Flag flies high in market and homes
Vendors and residents highlight their patriotic values with Jalur Gemilang
GEORGE TOWN: The Jalur Gemilang flies proudly across markets, neighbourhoods and homes as Malaysians gear up for their 68th National Day.
At the bustling Lebuh Cecil Market, drinks seller Chng Beng Chye has built tall illuminated poles around his stall, adorned with over a dozen mini Jalur Gemilang flags.
'Each year, I decorate my stall with flags and light the poles in red and blue LED strips to match the flag colours when National Day approaches.
'It lifts the patriotic spirit among locals and shows tourists how we honour our country,' said the 70-year-old when met at the stall yesterday.
While acknowledging recent controversies over flags being wrongly displayed, Chng urged Malaysians to look past them.
'I believe no one born and raised in this country would purposely disrespect the flag.
'If we all come together for the love of the country, we can move forward to greater heights,' said Chng, who has been trading there since the 1990s.
Just a few stalls away, Lim Siew Eng, 90, has her pastry stall crowned with a neat row of Jalur Gemilang flags that flutter in the breeze all year round.
The national flag, she said, holds deep meaning because she lived through the hard times before independence and has seen how far the country has come.
'By decorating my stall, visitors know they are in Malaysia and we are proud Malaysians.
'I was born here, even without much education, I can speak Bahasa Malaysia because it is my national language.
'We should celebrate National Day as one nation,' she said.
The patriotic fervour is also spreading through residential areas, with Pangsapuri Pelangi's Kawasan Rukun Tetangga putting up about 60 flags around the neighbourhood.
The place is home to some 5,000 residents.
Its chairman, K. Muniandy, 59, said as a multiracial community, no one is left out when it comes to celebrating National Day.
'Surrounded by the Jalur Gemilang, we are reminded of our independence and the harmony we enjoy today,' he said.
At Sri Saujana Flats, joint management committee chairman Yeoh Kean Huat, 54, said six flags now greet residents.
'Last year, we had over 100 flags strung down the blocks.
'Although fewer this year, the spirit remains, and we urge residents to respect the flag and play their role in upholding it,' he said.
Malaysia will celebrate its 68th National Day with the main parade in Putrajaya on Aug 31, followed by Malaysia Day celebration at PICCA@Arena Butterworth in Penang on Sept 16.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Mobile library ignites reading passion in rural Sabah schools
Pupils visiting the mobile library to read books. KUNAK (Aug 15): Mobile libraries provide a service to cultivate reading habits among schoolchildren. These libraries use modified vehicles like vans and buses to bring books and other reading materials to areas lacking permanent libraries, especially in rural regions. Muhammad Said Librarian Muhammad Said Maarop, 57, one of the earliest staff of the mobile library, stated that the service visits schools according to a fixed schedule. 'Currently, we rotate visits to 24 schools, including SK Sentosa in Kinabatangan and SK Lok Buani in Tungku, where the journey takes about three hours from Lahad Datu town,' he said. 'During each mobile library visit to schools, most pupils choose children's fiction books because they contain pictures and easy-to-understand writing. 'These are the children we need to educate from an early age to foster their interest in reading, even though various innovative reading materials are now accessible via smartphones,' he told the media during the Jalur Gemilang Convoy and Peraskian Sahabat Maritim X Borneo Food Fest programme. He added that this service helps pupils access the reading materials they seek, as the books provided are the latest and best available. Muhammad Said, who has served for over 20 years, shared experiences including a boy named Rosli who frequently visited the mobile library to request reading materials. Years later, the boy returned to meet him as a qualified teacher. 'The mobile library not only encourages pupils to cultivate reading habits but also helps build strong relationships between the library and the community,' he explained. In Lahad Datu district, the mobile library service began in 1997 and now has over 500 registered members among schoolchildren. Regarding the Jalur Gemilang Convoy (KMJG) programme, Muhammad Said believes it effectively raises awareness about National Month celebrations and Sabah Day. 'Not all rural communities like those in Felda settlements are directly exposed to such celebrations. The presence of the KMJG convoy helps locals understand these events,' he stated. He noted that the service aligns with this year's National Day theme: 'Malaysia Madani: Compassionate Citizens'.
