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Sunday, August 31, 2025

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit

 


Multiple international organisations and one country are guest attendances to SCO summits. Association of Southeast Asian Nations · Commonwealth of ...

3 hours ago — Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of eight other nations are set to meet in northern China ...

In unity we rise

 

Kita semua anak Malaysia: Let us honour the sacrifices of all communities in building Malaya and now Malaysia. There would have been no independence if the Malays, Chinese, and Indians did not work together for it, and no Malaysia without Sabah and Sarawak. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

Kita semua anak Malaysia: Let us honour the sacrifices of all communities in building Malaya and now Malaysia. There would have been no independence if the Malays, Chinese, and Indians did not work together for it, and no Malaysia without Sabah and Sarawak. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

LET us all hold our heads high today. It is our National Day and this country belongs to all of us – not just to politicians who tell us what to do, and worse, try to divide the people of Malaysia,

Without us, the ordinary people, these bad actors wouldn’t even be elected.

So on this special day, let us take pride in our nation’s journey.

Let’s ignore the rising use of race and religion as political tools that threaten to undermine the harmony that ordinary Malaysians have worked so hard to build over decades.

Because amid the noise and negativity, one truth shines through: the Malaysian spirit remains strong – resilient, generous, patient, and full of heart.

While a minority may seek to divide us, millions of Malaysians continue to live in unity every single day.

The doctors and nurses in our hospitals do their best to heal us without caring in the least about the colour of their patients’ skins.

Let’s not forget the soldiers, the policemen, and firemen who ensure our safety every day.

Malaysians in uniforms have sacrificed their lives for the country. Many did not hold high ranks when fighting the insurgents in the jungles. Who are these divisive politicians and cybertroopers to insinuate that they were not loyal to Malaysia?

These were the “Type C” (as the Chinese are often referred to online now) who had courage, compassion, and charisma, and were committed to fighting for our country.

Then there are the teachers who work hard to ensure our children get the best education. The majority are Malay and they even teach in vernacular schools, and they deserve our appreciation. They are not the best paid of civil servants and certainly they deserve better.

When we achieved independence in 1957, it was the Malays, with their magnanimity, who accepted the immigrant races to be citizens as our forefathers worked out the social contract. The Malays joined the civil service to administer the country, especially in education and security, and the Chinese played a huge part in the economy to build up the coffers of a young country, which many said at the time did not have a chance of making it.

The early Indians built infrastructure, established rubber estates, built roads, and managed railways and ports.

These are the real heroes of Malaya and now Malaysia; not dim-witted politicians who whip up emotions and anger.

Let us honour the sacrifices of all communities by building a nation that is inclusive, just, and united.

Malaysians work together, study together, pray alongside one another, and celebrate each other’s festivals with genuine joy.

The real Malaysia lives not in the speeches of politicians, but in the small, daily acts of mutual respect and shared humanity that take place in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities across the nation.

This is the real Malaysia that we must celebrate and protect. Let us all remind ourselves of these simple acts that we often take for granted.

Do not let selfish politicians who use race and religion to divide rob us of today’s special Merdeka celebrations.

This year, as we commemorate 68 years of independence, it is unfortunate that some political bullies have stolen our joy. Some of us have lost the enthusiasm to put up the national flag.

But National Day must be about more than just waving flags and singing patriotic songs. We need to reflect deeply on the values that have held us together – and the values we must now reaffirm if we want to move forward as a mature and united nation.

Tolerance, forgiveness, and moderation must be at the heart of our national conversation. Kita semua anak Malaysia.

Let us not allow the actions of a few to define the spirit of the many. Let us champion stories of kindness, courage, and togetherness.

This is our country, and as my journalist friend Leslie Lau put it: “There’s more to life than arguing over who’s right or whether the government is unfair or who’s racist or not.

“But really, I love this country, warts and all, and appreciate the diversity, sights, sounds, and all. So maybe in this independence month, could we just stop arguing for one second and just enjoy our lives lah.’’

That means teaching our children that being Malaysian is a blessing – and with that blessing comes a responsibility to be better citizens, better neighbours, and better people.

Let’s accept what Malaysia is about, and that includes its imperfections, and the many differences.

It means embracing the differences, even when we don’t fully understand them, and accepting the facts, even when we whine and grumble.

In a country as diverse as ours, tolerance is the glue that binds us – it is what allows us to live together, worship freely, and celebrate our differences without fear or prejudice.

We have always forgiven and that, too, is vital. Over the years, our nation has faced moments of tension and missteps.

Forgiveness means choosing healing over hatred. It allows us to move forward as a united people willing to learn, grow, and reconcile.

Perhaps most importantly, we must reject voices that seek to provoke and divide, and instead elevate those who advocate for reason, balance, and unity.

There would have been no independence if the Malays, Chinese and Indians did not work together for it, and no Malaysia without Sabah and Sarawak. Never forget this.

Selamat Hari Kebangsaan, Malaysia.

Related post:

Malaysians celebrate National Day, parade of over 10,000 at Batu Kawan Penang

 

 

EVERY year on Aug 31, Malaysians celebrate National Day, the day our country gained independence in 1957. The word “merdeka” means freedom, and it reminds us of the courage of those who fought for our country’s independence.

This year’s National Day celebrations will take place at Dataran Putrajaya in Putrajaya. The theme for the upcoming celebrations is Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni, emphasising inclusivity and unity.

On National Day, the whole nation comes alive with flags, parades and fireworks. Streets and schools are decorated with the Jalur Gemilang, our national flag.

