What does the Word 'Merdeka' Means to Me?

MERDEKA!

MERDEKA!

MERDEKA!

  Today, 31st August 2018, marks the 61st Independence Day of Malaysia! Malaysia finally manage to get free from British Empire on 31st August 1957 and our first Prime Minister was Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj. We know what is 'merdeka' but what does the word means to me besides freedom and so on?

  Merdeka is generally defined as independent and freedom. It is derived from Sanskrit maharddhika which means rich, power and prosperous. In Malaysia archipelago, it simply means a freed slave.

  What do I think when I first heard the word? Well, 'merdeka' is freedom, so I think the nation is free to voice out their thoughts and opinions to public eye, free to embrace any religion, free to move anywhere without getting controlled by the authorities and more. Independence create choices to be made. It's just how a person make their choice. We are free to do whatever we want without getting spied on people, shout out whatever is playing in our minds, free to have a lot of luxury and have a wealthy life and no one forces anyone to change their religion. Basically I think it is like respecting others and no one is going to stop you from getting what you want. Well... maybe some people.

  Well, for some people and maybe a small part inside my head, the word merdeka means holidays! Well, that's what I actually used to think because every time Independence Day arrived, the first thing I thought is holiday! As I grow up, I realized the real and true definition of 'merdeka' and I am going to appreciate what our former leaders had done to protect Malaysia!