New Straits Times
7 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Sincere friendships and the true spirit of Merdeka
I RECENTLY picked up my wife from a shopping mall after she spent the day with her best friend — someone she had not seen in years. Her friend works abroad and was back in Malaysia for a short holiday. Even in the car, their conversation continued, overflowing with stories and laughter. I could sense the sincerity in their bond. It reminded me of my friendships that have stood the test of time — how they shape not just who we are, but how we see the world around us. On the way to sending her home, I pointed out the Merdeka 118 tower and mentioned a recent meeting I had on its 91st floor. Her friend responded by saying the building's spire resembled the outstretched hand of Tunku Abdul Rahman during the declaration of independence. That sparked a lively exchange in the car. My second daughter shared that her school would be celebrating Merdeka soon — and that there might not be any lessons that day, so she hoped to skip it. My eldest quickly teased her, saying that she was not being patriotic. That conversation during the car ride brought me back to my youth. I thought of Wong, my close schoolmate, whom I had not met in over 20 years. He, too, lives abroad. I still remember one afternoon during our secondary school days when I told him I could not attend our school's Merdeka activity preparation because my bicycle had broken down. Without hesitation, he offered to pick me up — even though it meant a 30-minute ride through hilly roads, followed by another 20 minutes to school. Not to mention an extra 50 minutes for him to send me home after. I was reluctant, but he insisted. We ended up going together, with me riding on the back of his bicycle. That simple act of kindness has stayed with me. Another memory that stands out is a weekend camping trip organised by our Red Crescent Association. It was the first time Wong and I were attending. Kumaran, another close friend, initially said he could not join us but did not explain why. We persuaded him to come, believing his presence would make it more fun. On the day of the camp, while most of us arrived with camping bags, Kumaran came carrying a few red plastic grocery bags filled with his clothes and supplies. Seeing that, I immediately felt regret for persuading him. If I had known, I would have offered him a proper bag. Still, we had fun — and that weekend remains one of my most cherished memories of sincere friendship. While pursuing my studies in Germany, I met Kelvin and Vishnu, fellow Malaysians. We clicked instantly and became close friends. Sincerity came naturally. We supported each other, respected our cultural and religious differences, and extended that same understanding to our international classmates. Although we haven't met in person for some time, we had an online chat last year, and the bond remains strong. As Malaysia prepares to celebrate Merdeka and Malaysia Day, I reflect on what these occasions truly mean to me. Beyond sovereignty and unity, they symbolise the power of sincere friendships — connections that transcend background, race and beliefs. If more of us can nurture such bonds in our lives, then perhaps Malaysia will achieve its truest form of Merdeka.
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Meet Josephine Amalanathan: Merdeka witness, headmistress extraordinaire
PORT KLANG, Aug 15 — For many Malaysians, the declaration of independence at Stadium Merdeka on August 31, 1957, is a moment learned through history books, old radio clips, black-and-white documentaries, or family stories passed down over generations. But for Mary Josephine Amalanathan, now 89, that bright Saturday morning lives vividly in her memory, a day she will always cherish. 'I was there at Merdeka Stadium on Aug 31 to witness the historic moment of the Union Jack being lowered and (first Prime Minister) Tunku Abdul Rahman proudly raising the Jalur Gemilang and declaring our nation's independence,' she said. The grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of one recalls standing shoulder to shoulder with thousands of Malaysians, filled with hope and pride, as they watched a new nation being born. 'I saw the Tunku, Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Tun VT Sambanthan – our founding fathers – up close. The first Yang di-Pertuan Agong was there too. It was unforgettable.' She added that when the Tunku cried out the iconic 'Merdeka', the atmosphere was exhilarating. 