SEPT 18 — Waking up on September 16, I did not feel anything special for the day. All that I had sitting behind the wheel was the rally by tens of thousands of rowdy Red Shirt demonstrators.

On this auspicious day that is supposed to emphasize national unity and racial harmony, the joyful celebration was mercilessly hijacked by the Red Shirts. The organizers have resorted to such a mean trick as to call this race-motivated gathering one that unites the people (Rakyat Bersatu).

Sorry, whichever way they put it, it was still a rally dominated by the Red Shirts claiming to redeem the dignity of the Malay race. And this is more than evidenced from the color of their T-shirts, the slogans that came out from their mouths and the placards and banners held in their hands.

In a retarded community that lacks the most basic analytical skills, large crowds of followers would echo the calls by a handful of irresponsible leaders. There are always people who would buy their lies.

In the midst of noisy mobsters clad in red, we saw with utter shock the presence of a cabinet minister and a deputy minister who came down to show their support for the demonstrators, gleefully taking pictures with them. They said it was to show solidarity with the people.

The ceremony that marked national unity didn’t take place here but across the South China Sea. The same Malaysia Day but two very different scenarios. Over here ugly racism and Malay supremacy were the mainstay while in East Malaysia, it was joyous celebration irrespective of race and religion.

So, which side is the real Malaysia we long to see?

Malaysia Day should be a day to consolidate our collective memories for this nation, promote stronger national unity and create a formidable sense of nationalism. The core values for Malaysia Day should be national unity and tolerance, and peace and harmony should prevail on this day in a way to remind us all that this nation has been built together by the concerted effort of people from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

September 16 should be a day of jubilation as implied by the billboard message “Happy Birthday Malaysia.” Unfortunately I did not feel the slightest hint of joy at all.

Don’t blame me for killing the mood of such an auspicious occasion. At least I was far more honest and candid than some politicians who loudly call for national unity but willfully condoned and even endorsed the racist gathering.

When we no longer feel excited about Malaysia Day, and when we yearn for harmonious coexistence among Malaysians irrespective of race and religion but our hopes are rudely dashed by a bunch of irresponsible individuals selfishly chanting racist slogans, there is nothing that can make this day worthy of any celebration.

On this day in 1963, Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore came together to form the Federation of Malaysia. Nonetheless, the true Malaysia spirit is still nowhere in sight 52 years on.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.