August and September happen to be busy months for civil servants involved in the planning, preparation, and organizing of big state and national events like the Merdeka celebration, the Governor’s Birthday (Harijadi TYT Yang diPertua Negeri) and the national closing of the Merdeka month. This editorial takes this opportune moment to reflect on the significance of these events, their historical perspectives and theoretical underpinnings, pen serious as well as light anecdotal ramblings and conclude by predicting the future of staging such events, as well as taking into consideration the possibility of new challenges including escalating costs involved. And to the civil servants in particular who have been involved year in and year out, it is also a time to reminisce and reflect our roles in providing this public good for the cause of national service.

The Merdeka Celebration is an example of a public good which is indivisible, has to be shared and consumed by the general public and almost always, the public sector plays the lead role in organizing it. Independence celebration has always been a unique event in the history of the country as it serves to remember and commemorate our independence. It is also a time for all Malaysians to renew and invigorate their national feeling and patriotism and thereby promoting national integration and national unity. The celebration in Sarawak, as other states in Malaysia would testify, is aimed to convey its own uniqueness, feeling and meaning. Feeling can sometimes be contagious. At a personal and private level, we all know that feeling means being able to translate one’s inner emotions - like happiness, joyfulness, sadness etc. Feelings can often be manifested into actions - like celebrating a joyous occasion. Sometimes, feelings cannot be manifested into action at all - that when people say “It’s indescribable!”.

For Sarawak, 16 September 1963 is an auspicious day indeed in the annals of the State when the proclamation of Malaysia was read aloud at the Central Padang (now known as Padang Merdeka). Come 1993, who could have forgotten the pageantry, pomp and splendour on 31st August when Sarawak hosted the Merdeka Day celebration in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of her independence through the formation of Malaysia. Moving forward, the 2001 Merdeka Celebration in the State marked another milestone in her history of staging national events where three venues were used - Kuching, Kota Samarahan and Sibu. This time around Sibu became the centre-stage for a double celebration - the TYT’s Birthday on 15th September and the closing of the Merdeka Month on 16th September. The change in venue is equally significant. Sarawak has grown and matured. While Kuching, the capital city, used to be the premier venue for state celebrations, other emerging cities and towns like Sibu, Miri and Bintulu can now boast of their readiness to host any major event. In fact, many of the other up and coming towns have the potential to be good hosts.

The organizers of these events comprised of members of the Armed Forces, Police, civil servants, corporate people, voluntary organizations, schoolteachers and many more. Both ‘managing events’ and ‘events management’ become critical elements in ensuring all state and national-level celebrations hosted by the State are organized efficiently, effectively and economically. One of the challenges for the organizers is the ability to spread the events in a crescendo-like fashion. Thus, the launching in Kuching on 17th August at the Padang Merdeka was somewhat a low-keyed affair with the kicking-off of the Jalur Gemilang flag-raising campaign. Undoubtedly, this was a clever move by the organizers as they slowly brought the country and nation to an eventful climax and grand finale in Sibu. Kota Samarahan played host to the Merdeka Day celebration. The Ambang Merdeka show was a hit with the crowd especially when the Rosli Dhoby theatrical performance by UNIMAS students was televised nationwide. On 31 August, Kota Samarahan was again thronged by people from all walks of life where thousands congregated to witness the parade at the stadium. A record 99 contingents took part in the parade albeit when it rained cats and dogs. Drenched in their best uniforms, traditional attire and gaudy dress, the patriots stood their ground as if they were rainproof! Seeing this phenomenon, the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues braved the rain, greeted the contingents and frolicked in the downpour. What a day it was! On 16th September, which coincided with Hari Malaysia, the Merdeka celebration came to a close. The occasion was graced by the presence of Their Majesties and also the Deputy Prime Minister. Among the highlights of the evening were the dazzling performances of the various cultural troupes and pyrotechnic display which sparkled Sibu’s skyline momentarily. Like in Kota Samarahan, the rain came but it did not spoil the occasion nor dampened the spirits of participants, guests and watchers. With these events intervened by the rain, sources close to the organizers lamented that the “rain consultants” terms of reference have to be severely reviewed in future.

Staging and celebrating these events, episodes and extravaganza surely has its significance and meaning. In order to comprehend its true significance and meaningfulness let us look at the thoughts and views of some philosophers and academic writers on the subjects of independence, nationalism and patriotism. These are words that are closely linked and serve as contributing factors that drastically change the post-war political landscape in most developing countries. When a number of countries gained their independence after World War Two, the rest, as they say, is history. Thus, in this political science context, independence often conveys freedom from the shackles of colonialism and imperialism, the formation of new sovereign nation-states that subscribe to the basic tenets of democratic governance and the liberty of such states to determine their own future destiny.

