Come Aug 31 this year, the nation will mark another leaf in its long decades of independence.
With the country riddled with so many political and socio-economic nightmares since 2008, I wonder what grandeur will hoodwink us as the powers that be stand in salute before parades?
Today we also learn, after over five years of screaming, that 1MDB is not a case of "corruption". If that is not enough, we are fed that it is a case of "fraud" and skirts issues that should only concern Bank Negara.
Today, as we count down to Hari Merdeka, we hear that parents now must raise their own money to look into addressing urgently needed repairs and upkeep of public schools.
Today who does not agree that the ever-increasing taxes dumped on the rakyat are forcing many family breadwinners to take on two or three part-time jobs.
Today we are teethering on the dangerous cliff that threatens to plunge a democratic, constitutional nation; not into some IS bombing danger that is inflicting so much pain the world over, but into the gorges of a race- and religion-fuelled political war within the country and peddled by politicians.
The Malay agenda is not anymore being threatened by a Chinese tsunami, as we were told before. It us not even being attacked by an Indian protest, as the Hindraf rallies were painted out to be before.
Today the political wars fought by Umno have divided the Malays even.
And we also are worried about the guns for hire now, at the disposal of anyone who has a mere RM2,000, as we learn from the steep increase of such killings in busy streets and in daylight, despite all the trappings of security features like CCTVs.
Add also to the 1MDB disgrace the case in court in India involving yet another Malaysian.
And not to forget that a former chief minister had his portrait removed from the halls of a leading foreign university. And all because of corruption-laced funding.
Wow! With all these and many more issues, concerns and failings (as seen from the auditor-general's report), how do we stand in salute come Merdeka Day and pretend 'semuanya okay' (everything is all right)?
Maybe, this time around come Aug 31, we will just have to 'tutup satu mata' (close one eye). - Mkini
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