It is almost beyond belief that 68 years have passed since our beloved nation first raised the Jalur Gemilang and stood proudly free on that historic morning of 31st August 1957.

Every year as Merdeka returns, I find myself looking back – not only at the milestones of our country’s progress, but also at the way my own life’s story has been intertwined with the story of Malaysia.

I was there at Stadium Merdeka, a wide-eyed child among the sea of people, when Tunku Abdul Rahman’s voice thundered “Merdeka!” seven times.

I did not yet understand the weight of freedom, but I felt it in the air – a spirit alive, carried by the hopes of millions. That day planted a seed of belonging in me that has grown ever since.

My childhood in Kuala Lumpur was coloured with simple joys and strong friendships – days at Pasar Road English School, then at Victoria Institution and later at Sultan Abu Bakar School in Kuantan.

Each school, each friendship, each teacher, shaped me into someone who understood what it meant to live side by side in a Malaysia of many colours.

Life then carried me far away to the United Kingdom, where I spent seven years immersed in the study of architecture. But even as I sketched buildings in Europe, my heart was always tethered to home.

When I returned, I served my contract with UDA and devoted more than five decades to the practice of architecture, professional development, education, and heritage conservation.

In truth, architecture was never just about structures; it was about building a nation, about honouring the past while shaping the future.

Malaysia’s journey

Malaysia’s journey, like life itself, has been a mixture of the good, the challenging, the painful, and the inspiring.

We did not choose to be born here – that was and is Allah’s will – yet how blessed we are to have been placed in this land of abundance, diversity, and resilience.

Here, people of different races, cultures, and faiths have always strived to live, respect, and thrive alongside one another.

I smile now when I recall the saying, “Dulu lain, sekarang lain”. Yes, values have shifted; some have grown stronger, others have faded, and too often they are drowned by the noise of politics, struggles, and the tidal wave of change brought by technology and Artificial Intelligence.

But at the very heart of it, we must hold fast to what makes us Malaysian – our warmth, our respect, our sense of togetherness. This identity, this belonging, is our true inheritance.

We must also never forget that the freedom we celebrate today was not handed to us lightly.

It was fought for, bled for, and carried on the shoulders of our grandparents and parents – men and women who sacrificed their dreams so we could live ours.

They are the true heroes of Merdeka. Without their courage, there would be no self-determination for us to sometimes take for granted today.

And amidst these grand histories, there are the little memories that still make me chuckle.

Like the time my Chinese neighbours’ children were caught playing in the river and we were all caned by my father – only for their own father to laugh and say, “Cane some more!”

Or the kindness of a close Chinese friend’s mother, who would fry a simple piece of fish with rice just for me, knowing the family meal included non-halal meat.

Small acts of thoughtfulness

These small acts of thoughtfulness, quiet respect, and mutual care are the essence of Malaysia. They are the unseen bonds that held us together then – and must continue to hold us together now.

Today, when I see the skyline of Kuala Lumpur glittering with towers, and as I drive through towns transformed by modern amenities, I cannot help but marvel.

We have grown, we have modernised. Yet our true measure is not only in steel and glass, but in whether we have grown in dignity, loyalty, and unity as Malaysians.

On this 68th Merdeka, I pray that we never lose sight of who we are. Let us guard our values, our unity, and our identity as Malaysians.

Let us remember that building this nation is not the duty of leaders alone, but of every citizen who calls this land home.

InshaAllah, Malaysia’s brightest days still lie ahead. But only if we, the true Malaysians, carry the spirit of Merdeka forward – with pride, with faith, and with love.

-- BERNAMA

Datuk Ar (Dr) Haji Hajeedar Abdul Majid is Chairman of ICOMOS Malaysia and Chairman of Majlis Warisan Kebangsaan (JWN) under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.