On the occasion of Malaysia's 61st National Day (31 August 2018), I would like to dedicate this poem entitled Selangkah Maju to all Malaysians, of all creed and colour. No matter which side of the fence we are on, let us give ourselves a pat on the back and celebrate the very essence of what being Malaysian is all about. The events of 9th May 2018 has shown us, and the world, that CHANGE does not have to be followed by CHAOS. Let's celebrate UNITY IN DIVERSITY just as we have done so throughout the ages.
Happy Merdeka Day Malaysia! And many, many more happy and prosperous years to come.
Selangkah Maju
Oleh See Teik Guan
Lahirnya negara di kala subuh
Berkobar semangat jiwa tubuh
Malangnya hasrat tidak dipatuh
Paginya maju, petangnya runtuh
Kain usang selendang mata
Kuburkan wawasan anak bangsa
Jejak mara dibendung gelora
Suara tentangan dipadam nyala
“Merdeka apa yang dilaung-laungkan?
Terlepas gengaman, masuk cengkaman”
Bahtera terpesong kian tersesat
Arah tujuan tiada bertambat
Angin tamak meniup kesat
Arus hina terus menyumbat
Sungai dibendung, tanah digersang
Ranting rintangan rimbun membengkang
Tahun melangkah bulan berkembang
Usaha keringat rakyat terjengkang
Tetapi;
Di bawah awan gelap kemundang
Semangat warga menyala kencang
Di saat tanahairku genting terpincang
Rakyat bersatu berikhtiar menentang
Gelombang kuning mencecah pinggiran
Batasan kota retak tepian
Riak gembira merata semboyan
Selangkah maju negara sayangan
Ufuk gemilang terbit kembali
Bahtera negara ditemukan kemudi
Merdeka disambut kalian ini
Merdeka di mata, merdeka di hati
SELAMAT SEJAHTERA MALAYSIA BARU
English Translation
A Step Forward
By See Teik Guan
At dawn, our nation was born
With great enthusiasm in both body and soul
But the will of the people was soon forgotten
And progress achieved in the morning, was ruined by evening
An old cloth veiled and blinded our sight
Burying the vision of the people
Each step forward, halted by crashing waves
Each voice of dissent, extinguished like a dying flame
“What is the meaning of Freedom (Merdeka) that (past) leaders are shouting about?
When in truth, it is akin to being released from a cage straight into a tiger’s mouth”
Our nation’s vessel has lost it’s direction
There is no set destination
The wind of greed blows coarsely through the land
The current of despise fills the void
River flows are blocked and our land is drained, arid
The branches of resistance are binding
Months and years pass by
The people’s hard efforts are stuck
But;
Underneath the lost and wandering dark clouds
The spirit of the nation is flamed once again
At the moment when our country perches precariously at the brim
The people unite and vow to march on
The yellow wave reaches the outskirts
The stronghold of the fort begins to crack
Ripples of joy spread throughout the nation
Our beloved country takes another step towards progress
The horizon of success rises again
The nation’s vessel has found its rudder again
This year’s Merdeka Day, celebrated by all
Is a Merdeka near in sight, and a Merdeka deep in our hearts
