days, it will be 5 years.)
15. Waifon | September 1st, 2006 at 11:53 pm
I was going to blog abt Negaraku but i couldnt get a chance to do so… PDA damn bitchy and laptop also ultra bitchy. but anyhow, i agree with everything you said. pretty saddened by the fact that people dont treat Merdeka as Merdeka anymore. more like a holiday Malaysians ought to have but anyway, Selamat Hari Merdeka pau merah jambu! btw, whereabout? you’re ALWAYS at the airport and hv yet find time to go overseas for once ths year. I’m supposed to be in australia in october but I’m having my AS exam in Nov. So bitchy man the Cambridge people :(
16. Vicnan | September 2nd, 2006 at 12:10 am
My own national anthem is very near and dear to me. It’s definitely one of my favourite pieces; I always get all emo.
It was also the very first piece i learnt for the clarinet. I can still play most of it from memory, nevermind I can barely do scales anymore.
17. Vicnan | September 2nd, 2006 at 12:11 am
.. and the comment gets curtailed.
Neighbours aren’t all that different. Selamat Hari Merdeka.
18. TheRealAnonymous | September 2nd, 2006 at 12:18 am
I was in Sepang International Circuit during the weekend BEFORE Merdeka day… in case u people didn’t notice the advertisements everywhere, there was the Merdeka endurance race going on, Asia’s BIGGEST race. =Þ
Come midnight, the national anthem was played, I stood straight on the pitwalk, my cap removed, and held closely to my heart… EVERYONE was on their feet… the WHOLE place was silent as ever that you can hear the national anthem play ever so clearly over the crummy PA setup. You can almost feel the strength of the unity amongst Malaysians in the atmosphere.
And for that 2 minutes or so, everyone was connected with each other… the ambience, building in excitement… you feel like you can take on the world !! Everyone’s heart starts to pound faster and faster… For the national anthem, would also mean… the sign, that the 2006 Merdeka Endurance Race… was about to begin !!
Thats a sight to see. Total silence at a RACING TRACK… which was filled with people. You should try being there one day. =)
19. Sv | September 2nd, 2006 at 2:44 am
gr8 post. touched by it. you always describe things with such feeling and realism. un-cut. they way it should be in order to deliver the great msg tht u always want to deliver. gr8…
keep on bloggin!!!!
20. aug31 | September 2nd, 2006 at 5:29 am
it’s ok pinkpau, i also know about it 2 days ago
21. Kyels | September 2nd, 2006 at 9:02 am
Though it’s a bit late but Happy Merdeka nevertheless.
(:
22. Adrian C | September 2nd, 2006 at 10:47 am
Nice one. My Merdeka moments are those times when I climbed on top of the balcony to display the Malaysian flag while my granny (may she rest in peace) looked on. Despite having a weak knee and athritis, she always stood until I finish the securing the last knot. Her, in her nonya-style baju kebaya, standing proud …
23. irina | September 2nd, 2006 at 5:00 pm
reading this entry makes me all happy and warm inside :)
24. bulat | September 3rd, 2006 at 12:32 am
: )
*thats the only expression i can give right now*
25. Jon | September 3rd, 2006 at 9:30 am
I’m always glad I’m never in Australia during Australia Day. The aussies show so much respect and pride in their country it shames me!!
A country living with as little prejudices as possible, during australia day, people my age (17-19ishs, late teens) are seen flocking to the beaches in near nudity save for an australian flag wrapped around their waists.
And when the fireworks go off, without any loud speakers telling them to do anything, they willingly come together, fist on their chest, and sing their national anthem with pride…
The difference? Our teachers force us to sing Negaraku and because the rhythm was ripped from an old Hawaiian classic, it sounds dead as dead can be.
26. pinkpau | September 3rd, 2006 at 6:21 pm
im feeling very patriotic now…and i wanna be back
27. martian | September 3rd, 2006 at 6:23 pm
sorry that was my comment. yes, im feelin very very patriotic now.
28. kristof | September 3rd, 2006 at 7:13 pm
the song mostly reminds me about paying a rent
29. AowayneWhisperwind | September 3rd, 2006 at 9:17 pm
Negaraku…Tanah tumpahnya darahku…
hahaha
that’s kinda cool seeing ppl standing up showing respect to their mother country. =p=p
30. TheRealAnonymous | September 4th, 2006 at 12:51 am
be back from where? =Þ
whut happened to your new posting?
31. pinkpau | September 4th, 2006 at 2:19 am
justakid : indeed :)
tze : ah the police.. all merdeka pride aside, our cops are one of the worst things about msia.
alvin : huh. u come back to msia, and THAT will be a merdeka story to share!
jennie : warm fuzzy feelings are good .. :)
jay : very honourable :) i respect that.
waifon : haha kesian! why is everything conspiring against you? eh autumn in australia would be sooo nice. which part of aus were u supposed to go to?
vicnan : the clarinet! HAHA! no way!!! you SO have to let me hear that one day, over-the-causeway neighbah!
therealanonymous : hehe you and ivan and fugz bring me go ah! hehe this is a msian who has never been to the sepang track, believe it or not..
sv : hehe i will .. :D
aug31 : thanks for the headsup! i’ll remember it for next year
kyels : thanks! hope you had a good one
adrian c : hey that is so sweet .. :)
irina : glad it did!
bulat : :D
jon : yea man aussies are so patriotic. it’s very cool and something i extremely envy
martian : come bak and we’ll go have duck rice .. hehe
kristof : why???
aowayne : hehe good to know u still remember the lyrics :P
therealanonymous : haha that wasnt me.. i left my comment details on martian’s laptop. i deleted the latest post.
32. dawn_1o9 | September 4th, 2006 at 11:17 am
i only thought that Merdeka was the name of a football match :(
33. TheRealAnonymous | September 4th, 2006 at 5:21 pm
haha… no problem, no problem. If u really want to go, I’m sure ivan and fugz would love to bring u there as much as I do. =) It would be such an honour to have the great pinkpau on an outing with us, and possibly make a cameo on the great quaintly.net! haha.
34. -archangel- | September 4th, 2006 at 5:28 pm
okay !
let’s go :D
35. pinkpau | September 5th, 2006 at 12:52 am
dawn 1o9 : how could you!
therealanon : haha yea i replied ur fster mssg already
archangel : say only wan la you =(
36. MichelleSY | September 5th, 2006 at 6:27 pm
I just noticed the date stamp on this post - 11.59 pm on Merdeka Day. Just one more minute before the clock turns over.
Great catch! =)
37. demas | December 16th, 2006 at 6:34 pm
how very touching!!now,i’m proud to be malaysians….
NEGARAKU…TANAH TUMPAHNYA DARAHKU….
sniff…sniff….o’ooo…rain is coming just because of my bad voice!
HHUUAAA……….!
38. hasland | January 23rd, 2007 at 6:30 am
Actually i am not an active serfer, but this this site is really great, i will spread it through my friends.
39. ChabrellIgan | April 17th, 2009 at 1:48 am
God dag! Kan jag ladda ner en bild fran din blogg. Av sak med hanvisning till din webbplats!
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed