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This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 19, 2019 - August 25, 2019

“Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” — John F Kennedy, (1917-1963) 35th president of the US

 

There we were on Aug 4, a motley crew — five undergraduates and a baby boomer — watching the Charity Shield between Liverpool and Manchester City at a mamak stall. The air was condensed excitement. The game was about to start. We were an animated table, as were the rest around us. We shouted encouragement as if we were in the stadium in England. We cupped our heads in disbelief when Manchester City scored their goal. There was nothing we Liverpool fans could do and as the game progressed, we realised there was little chance of our team getting back into contention. We began talking about current issues — politics, the state of the economy and nationalism. Nationalism, you ask?

Well, my young inquisitive friends assumed that as a 60-odd-year-old, I had lived through the “Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka” moment in 1957, and asked me what it was like at the stadium then. I felt positively ancient!

Little did they know I was only a baby in diapers when the Union Jack was lowered for the last time at the Selangor Club padang that historic night. What do I know about nationalism?

So they asked, “What does nationalism mean for you, personally, Prof?” (They call me “Prof” out of respect, I think).

The question caught me off guard. I had not thought about it before.

“Responsibility,” I said. “Nationalism is a responsibility. One has a duty to one’s country, and to the preservation of the national heritage.”

They looked at me and nodded in agreement.

Warming up to the subject, I continued, “I think nationalism means putting your country before yourself and understanding that your country is possibly the most important part of who you are.”

They nodded again. I was in a crowd of very well-mannered students.

“Malaysia can only be as good as her people,” I told them. “Look, a military doctor does not hesitate to help an injured comrade on a battlefield no matter what race, so, neither should a citizen. Show the best of your country when abroad and do the same when foreigners visit. Love your culture in whatever form you prefer. Fly your flag and respect those who are prepared to fight for your country because they fight for something in each of us. Obey the law and do not think for a minute that your individual happiness is more important than serving your country; the honour of advancing our great country is a route to happiness in itself.”

I stopped, to assess their comprehension. They nodded again, this time in unison. Bobbleheads, I thought.

“Work to preserve your culture and heritage and never put market forces before the happiness of the people as a whole. Know the difference between being the best and being the most arrogant.”

The football game had ended. The Manchester City supporters around us were jubilant in their celebration. We let them disperse and we continued our discourse on nationalism.

“What does this mean to the common man, Prof, to us?” asked Matthew, a third-year engineering student. He was the introvert of the group. I was surprised and responded, “It means do not be a loser, Matt. After graduation, get a job and work. Do not mooch, if you can help it. The economy needs your contribution. The construction sector is waiting for you.” He beamed. He was happy to solicit a response from me.

Wan Azraai, the student leader among them, added, “Be charitable with your time and effort, guys. If your brother is starving in the street, set up a soup kitchen. If there are pot holes on the road and the city council isn’t doing anything, go to the hardware store, buy a bag of asphalt, and pave them in yourself. Make your community a community. Know your neighbours, and speak to them. Offer to help them if they need it. Lend them your tools if they ask for them.”

This time, it was my turn to beam. Malaysia is going to be all right, going into its 62nd year of independence. The young ones I was with were proof positive of that. They have the right idea.

“So, what about our business leaders?” asked Pauline, our MBA wanna-be. She has been trading stocks quite successfully while attending university.

“Much of the same,” I responded. “Do not gamble on your country’s short-term future, especially by rigging the situation against it. Think long term. Think of the legacy you can leave. I do not care if the currency or derivatives market is profitable in the short term — do not do it. Do not outsource that which can be done at home. To make a long story short, put profit second. The world would be a better place if everyone worked for their community.”

Shobana, the social science major, was quietly following our discussion. She was known as the thinker of the group. “I think nationalism is a primitive organising tool, Prof. At one point it was useful. Today, in a globalised economy, with globalised ties, with mass communication and mass information, it is a tie to the past that has no real use.

“Nationalism was a Roman invention, when the country and the emperor were highly regarded. But the idea is flawed. In its rawest form, it is tribalism. It provided a sense of national consciousness, exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.”

I told you she was the thinker.

“I suppose nationalism may make some sense for a homogenous society, but for a heterogeneous nation like ours and the US, in terms of race, culture, creed and ethnicity, it makes less sense and is more of a manifestation of the notion of ‘my country is best because I was born there’. The location of our birthplace was a mere accident, guys, as much beyond our control as the fact I was born a Malaysian Indian was beyond mine,” she ended quietly.

The table turned quiet as we digested Shobana’s words.

Eleena, the elegant mass communications major finally chirped, “For me, it means belonging to a group, and we look out for each other, like us here. Kind of like a family on a larger scale.” We laughed at the simplicity of her observation but it was spot on. And it provided a good end to a lively discussion beyond football.

Call me a sentimental fool but that evening, sitting with a few of our nation’s future leaders, I discovered that, as a people, we have taught our young ones well. They know what it takes to celebrate nationalism and nationhood. They are mature enough to have a civilised intellectual discourse without coarse language and with a lot of respect. To the detractors who say 18 is too young an age to be allowed to vote, I say you underestimate our youth and their ability to lead.

Happy 62nd Independence day, Malaysia.


Zakie Shariff is managing partner of Kuber Venture Bhd, a specialist investment company. He is also a director of Universiti Malaysia Pahang.

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