In the sweltering late afternoon Malaysian heat we gathered. Pouring with sweat, beneath the majestically billowing Jalur Gemilang. Dataran Merdeka, exactly 2 months before the 50th Merdeka Celebrations are due to be held. Coincidence? Perhaps.

I think it’s wonderfully symbolic, how citizens from different walks of life came together today in a show of solidarity to promote a shared cause—to protest violence, crime, and threat to our personal safety.

Now, I am normally a cynic when it comes to some things; but this time, I had this swelling urge up in side of me wanting so badly to make a difference I know this is going to sound incredibly soppy but I really do think if we all united we could really make a difference, you know? Because would you want to someday raise your own family in a society where violence and threat of danger is rampant? Could you let your own daughters out of the house without fearing for their safety?

I think it’s awesome that AWAM’s done this. Seriously, no sucking up intended whatsoever. Because as a public transport taker and often a walker around, I know I fear for my own safety. I yearn for a time when I can go out about my business without the thought of imminent death/mugging/rape looming on my mind!

Sadly, all this was quashed rather abruptly by an ironic twist: some of the participants of this Walk & Wheel to promote safe spaces free from physical and verbal threat and abuse actually hooted and made kissy-kissy sounds as I walked by. Ugh! It just irked me. Start with yourselves, you twats, before you pledge allegiance to larger issues. Stop harassing women!

Grr.

Other than that, I had a pretty good time, actually It was a rather small crowd (only about 1,000 present I reckon), but the positive energy was just so palpable! There were disabled persons, Orang Asli, women and kids from shelters, volunteers, families…and, er, me. Wandering around aimlessly trying to take artsy shots with my dinky old Nikon, jotting notes, talking to people.

The courts! I know, I am such a tourist, but it’s ok, I’m with the media. I have an excuse *makes snooty face*.

See? Dataran Merdeka. In big words too.

Haha y’know in Hollywood films, whenever you see a hero with an American flag waving proudly in the background, you involuntarily gag and go ‘Gaaaah..propaganda, propaganda‘…no? Ok well maybe it’s just media students. But this is my own patriotic moment. Jalur Gemilang in the centre and the Wilayah flag especially. I’m a Wilayah Baby and proud of it!

This was one of the moments that touched me—everyone formed a circle signifying unity, holding white cloths to symbolize purity and sacredness, chanting ‘Count me in!’ in English, Malay, Tamil and Mandarin before entering this sacred space.o_O

I quite like this picture. With everyone holding on to the white cloth together, the sunset and the words ‘Bukit Aman’ (Peace Hill?) in the background, it could be interpreted as a hope, or a wish, for the future. Peace, unity and…er, propaganda? No lah, please. But if jadi, I’ll be a very happy chickadee.

The four Sharifah sisters, Aleya, Amani, Aleysha and Aryana reciting this really moving poem as Michael Voon interpreted their words and expressed it through a very graceful dance. I seriously had goosebumps, eeps. Heh.

Volunteers cheerfully leading the disabled and bearing messages on placards as they begun the Walk & Wheel.

Arm in arm, side by side: this evening, forgetting our hang-ups, our problems, our socioeconomic status—we all walked together as Malaysians for a cause. *heart swells with pride*

An AWAM volunteer with the Orang Asli ladies in their personalised t-shirts.

Oh, just one more For posterity.

I know I, among many of us out there, feel immense frustration at times with the way things are run in this country. Some policies seem unfair and just plain stupid; there are endless laws confining freedom of speech with no hope for any immediate revamp (as was in the papers a few days ago); women still suffer discrimination even in the laws and statutes.

We are arguably more racially polarised than ever before. We feel our differences so strongly but cannot verbalise them; we protest so vehemently the course of action taken we often decline the golden opportunity to make a difference by voting during general elections (another one of my pet peeves) while resigning ourselves to bitching about election results; we kutuk the government like crazy but yet offer no solutions.

But for all this apathy and self-centredness, I maintain we all really do love this land. We honour the previous generations that worked this land before us and enjoy the fruits of their labour, we love the food and cincai attitude of our fellow citizens. And as much as this may sound very peppy and mushy and whatnot, I will also maintain that this is our country. (Like it or not) It’s ours to live in, to build futures in.

While you may like things the way they are (or not?), ask yourself, is this the country you want your children and grandchildren to inherit from you someday? Give them something to be proud of.

Kubunudu*

*: (High School) Bear Gibberish for ‘I’m gonna do it!’