Unity is when we see differences melded together,
Children laughing and playing over yonder,
Ethnic, language and culture have no borders,
It defines Malaysia as a melting pot of culture.
Unity could be as simple as sharing with each other,
With mothers sitting at the kitchen table;
Laughing and talking as the ‘rendang’ simmers,
Again, makcik’s recipe has won the heart of neighbours.
Unity is when fathers sit at the mamak’s corner,
Everyone there is ‘boss’ regardless of skin colour,
It’s no surprise to see different races seated together,
With deafening claps and rousing cheers;
Lee Chong Wei has won the match of the year.
Unity is mixing different languages together,
“Bahasa rojak” is uniquely a Malaysian treasure,
Multiple tongues jostling under the linguistic umbrella,
It’s a fascinating hybrid, our unofficial lingua franca.
Unity is deep-rooted in us forever,
A notion ingrained in our minds by our ancestors,
Embraced by past generations and for those in the future,
Let us do our part to preserve this peace together.
Unity is understanding this little poem,
It made you smile and nod without further explanation,
Here’s the final cheer to our nation’s freedom,
Happy Independence Day Malaysia,
Our beloved nation.
To commemorate this special day in history, let us come together and celebrate our 61st anniversary of freedom and independence as proud Malaysians.
Sayangi Negaraku, Sayangi Malaysiaku.
Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka!
By Serene Tan