What makes a Malaysian patriot?

EDITOR'S PICK For some months now, there has been a lot of talk about what patriotism is about in Malaysia and one Umno vice-president even questioned the loyalty of some communities just because only very few of them ever joined the police or armed forces.

While we admire those who give their time, effort and even their lives in defending the nation, we are very certain that patriotism means even more than that. Patriotism is a feeling in the heart, in everyday action, and it can be shown in many ways and form.

Patriotism is not just about waving or hanging so many flags. It is not about singing the national song, donning the national colours, waving the “parang” or “keris”, carrying placards, burning effigies or shouting and yelling here and there about one's racial supremacy.

It is also not about demonstrating one’s superiority over the others who share this country, or blindly supporting the government and so on.

Such simplistic and unbecoming displays do not at all reflect the true face of a patriot.

Working and trading for Malaysia

The fact is all decent, hard working and tax-paying Malaysian citizens are patriots of this nation. Those who have businesses and trade help to create economic growth by expanding the nation's commerce.

They lead the push in forging new partnerships and dealings with other companies, thereby strengthenening the industry that they are involved in and helping to create more jobs. They work very hard to come up with continuous improvements in their jobs, and this in turn enhances socio-economic development.

So, these people are also true patriots of this nation.

They are the people who go to work and makes the most of each day in order to be productive and to earn a living for themselves and their families. This patriot takes on various tasks with all his heart, soul and commitment. He does not quit just because the going gets tough or difficult.

This is what being a patriot means.

The real patriot is also someone who does not give in to absenteeism, who does not rush to take a day off or more just because he is feeling under the weather or simply because he just doesn't feel like going to work that particular day.

Real patriots contribute to the nation

Real patriots are people who know what respect and equality mean. Such a person extends these courtesies to everyone at every minute, giving due recognition to the existence of all mankind, their rights, their ethnicities and their various faiths.

The real patriot is someone who contributes. He works with commitment for what he is given, believes strongly in the principles of fairplay and does not expect handouts, rewards or favours from the state.

Real patriots are therefore people like all of us. Real people who make up the citizenry of this country. For in our silent actions, we do more to aid the development and the social advancement of Malaysia than any amount of flag-waving and slogan-chanting can ever hope to achieve.

This is why Malaysians living peacefully and productively in this country called Malaysia are entitled to be called true patriots. It is their daily commitment to their work that keeps the wheels of the nation churning.

Questioning the loyalty and patriotism of any ethnic group, say the Chinese or the Indians or Kadazan Dusun Murut or the Dayak and Orang Ulu, is therefore tantamount to questioning the sovereignty of Malaysia itself. And this surely is a most unpatriotic action.

- Malaysia Chronicle