'I still feel the excitement of that moment. It was unity, it was joy, it was freedom,' she recalled in an interview with Bernama at her home here. But Josephine is not just an eyewitness to history. This former headmistress also helped shape it — in classrooms filled with young pupils with big dreams. A trailblazer in education Her journey as an educator began in 1955 as a trainee teacher at the Convent School in Kajang, Selangor (now known as SK Convent Kajang). Josephine had just passed her Senior Cambridge (a British examination equivalent to today's SPM), and, 'So, straight to work it was for me.' Due to the lack of formal teachers' training institutes back then, Josephine attended a training course for 'normal class teachers' at Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur every Saturday. This way, she managed to equip herself with the skills needed for a job she took to heart. She then went on to teach at Marian Convent in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, and the Convent School in Klang, Selangor. In 1961, when she was just 25, Josephine was appointed the first headmistress of SK St Anne's Convent in Port Klang, Selangor, and was confirmed in her post after four years, a rare honour and likely making her the youngest to hold such a position at the time. 'The nuns chose me,' she said humbly. From just 60 pupils in its early days, mostly from modest households in Port Klang and Pandamaran, Josephine, together with a team of dedicated teachers, helped build St Anne's into a thriving institution of over 600 students by the time she left in 1987 to join SRK Methodist Girls School in Klang (MGS Klang) as its headmistress, where she had more than 1,600 students under her administration. 'There were no VIP children or doctors' kids at St Anne's. Many parents could not even afford the RM2.50 monthly school fees,' she said. 'But we found a way, convincing the school board to exempt them. Education has to be for everyone.' Strict but caring Mrs Nathan, as Josephine was fondly known among her students and teachers, was a firm believer in discipline, but she was compassionate as well. Her mere stare could silence a noisy class. If that failed, a 12-inch wooden ruler on the desk would do the trick, she said, chuckling. She was never cruel, just caring. Some of the teachers who worked with Josephine recalled how she carefully rechecked exercise books corrected by them. She also championed handwriting as an essential skill. 'There was a dedicated slot in the timetable just for handwriting,' Josephine said. 'Block letters for the younger ones (pupils), and cursive from Standard Four upwards. Teachers had to follow the standard, too.' Former teachers recall she taught her students to leave a finger's width between words and insisted on the correct use of punctuation. Many of her students, who later became teachers and headmistresses, still thank her not just for neat penmanship but for the lessons in precision and pride. Legacy of respect and excellence Josephine's commitment to excellence did not stop at her students. She reviewed teachers' record books with the same diligence, gently marking mistakes with a pencil, said Kamaleswary Sandragesu, who took over as headmistress at St Anne's Convent after Josephine was transferred to MGS Klang. Kamaleswary described Josephine as 'hardworking, fair and always the first to arrive and last to leave'. Retired teacher Quake Geok Lee, who taught at St Anne's Convent when Josephine was headmistress, recalled an incident when an education officer came to the school for an inspection and asked her (Quake) why there was a 'pin-drop silence' in the school. 'My answer was simple: our headmistress, Mrs Nathan, instilled good discipline,' Quake said, adding, 'Parents back then supported teachers. If a child was scolded in school, they got a second round (of scolding) at home! Today, parents are more defensive. How quickly times have changed.' For Josephine, it was a proud moment when her school, MGS Klang, emerged as the overall winner in the 'Best Decorated and Cleanest School' competition in 1990, organised by the Klang Education Office and Klang Municipal Council (now known as Royal Klang City Council). It competed against 73 primary and 123 secondary schools. Life beyond the classroom Josephine retired in 1991 at the age of 55, but the educator in her never truly left. She went on to offer free tuition to underprivileged children through an organisation called Educare, which was run by nuns of the Franciscan Missionary Divine Mercy. Josephine also co-founded the St Anne's Convent Alumni Association in 2015, becoming its first patron. 'My heart will always be with St Anne's. That's where I grew up,' she said. In 2014, a group of former students of St Anne's Convent, led by Cynthia Varghese and guided by Josephine, came together with a shared vision – to unite all ex-students through the alumni association. Their inaugural gathering took place on January 24, 2015, bringing together 150 former students. The alumni's 10th anniversary dinner will be held on August 23 at the Crystal Crown Hotel here. For her decades of dedicated service, Josephine was awarded the Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK) by the then Sultan of Selangor in 1989. Josephine was magnanimous in paying tribute and attributing her accomplishments to the exemplary teamwork and cooperation shown by former teachers and students. Josephine, or Mrs Nathan, is undoubtedly a woman who did not just teach lessons from textbooks but shaped lives through kindness, discipline and the unshakable belief that every child, no matter how small, can shine. — Bernama
