Rightfully Malaysia Day

The below is taken from a prominent blogger. I couldn't  have done any better so, with courtesy am sharing it with others...

Many parents, including mine, slogged like horses to give their children the best in life. Many parents have gone hungry so their children could eat. Many have sold their homes so their children could get a decent education. Many sacrificed basic necessities so their children could  get ahead in life. Many suffered so  their children do not have to suffer. Parents who nurture their children well are actually nurturing the nation’s future. Of course, most will not become famous, break records or win international accolades – but Malaysian parents are so, so crucial to the well being of our nation. Any parent who is committed to and bringing up their children deserve an Olympic gold medal.

There are many Malaysians who will not think twice before helping another. Thousands of Malaysians volunteer at orphanages, old folks’ homes, animal shelters, hospitals and various other charities. Every day, especially over weekends, thousands of ordinary folks make time to go and help out others. Even children go out to help others. I was once humbled when visiting an orphanage. The orphans had actually organized a charity drive to collect money to help a nearby old folks home. Of course most of these selfless Malaysians will never be featured in the front pages,appear on TV or win awards. For many of them, helping another person is simply the right thing to do. Malaysians who are always helping others deserve the Nobel Prize. 

Millions of Malaysians wake up every day and go to work. Many work their butts off – slogging from morning till evening. The work they do helps our nation move forward and prosper. Factory workers who tirelessly assemble computers and make gloves prosper our nation. Farmers who tend to their paddy fields under the hot sun prosper our nation. Scientists who do their research diligently prosper our nation. Taxi drivers who ferry their passengers prosper our nation. Engineers to design and build our roads, bridges and homes prosper our nation. People who continuously strive to improve themselves, their productivity and the productivity of their organizations are heroes. Malaysians who go out every day, year in year out, giving their best in their jobs deserve a World Championship medal.

Anyone who gives their best in whatever they do is a committed Malaysian. The chef who continuously improves his ayam percik recipe is a committed Malaysian. The immigration officer who strives to improve the counter service is a committed Malaysian. The MAS stewardess who goes out of her way to ensure passenger comfort is a committed Malaysian. The journalist who burns the midnight oil producing her best report is a committed Malaysian. The scientist who literally sleeps in his lab 24/7 trying to understand the properties of our palm oil is a committed Malaysian. The greenie who fights hard to protect our tigers is a committed Malaysian. The chap who sleeps only 3 hours a day running his 24-hour mamak restaurant is a committed Malaysian for he provides a vital service and keeps our economy vibrant. Anyone who gives their best in whatever they do is a committed Malaysian and therefore deserves an Olympic medal.

Anyone who is a good neighbour is a committed Malaysian. There is always a person or a family in any neighbourhood who is an excellent neighbour. He/she is the first to welcome a newcomer to the neighbourhood. He/she is always volunteering at the residents’ association. He/she is the first to participate in neighbourhood gotong royong or family days. These are community builders. Our communities rely on people like them – without them we are just individual homes or families, not communities. The super neighbour will be the first to rush out to help in an emergency. He/she is the one who will offer to look after your house when you balik kampong. He/she always keeps an eye out for your children. He/she without fail will say hello. He/she is often the only sunshine in a neighbourhood. The super neighbour deserves an Olympic gold medal – for he/she help build our communities.

There are so many dedicated teachers in this country who deserve the credit for nurturing our youngsters. If you turned out well in life, a lot of the credit must go to your teachers. There are so many teachers who simply love their students. Teachers who go out of their way to care for, educate and nurture their pupils. Teachers who, despite their low wages and burgeoning administrative work, look after the students as though they were their own children. Teachers play such an important part in molding our nation – without them, most of us will only be fools. To all my teachers who helped to make me what I am today, you deserve the gold medal at the  World Championship.

Society always heaps praise and accolades on our sports champions, the gifted musicians, the genius artists, etc, etc. There is nothing wrong with that, they wholly deserve it. These heroes set the benchmark for the rest of us, they are our shining beacon, they become our role models. But they are only a very very very small portion of us Malaysians.

The progress and prosperity of our nation actually depends on the bulk of the ordinary committed Malaysians. The worker who gives his utmost best day in day out at what he does is a hero. The mother or father who strives to give their best for their children is a hero. The volunteer who sacrifices the limited time she has to help others is a hero. The policeman who risks his life to apprehend a criminal is a hero. The fireman who braves blazing flames to rescue others is a hero. The teacher who teaches her heart out is a hero.

We salute all committed Malaysians – for without them, the nation is nothing. It is these ordinarily committed Malaysians who turn the spoke of the nation’s wheel. It is they who make a decent life possible in this country. It is they who make Malaysia great. I hope those of you reading this article, are inspired by the dedication of the ordinarily committed Malaysians - and that you too will take up and succeed in challenges that are close to your heart.

Selamat Hari Malaysia

 
** There are of course nitwits, morons, racist, bigots and porcupine-heads in the country. We cannot and should not let the words and actions of these dumb few to cloud our love and dedication for the country.