As Merdeka Day approaches, I find myself thinking about a simple question:
What does MalaysiaKita really mean?
Is it the Jalur Gemilang flying proudly? Nasi lemak, roti canai and laksa? Different races sitting at the same table, sharing food, stories and laughter?
Yes.
But to me, MalaysiaKita should also be about how we work together, build businesses and treat the people within the same ecosystem.
This thought came to me while reflecting on the way the PETRONAS lubricants business operates in Malaysia.
Let me be clear: one company's business model cannot represent the Malaysian government or Malaysia as a whole. But sometimes, what happens in business can serve as a small mirror of the bigger system.
PETRONAS is one of Malaysia's most recognisable national brands. Its name carries tremendous trust and emotional value among Malaysians. That is precisely why the way its distribution network operates matters.
With multiple agents, distributors and dealers, the challenge is not simply selling more lubricants. It is making sure everyone understands who is responsible for which territory, what pricing structure applies, how rebates and credit notes are processed, and what each partner is expected to achieve.
When territories overlap, prices become inconsistent, rebates or credit notes take too long to process, or new dealers are appointed without sufficient sales capability, something can happen:
We stop growing the market and start fighting each other.
One distributor invests in salespeople, vehicles, warehouses and customer development. Then another channel enters the same area with different pricing or commercial terms.
The customer naturally asks:
"Why should I buy from you when someone else can offer me a better deal?"
Suddenly, the competition is no longer simply PETRONAS versus Shell, Castrol or other brands.
It becomes PETRONAS versus PETRONAS.
And everyone loses.
The distributor loses margin. The dealer loses confidence. The salesperson loses motivation. The customer becomes confused. Ultimately, the brand itself may suffer.
But there is another MalaysiaKita question worth asking:
What happens when people within an organisation feel that they are not equally represented or heard?
For example, imagine a workplace made up of 86% Bumiputera, 13% non-Bumiputera and 1% non-Malaysian employees. Should we simply look at those numbers and turn them into a racial argument?
I don't think so.
The more important question is:
Does everyone, regardless of background, have a fair opportunity to contribute, grow and be heard?
Malaysia's strength has always been its diversity. Different backgrounds bring different experiences, ideas, perspectives and networks to the same table.
This is not about taking opportunities away from anyone.
It is about making sure everyone has a place at the table.
If Malaysian businesses want to compete globally, we cannot afford to compete with ourselves internallyβwhether through unclear territories, inconsistent pricing, slow processes, unequal opportunities or a lack of diverse voices.
PETRONAS already has something many companies would dream of having: a powerful Malaysian identity.
But a strong national name can open the door.
It cannot close the deal by itself.
That requires competitive pricing, clear territories, fair commercial arrangements, responsive processes, reliable supply and, most importantly, a distribution system where partners feel they are building the same businessβnot competing for the same piece of the pie.
So my question this Merdeka is not:
βIs PETRONAS good or bad?β
My question is:
Are we making full use of the strength we already have?
Merdeka ke-69 should not only be about celebrating how far Malaysia has come.
It should also be about asking how we can do better.
Because MalaysiaKita is more than different races standing together for a photograph.
It should mean fair opportunities, clearer rules, stronger partnerships and a system where everyone has a reason to grow together.
We don't need to tear down our own people to move forward.
We need to stop fighting ourselves.
Because when Malaysian companies, distributors, dealers, retailers, employees and consumers grow together, the whole country becomes stronger.
That, to me, is MalaysiaKita. π²πΎ
Merdeka ke-69.
Malaysia Day, 16 September.
Not just a celebration of the Malaysia we inheritedβ
but a reminder to build a better Malaysia together.
π For Fellow Motorsport Fans
Looking for F1 or MotoGP tickets? I've included some useful links below. Hope they help fellow motorsport fans!
ποΈ F1 Tickets β https://www.bahraingp.com/tickets/events
ποΈ MotoGP Malaysia 2026 Tickets β https://tickets.motogp.com/en/21101-malaysia/
Please check the official ticketing websites for the latest availability, prices and event information.
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Paul Woon SF (wsfpaul@yahoo.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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