We recognize that our political leaders and activists have struggled for independence and that the present and future generations can reap and are expected to reap the fruits of independence. In the reverberating words of Tunku Abdul Rahman, the nation’s first premier, “Every Malaysian should be reminded of what we had to go through to get the independence which they now enjoy”. Let us reflect the Tunku’s call in greater detail. The Tunku’s words, lest we forget said he, beckon and hearken us of the trials and tribulation associated with the early struggles of our leaders and also to be reminded of our roles as good citizens. Very often, with the passage of time and in the oblivious way they enjoy the fruits of independence, the new generation tends to forget about the deeds of our past leaders and their peers. The newer generation of Malaysians need to be mindful and grateful at the same time. We must not be complacent nor think of business as usual. We must look beyond. We must look back, reflect, ponder and extrapolate at our own creativity and contributions, our innovations and initiatives, our resolve and resolutions, our aspirations, dreams, hopes and finally, vision. The struggle for independence can be a bloody affair in some countries like Indonesia and even Malaya, some got their independence on a silver platter like India, Pakistan and Ceylon (Now Sri Lanka). Some countries even go to war again after gaining independence as the case in Vietnam. Independence is also viewed as a newly-found status that has to be maintained against all odds.

We next look at the word ‘nationalism’. Unlike indepen-dence, it is a much easier word to define simply because it is regarded as an ideology. It is primarily a political ideology that developed in Europe in the latter part of the 18th century and throughout the 19th century. Alvin Toffler, the futurologist, reiterates that nationalism is the ideology of the nation state, which is a product of the industrial revolution. After the end of World War II, in 1945, it spread its wings relentlessly to developing countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, including Latin America. In the context of political science, according to Macridis and Hulliung, like all political ideologies, nationalism is an instrument for the acquisition of political power by certain groups and the organization of political power on the basis of new principles - notably popular participation. Malaysia’s ideology, for example, is clearly encapsulated in the objectives and principles of the Rukunegara, which serve as a nexus binding the peoples of Malaysia together. Similarly, Hugh Seton-Watson defines nationalism as “ a policy of creating national consciousness within a politically unconscious population” and he notes that its purpose was precisely the mobilization of a population behind new leaders and social forces. Nationalism remains a potent force and a unifying ideology for national identity. Its aim is to generate emotional supports, create a state of exaltation and sacrifice, and provide for loyalty to the nation.

This sheer loyalty to the nation, rather than to specific class, creed, region, tribe or religion , has something to do with the word patriotism. Patriotism is therefore the bedrock of a nation’s political stability and governmental effectiveness. Patriotism depends on how well the citizens can identify themselves with national pride. Thus patriotism evokes loyalty and loyalty evokes patriotism. According to Austin Ranney, loyalty or patriotism means“ putting the security and welfare of their own nation and government above those of all other nations and governments”. Perhaps the best and most apt description of patriotism comes from the great French political philosopher, Jean-Jacques Rousseau . Rousseau speaks volumes of patriotism when he states that “It is certain that the greatest miracles of virtue have been produced by patriotism; this fine and lovely feeling, which gives to force of self-love all the beauty of virtue, lends it an energy which, without disfiguring it, makes it the most heroic of all passions”. Of course we are mindful that others like Marx and Engels provide the contrarian view that patriotism can mislead workers into supporting capitalist foreign adventures and inhibits the development of proletarian class consciousness. We must categorically state here that we do not subscribe to this perverse view of Marx and Engels.

What will be the future of staging national celebrations like Independence Day? Australia has just celebrated her “Centenary Year” since the formation of the Commonwealth in 1901 with colourful display. India’s National Day is often celebrated with a display of their military wares and industrial might. Indonesia has traditionally placed a dominant presence of their military in their celebrations. Malaysia’s celebration generally reflects the participation of all groups and the contemporary growth of a young and developing nation. Come 2003, Sarawak will be celebrating its 40th anniversary of independence in Malaysia and come 2007 Malaysia will be celebrating its golden independence anniversary. What it means here is that Independence Day will be celebrated for as long as the people of the country and nation-state is able to maintain peace, loyalty, political stability and protect the motherland from internal and external threats.

For us in the public sector, or those in the Civil Service who are in the business of delivering public goods, let us continue to always be prepared. We must try our very best to keep the records of managing these events, know the critical success factors and moments of truth, recognize the importance of teamwork and the voluntary efforts put forth by all and sundry in managing and delivering the public good of celebration. Looking back, it would also be fruitful if the organizers could have archived their annual experiences all these years, relating about the construction of arches in the bygone days, the logos, the patriotic songs, the adminis-trative programmes, the souvenir programmes and the celebration themes. After all, public servants are indeed experts in delivering public goods as well as services. As such, the job of civil servants in itself reflects an act of patriotism. Why? Because of the love for the country. Keranamu Malaysia.