Today’s Generation Must Hand Down a Better Malaysia, Saarani Says

Malaysia’s independence call should be treated as a promise, not only a tribute to the past, Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad said at a state National Day eve celebration.

The promise, he said, is to those who fought for independence and to Malaysians who will inherit the country in the future. The present generation must protect and strengthen Malaysia, then hand it over in better condition than it received it.

Saarani said earlier generations had fulfilled their responsibility by fighting for independence and leaving behind a free country. The task now falls to today’s Malaysians, as rapid technological change creates new opportunities while also bringing economic challenges and faster flows of information.

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Our responsibility is to ensure that when the time comes to hand this country to the generation after us, we hand over a Malaysia that is better than when we received it.

He questioned whether Malaysians could continue to trust one another, disagree without becoming enemies and prevent prejudice from overriding judgment. Despite differences in race, religion and background, he said, people share a desire for peace, happy families and a better future for their children.

He called for Malaysia to remain peaceful and united, while strengthening the economy to create wider opportunities. Every child, he said, should believe the country offers room to build a better future. More than 20,000 people from different backgrounds gathered at Bulatan Sultan Azlan Shah in Bandar Meru Raya to await midnight and chant “Merdeka” for the 69th National Day. They later sang Negaraku and raised the Jalur Gemilang before a fireworks display ended the celebration.

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When we chant Merdeka together, let us not chant it only to remember history. Let us chant it as a promise.