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The nation’s Father of Independence, Tunku Abdul Rahman, had said that it was the muhibbah spirit, mutual understanding and trust of the people, which had helped the nation to achieve its Independence Merdeka Day Message by Kerk Kim Hock (Petaling Jaya, Saturday): As Malaysians from all races celebrate our nation’s 46th Merdeka Day, we must remember these values that have united our forefathers in their struggle to achieve Independence and have continued to ensure the nation’s peace and racial harmony.   Indeed, these are the great values which must be strengthened and enhanced so as to bring the nation to greater heights.  At a time when the Merdeka celebration is more and more geared towards commemoration in the form of emotive slogans and symbolism, coupled with the Malacca Chief Minister ‘s ridiculous statement that those who do not fly the national flag are not fit to be Malaysians, we must also ensure that the true meaning of patriotism is not threatened or lost .   While there can be many ways to define what is real patriotism, a simple definition will be “ to be a good Malaysian - one who is prepared to stand up, defend and sacrifice for the nation and in his own way, role and capacity, makes daily and positive contribution to help make this nation a better place for all”.   History must not be forgotten and the younger generation of Malaysians in particular, must remember that the independence of our nation from the colonialists was achieved through the sacrifices of the major races.  It is important that Malaysians continue to reaffirm the greatest contribution of the nation’s first prime minister – the founding nation building principle that Malaysia is a democratic secular nation.   Malaysians, regardless of race and religion, must therefore continue to uphold our secular Constitution and defend the 1957 social contract reached by the major races on independence that Malaysia is a democratic, secular, multi-religious and tolerant nation with Islam as the official religion but not an Islamic state.  We must continue to equip and prepare ourselves to face the many challenges of globalization and liberalization in the era of information technology. The government must be prepared to address the nation’s problems in the perspective of Malaysians versus the world, and no longer in the dichotomy of bumiputras versus the non-bumiputras.   The DAP will continue our struggle for a better tomorrow where each and every Malaysian can enjoy equality, justice, freedom and democracy under the Malaysian sun. (30/8/2003) * Kerk Kim Hock, DAP Secretary General and MP for Kota Melaka