Now that over two generations have passed since Malaysia achieved its Independence, it is becoming increasingly important to reinterpret the meaning of Merdeka to make it relevant, especially to the young people who have inherited this nation.

The declaration of Independence 59 years ago this Wednesday is symbolic of a mental revolution among our people, signifying a move from a state of subjecthood under a colonial master to an assertion of the people’s right to rule themselves as they see fit.

In the uniquely Malaysian story, the nation that was born had to be shared by the indigenous Malay people with two large immigrant communities — the Chinese and Indians — who were brought in by the shipload during the British colonial era to work in its tin and rubber industries, or who came to fill clerical and administrative positions.

As for the unrepresented Orang Asli community in the Malay peninsula, they did not form a political force in that early period, or for that matter, to a large extent, nor do they hold that power even today. The Orang Asal of Sabah and Sarawak on their part entered the equation after the die was cast in the triumvirate mould of Malay, Chinese and Indian interest groups.

So, the Independence movement held somewhat different meanings for the Malays and the non-Malays.

For the Malays, the journey to Independence entailed the rediscovery of their ethnic identity as a foundation of their claim to sovereignty over the Malay peninsula. For the Chinese and Indians, the picture was somewhat mixed. Those who were born here would have tended to consider the then-Malaya their home, and those who had come here in search of a better life would have possibly had two positions: some would have thought of this as an adopted land and others, a place of sojourn to seek their fortune.

So, with the withdrawal of British governance, it is understandable that the position of the Malays as the dominant race had to be enshrined in the Federal Constitution, as their deeply felt concern about their ability to maintain control over all key aspects of national affairs needed to be assured for the political stability of the federation.

It simply would not do to have a vacuum of power once the British administration bowed out.

At the same time, our founding fathers realised that a united nation could hardly emerge if the legitimate sociocultural and political rights of the Chinese and Indians were not respected.

It is good to recall that against a backdrop of strong ethnic identification in that formative era, the leaders of the main political parties shared a wonderful sense of fellowship and goodwill that could be clearly felt by all. It is this spirit of comradeship among our leaders that served to buoy the people’s hopes that despite the marked differences in the sociocultural and even physical attributes of the main races, we would in time be able to forge a strong sense of national unity.

Six decades later, much has obviously changed. The Malay identity is stamped in all aspects of national life and much progress has been made towards the community’s socioeconomic upliftment. As for the non-Malays, this is as much their home today as it is for Malays, Kadazans, Ibans, Orang Asli, Peranakan or Eurasians.

In this scenario, Merdeka could mean freedom from attitudes that no longer serve us.

It would be useful, for example, to examine whether feelings of insecurity about the sociocultural, political and economic position of the Malays are in fact hampering their advancement in today’s world.

If we look at the transformations that are sweeping through the world’s economies as a result of globalisation and technological advancements, it is clear that new modes of thinking are crucial for us to thrive in the coming age.

In this new era, we are limited perhaps only by our ability to envision the future we desire.

Performance coaches point out that anxiety and its related manifestations can be powerful obstacles to success and recommend various strategies to overcome this handicap. One effective antidote to overcome our fears is to confront them.

To get over the fear of being left behind in the race, the weakest groups in society, whether Malay or non-Malay, will need to face up to their challenges and resolve to overcome them.

Ancillary factors, such as supportive institutions, mentors with a sense of mission and an enabling social environment can certainly make a huge difference.

At the root of it, however, it is always a sense of personal conviction in one’s own worth and a determination to make the best of a situation, no matter what the odds, that tends to win the day.

To arrive at this place, the young people of today, for whom the Independence struggle is mostly a matter of historical record, could look within themselves to identify any attitudes and assumptions that may be keeping them trapped in mindsets that have long outlived their usefulness.

As the politically dominant and majority race, it is the Malay community, and in particular, its young and forward-looking vanguard, whose choices can change the tenor of our future.

So if they find new ways to interpret the spirit of Merdeka that makes our Independence meaningful to future generations, we may be able to reap rich dividends as a nation. Indeed, a confident, forward-looking class of Malays could pave the way for all Malaysians, Malay and non-Malay, to thrive in a positive, relaxed, creative and ultimately fulfilling environment.

If we make the right choices today, it is quite possible that another two generations from now, when we would celebrate the centenary of our Independence, a nightmare in the making would have been averted and the dream of a united and prosperous Malaysia fulfilled.

R B Bhattacharjee is associate editor at The Edge 

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