Malaya Independent for 64 Years

Britain granted independence to Peninsular Malaya on this day 64 years ago - 31 August 2021. Malaya then became part of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, joining Sabah and Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, and Singapore. In 1965, Singapore became its own Republic on leaving this Federation. As a child having a charmed life on Penang Island, every anniversary of this occasion was anticipated with much fanfare. The lyrics of the National Anthem were reexamined in earnest. Specials were screened at theatres and on telly. No special cakes or delicacies were made though, even for a food obsessed society. Neighbours did however come out in compounds to chat with each other. English was still spoken with gusto - and everything Brit was still much held with respect, much akin to parents in contemporary Malaysia, having an embedded respect of university education in good reliable England. I never questioned then what we were celebrating independence from. Sure, the history books said we were free from the yoke of imperialism, economic exploitation and rule by a foreign race. But I could already enjoy the heritage of what Britain left behind in other positive aspects. There was a Westminster based Parliamentary system. We already had royalty, from nine component states, left intact by colonial interests - in case anyone missed Queen Liz. There were dependable legal and governance systems already working in the Malayan Civil Service. Transport infrastructure, public health care, education mechanisms and economic pillars were already well established, much better than in most newly founded nations. There was a strong foundation of family, criminal, corporate and tax law like in Australia. Friends of my parents, my classmates and neighbours relished in enjoying commonly shared values, than focus on differences. Socially, we immersed themselves in laughter, helping each other out and cultivating joint hobbies. Gatherings were more spontaneous than formal, centring round fruit seasons, cultural festivals, good weather days and when people needed a listening ear. In the classroom, there was a comradeship that transversed the boundaries of religion, ethnicity and class. We valued the English language for its dominance in world trade, academia and international networking. We learnt our respective mother tongues. By law, we learnt the Malay lingua franca. In Penang, there was a Patois spoken that is still as colourful as in New Orleans, Papua New Guinea or in South Africa. Like in Sydney and Melbourne these days, we had access to several cuisines - and still do. Friends of diverse backgrounds used to eat together at the same table, but I understand now they no longer do, as much. We picked up learning how to use the whole plethora of ingredients from well tried recipes from around Asia and Europe. My Eurasian Uncle Cornelius exemplified the closeness of Malaysians when I was growing up. He personified Christmas to me, with a joy from his Dutch heritage and his ability to make magic of a day when he visited.  Mum and our Sri Lankan neighbour' s wife made curries.   I still recall the beauty of furniture in the lounge when we visited Cikgu Iskandar.  I picked up bad words in Tamil, Hokkien, Cantonese, Japanese, Mandarin and Malay - and they did have a punch which can hold their own in an ocker Aussie pub. Soccer, badminton, late night suppers, jungle and beach trial walks, hide outs on Friday arvos after school - they all had no over the top racial identification. There was a strong underlying and unspoken bond of just being humans, of growing up in and of connecting to society. What seemed like benign bureaucratic practices - like of being identified by race and religion on ID cards, instead of just being Malaysian - in retrospect, evolved into tools of separation, social alienation and discrimination. Critics blame the colonial authorities for laying down the seeds of the current socio-political structure in current day Malaysia. They cite the "divide and rule" strategy utilised to manage a diverse society like Malaya before independence. However, once they were their own rulers, the local politicians of the day reinforced this policy, instead of applying fresh and innovative approaches like meritocracy, equity and tolerance. As a child in Malaysia, I vaguely recall a night curfew imposed in Penang, due to riots and social disorder. Such tools of social and political control can be primitive in looking back, for now there are other covert or other more effective tools of political manipulation, corruption in theft of state funds, mass cajoling of the emotions of voters and gerrymandering of electorate borders. Malaysia's ideal democratic practices have sadly been whittled or hijacked as the nation moved to the 21st century.   There has grown a culture of dependency on state hand outs to a majority of its denizens, who dominate the military, civil service, universities, police, banks and economic or trading monopolies.  The growing emphasis by a series of Prime Ministers since the 1980s in linking political power with financial kleptocracy measures has taken a severe impact on the nation's vibrancy and future prospects. Malaysia is a land of abundant resources, scenic landscapes and untapped potential. It has been the less than desired management by its leaders that have now rendered it less attractive for investment potential and educational strengths than its nearby neighbours of Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore. My birthplace has petroleum resources, agricultural wealth, manufacturing capability and strides between China, India and Australasia. Yet some key factors continues to suppress its future potential - leadership, mindset, community attitudes, technological prowess, history and inertia. Blame shifting has also been a significant characteristic of its past. Soon there may be no one else to put the blame on, apart from themselves. Before the arrival of Covid, the seeds of problems and embedded issues have not been resolved. A pandemic only amplifies the weaknesses and rifts already raging in a nation. So far from the evening equatorial thunderstorms, smells and sights of a colourful street and the chatter of boyhood mates, I reflect - can Malaysia turn round a meaningful corner? #yongkevthoughts