THE recent Merdeka Parade at Dataran Merdeka was the biggest official celebration of its kind since the Covid pandemic. Many expressed patriotism outwardly in the form of hanging and waving national flags and singing patriotic songs.  

There is nothing wrong with showing love for your country, nor is there anything wrong with not explicitly doing so.   

It’s a case of substance over form; actions really should speak louder than words to show who are the real patriots. 

In Mandarin, the words “Guo Jia” means “country” and is made up of two components: ‘Guo’ (country) and ‘Jia’ (home).  

The interpretation is that a country is made up of many homes. Thus, when one loves the country, one should care for the people and communities who stay there.  

“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country” was famously said by the US President John F. Kennedy in his inaugural speech in 1961. In fact, there are plenty of things a patriot can do for his own country. 

1)    Be a law-abiding citizen: Respect the fact that many laws are necessary for upholding social justice and security. For example, do not commit traffic offences such as speeding or running a red light as these actions would not only put yourself but others at great risk. 

2) Be a tax-paying citizen: One should fulfil one’s social obligation as a taxpayer. This would allow the government to redistribute public resources to cater for the needs of communities and the development of the country. Tax evasion would be flouting the law.  

3) Care for the people: Help vulnerable and needy communities, and promote inclusivity by treating people from different backgrounds alike and with courtesy and respect in the spirit of the second great commandment of Jesus: “Love your neighbour as yourself”. 

4) Contribute one’s best efforts towards building the nation: Make the country proud, whether by winning championships or medals, or attaining scientific achievements at institutions abroad. Some contributions might not be major but valuable and meaningful services to the community should be recognised.  

5) Being concerned about the country’s future: Criticising the country’s current socio-political systems means striving to make Malaysia a better nation. This should not be seen as an act of “tarnishing the country’s image” especially if one’s intention is to be constructive. Even one staying overseas could keep abreast of the latest developments in the country via various means. Patriots would not give up easily on their own country.   

I hope these five points would make you think about the meaning of patriotism, instead of just superficial displays of national symbols. – September 5, 2022.  

* Lim Chee Han is a founding member of Agora Society and a policy researcher. He holds a PhD in infection biology from Hannover Medical School, Germany, and an MSc in immunology and BSc in biotechnology from Imperial College London. Health and socioeconomic policies are his concerns. He believes a nation can advance significantly if policymaking and research are taken seriously.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.