SEPT 3 — Merdeka Day has come and gone. Malaysia has been independent for 53 years now. I think it’s a very proud milestone. We’ve survived all this while!

Next up is Malaysia Day on September 16. Another milestone, marking the year when Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore joined to form Malaysia.

I’m fiercely patriotic. If you don’t believe me, sit with me as I drive on the AKLEH highway and witness the tears roll down my cheeks every time I see the KL skyline.

We have some of the tallest buildings in the world, smoothest highways and biggest shopping malls. We have come a long way indeed.

In fact, recently, Newsweek magazine even ranked Malaysia No. 37 on its best country list.

Holy smokes! We even beat nations like the UAE, Thailand, Qatar and Turkey. And for your information, the top three countries are Finland, Switzerland and Sweden.

The factors that were considered in the compilation included education, health, quality of life, economic competitiveness and political environment. Seems fair to me.

I guess this goes to show that Malaysia has grown up and is now a mature adult. She can stand on her own two feet and keep her head and shoulders high.

So I’m very proud and very happy to celebrate Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day. But then things had to dampen my mood.

First up was the Namewee controversy. Here is a young man who uses his art as a way to voice his opinions and thoughts.

He saw something happening in his country which he did not like. He decided to express his feelings and hope for better things for his country through a YouTube clip.

Instead, he gets criticised and hauled up for questioning. View the video here and decide for yourself.

Then, a botched Merdeka celebration in Malacca happened.

NGO Pusat KOMAS wanted to organise a screening of a film called “Gadoh” on Merdeka night at the Malacca Chinese Assembly Hall.

Unfortunately, Special Branch officers showed up and informed the group that it could not screen the film as it could be a threat to public order.

I have seen the film and I can’t find a shred of threat in it or anything that might cause public disorder. In fact, it actually promotes racial harmony and peace.

Being in the field I am, I always hope and pray that Malaysia, amidst all its economic and financial growth, would also grow artistically.

I think that the ultimate sign a country has matured is when its entire society can learn to have discourse and share opinions and ideas without fear.

Let’s hope that comes soon. Happy birthday, Malaysia!

* Catch Zan’s special Malaysia Day documentary “Kampung Baru Alaf Baru” every Monday in the month of September at 7:30pm on ntv7.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.