As a child, the word “Merdeka”,

Meant independence from White Colonialism,

End of the Tyranny of Foreign Rule,

That as a nation we would embrace sovereignty,

Rule ourselves with pride and dignity.

We flew the Jalur Gemilang, proclaiming,

“Merdeka! Merdeka ! Merdeka!”

The Dawn of a New Era.

How much we wanted to believe.

Even as we exchanged the old system for a new one,

Entrenched in a different form of supremacy.

Apartheid has many faces, after all.

As an adult, the word “Merdeka”,

Meant different things as years passed.

Just look at us now. See what happened.

This gem, heavenly paradise, that we call

Negaraku, Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku,

Plundered, pilfered, pulverized,

Greedy, guzzling, greasy,

Fat, fearsome filthy politicians,

Have carved and eaten up this land,

Saliva slobbering on slippery lips.

While the rest of us lie hungry,

Weary of Utter Gutter Rubbish Politics.

“Pendatang” ! They cry aloud, looking at you,

Your race, ethnicity, a pawn in their hands,

An ugly tool to divide us and rule,

They fail to remember that,

Their ancestors at some point in time,

Scrambled and sailed to this land,

Looking for fame and fortune,

Just like your forefathers,

And mine. Look in the mirror.

So they are “Pendatang” too.

We all are, my friend.

And brother.

My Country, Negaraku,

Where do we go from here?

Do not forsake us, for there is still Hope,

That shines, this ray, a light that says,

This you must do – Kill the Demon of Race Politics,

That Ugly Monster tearing us apart, eating us alive,

Stab that Devil, so that your children,

Will understand what Merdeka really means,

How powerful that cry for Freedom, Independence,

Was, and Still is.

Go now, take your Keris and slay the Beast,

Let justice reign, so that your children,

Will really be equal, and at last see,

What it means to be truly free.

Cover image by Yaopey Yong on Unsplash. The copyright of this piece belongs to the author of this literary work.  

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