You can see people waving small flags, wearing clothes in red, blue, yellow and white, and joining in fun activities to show their love for Malaysia.

One of the most exciting parts of National Day is the parade. Soldiers, police, school children and cultural performers march through the streets, often accompanied by music, drums and colourful floats.

Traditional dances and performances also showcase the rich culture of Malaysia, from the Minangkabau in Negri Sembilan to the Ibans in Sarawak.

National Day is also a time to remember our history. Long ago, Malaysia was made up of separate states under British rule.

Leaders Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-haj, Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Tun V. T. Sambanthan played important roles in our country’s independence, and on Aug 31, 1957, the Union Jack was lowered, and the Jalur Gemilang was raised for the very first time.

For children, National Day is a fun and exciting day. You can make flags and join school performances. You can also sing patriotic songs like Negaraku or this year’s theme song, Malaysia Madani Rakyat Disantuni (Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza). It is a day to feel proud of our country and understand the meaning of freedom.

We received many letters from Starchild readers on the topic, National Day. We will run the second batch of letters next week.

Michelle Tan Mei Kuan, 10, writes, “To celebrate the 68th Hari Kebangsaan, we have decorated our classroom with the Jalur Gemilang and will prepare a small party. Everyone is encouraged to bring food from home to share with our classmates. We are allowed to wear our traditional clothes, making the celebration even more colourful and meaningful. Before the party begins, my class teacher will encourage us to find the meaning of Malaysia’s Hari Kebangsaan.

“We will then share what the word ‘Madani’ means to us, reflecting on important values such as unity, respect and progress. It will be a special day where we proudly honour our country’s independence and celebrate the true spirit of being Malaysian.”

“I hope to watch the National Day parade on television with my family. I like seeing the soldiers, dancers and flags on the screen. National Day makes me happy and proud to be Malaysian,” says Yuvann Marimuthu ,12.

Firasy Al-hawaariy Fakhruddin, nine, says: “Recently, my school had a celebration for National Day. We sang Negaraku and waved the Jalur Gemilang. Happy National Day, everyone.”

Six-year-old Fahri Al-humaidi Fakhruddin, writes: “My parents have put up the Malaysian flag outside our house in Semenyih, Selangor. I hope to watch fireworks together on

National Day. Selamat Hari Merdeka, Starchild friends!”

Five-year-old Maryam El-haura Fakhruddin says:

“In kindergarten, we made small flags for National Day. We also coloured pictures of Malaysia’s map.”

Youngest sibling Fadi Al-hylmi Fakhruddin, two, says: “Selamat Hari Merdeka!”

Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 12, “My classmates and I are making origami birds and drawing small Malaysian flags to hang around our classroom. We also created posters and showcased our creativity based on this year’s 68th Merdeka 2025 celebration and the theme, Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni. Besides that, we decorated the room with red, white, blue and yellow balloons and even wrote patriotic quotes on the walls. The classroom feels festive and full of Malaysian pride!”

Elirose Paulina Arulandan, eight, writes: “Merdeka means freedom, and it reminds me that our country worked hard to be independent. Every time I see the Jalur Gemilang, I feel proud to be Malaysian.”

ITEM: Butterflies are some of the most beautiful insects in the world. They have colourful wings and flutter gracefully from flower to flower. Do you like butterflies too? Starchild readers, share with us three fun facts you know about butterflies.

Email your contributions to lifestyle@thestar.com.my by Sept 12. Please put “STARCHILD: Butterflies” in the subject line of your email. Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi.

Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.

National Day parade of over 10,000 at Batu Kawan Penang


The crowd snapping photos and watching the parade of armoured vehicles during last year’s state-level National Day celebrations at the Esplanade in George Town, Penang. — Filepic

The 68th National Day state- level parade in Batu Kawan, Penang, will feature nearly 150 contingents and over 10,000 participants.

State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Law Choo Kiang said the four-hour celebration themed Madani Malaysia: Rakyat Disantuni (Caring for Citizens) will start at 7.30am tomorrow at the Penang State Stadium.

The celebration will reflect the government’s vision of strengthening national development through compassion, social well-being and justice, he said.

“The ‘Malaysia Madani’ concept balances material and spiritual progress, encompassing economic growth, integrity in governance and social unity. 

“‘Rakyat Disantuni’ emphasises the government’s commitment to prioritising the people’s welfare,” Law added in a media statement.

Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Ramli Ngah Talib, his wife Toh Puan Raja Noora Ashikin Raja Abdullah, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and various state leaders will be attending the celebration.

“This year’s parade will feature 122 marching contingents from various state and federal departments, statutory bodies, government-linked companies (GLCs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and 7,533 participants,” said Law. 

“There will be 22 vehicle contingents comprising 958 participants and 676 vehicles as well.

“A total of 10,072 individuals, including organising committees and working personnel, will be involved in the event,” he added.

The celebration, expected to be lively, will include an appearance by the SMJK Jit Sin choir, cultural dancers, the Muhibah Drum Ensemble and guard-of-honour unit of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.

There will also be 21 state and federal agency exhibition booths and a display of assets by the Fire and Rescue Department, police and the armed forces.

An estimated 10,000 visitors are expected at the event aimed at fostering national unity, patriotism and appreciation for the country’s achievements.

Related posts:

Use diversity to unite, not hate

Making every small issue a racial one and promoting divisiveness is not good for the country. Those who use politics of identity as a weapon must be stopped.