From MH370 and MH17 to Malaysia’s journey of resilience, remembrance and independence, a reflection on national strength, hope and responsibility
WATCHING The Bombing of Pan Am 103 on Netflix reminded me of the time Malaysia was tested by the double tragedies of MH370 and MH17.
Families endured profound personal losses and Malaysians grieved alongside them as we mourned these tragedies.
The loss of loved ones can be psychologically devastating. Years may pass but the grief can remain. It is, perhaps, the price we pay for having loved deeply.
MH17 was not only a personal tragedy for families but also a national and international tragedy. I still remember the grey sky outside my window as I watched the caskets being carried from the special aircraft at the Bunga Raya Complex on television.
I remember, too, the way my heart skipped a beat as I listened to the announcer read out the names and details of the victims of this senseless act of violence.
In the Netflix series, I watched not only the anguish of piecing together what happened on the night of Dec 21, 1988, in the small Scottish town of Lockerbie but also how its story was defined by catastrophe, quiet dignity and the extraordinary compassion of its residents.
The community mobilised, with residents opening their homes to grieving families. Volunteers provided hot meals, tea and warm clothing to search-and-rescue teams working in freezing winter conditions. And the laundry ladies carefully collected scattered garments after forensic clearance, ensuring that even the smallest personal belongings were treated with the utmost respect.
August has always been an especially sentimental month for me. Perhaps it is because when we watch our National Day parade, it fills our hearts with pride and gratitude for having a place to call home.
It has not been an easy journey to get here. Our modern history has shown how Malaysia has been tested by unprecedented crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic. We cried. We grieved. We pondered how tomorrow would be like.
Tragedies left us with two choices: to retreat into despair or to move forward with hope. Malaysians have never wavered in choosing the right side of history.
Our journey – from the heartbreaks of 2014 to the long road of post-pandemic recovery – illustrates that national resilience is not accidental. It is achieved through clear heads, sound minds, compassionate hearts and responsive communities that instinctively come together in times of trial.
There have been times when I have wondered what the world might look like today had Sir Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin not found a way to cooperate during the Second World War.
When Churchill delivered his “Finest Hour” speech on June 18, 1940, Britain stood virtually alone against Nazi Germany, with the fate of Europe hanging in the balance.
As war raged across Europe, Malaya remained vital to the British Empire for its rubber and tin. Japan’s invasion in 1941 brought years of brutal occupation.
According to my late grandparents, those years were among the most turbulent in Malaya’s history – a period that witnessed the collapse of British colonial rule and the hardship and brutality of Japanese occupation.
Amid the devastation to Malaya’s politics, economy and social fabric, the seeds of nationalism and sovereignty began to sow. We learned the hard way that British supremacy and invincibility were myths.
We witnessed an Asian power defeat a Western superpower. We began to believe that we were not innately inferior and were able to govern on our own.
The rejection of the Malayan Union in 1946, the formation of the Federation of Malaya in 1948, the Emergency and the growth of local political institutions and intercommunal cooperation all helped pave the way to independence in 1957. Our independence was built on the sacrifices, perseverance and selflessness of those who came before us. What we inherited is not merely a nation to call home but an amanah – a trust and responsibility to leave it better for generations to come.
Even if it takes years, we must persevere in our responsibility to build a better Malaysia for all. We have done well but we can do better – for a nation to have dignity, power must have accountability, and its people must embrace responsibility.
These intertwined values must guide our continued efforts to build a safe, prosperous and thriving home for everyone, not just a few.
Life can only be understood backwards but must be lived forwards. Progress and regress are inevitable but through the swings of good and bad times, we must never lose our conscience.
In Season 8 of Game of Thrones, Lord Varys told Queen Daenerys: “Do not become what you have always struggled to defeat.”
The road to meaningful independence is long. Respect must be earned through hard work, sincerity and a commitment to serve the nation before oneself. The people are watching, and time remains the truest judge of intent and character. Let us strive to love our nation before ourselves, whatever vocation we choose.
Happy 69th, Malaysia. Thank you for being my home.
Nur Ayuni Zainal Abidin
Putrajaya
