Is Merdeka An Exclusive Party

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As usual, every August, the Merdeka spirit fills the air. The Jalur Gemilang flaps on cars, motorcycles, and sometimes even on unsuspecting goats in kampungs.
This year, the trend seems to be these magnetic flags that can stick on your car bonnet or door, so you can speed around with our blue, yellow, red, and white proudly displayed.
Meanwhile, I’m trying to finish up a feature documentary film that my wife and I just shot on Omadal Island in Semporna, Sabah, starring the undocumented Bajau Laut who have been living there for generations and consider themselves Malaysians, but do not have birth certificates or MyKads.
So it actually makes me wonder, what does Merdeka mean to people who technically don’t exist on paper or are not recognised by the very country they were born and live in? The island itself is beautiful. The water is clear and turquoise, huts perched on stilts, children paddling around and playing.
ADSBut that is only what we see with our eyes. The reality is a bit different. The huts wobble dangerously when the tide comes in. Men scour the beach during low tide to look for shellfish because they can’t afford to buy food. Mothers cradle babies who might never see a doctor. And the word “school” is like a dream.
One of the main characters in my film is Bilkuin, a 21-year-old Bajau Laut youth. He usually wears T-shirts with the Malaysian flag on them, or a Sabah T-shirt with a picture of Mount Kinabalu on it. He seems proud to be Sabahan and Malaysian. But, we know the reality - he is undocumented.
Bilkuin, like many of his other friends and neighbours, has no birth certificate or MyKad. Almost all of them never went to school, so they are mostly illiterate. They can’t get proper jobs, and they definitely can’t get proper healthcare and treatment if they get sick.
But Bilkuin is a little bit luckier. Ten years ago, he was selected to attend Iskul Sama DiLaut Omadal, a sort of alternative learning centre that provides basic primary school education to the stateless Bajau Laut children. After 10 years there, he is now a teacher at the school, teaching his fellow Bajau people.
Bilkuin and I talk a lot whenever I am on the island. One of the conversations we had was about university. He knows that I am also a lecturer, and he has asked me how to apply and register for university. I explain to him the process, but we both know that he won’t be able to do it. Our conversation seems like a cruel joke.
Flags wave, but not for everyone
Back on the mainland in Semporna and everywhere else, Merdeka celebrations are in full swing. Flags everywhere. Fireworks at night. Politicians posting patriotic social media posts that nobody asked for. I am in Kuala Lumpur, and I too want to get caught up with the Merdeka spirit. But I don’t know how.
How do we celebrate being free from past colonial powers, free to live a good life, get an education, and have a career? We talk about multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusivity, yet there is a whole group of should-be Malaysians who aren’t invited to the Merdeka party because they don’t have IC numbers.
At some point, someone always says, “But Zan, it’s complicated. Borders! Illegal migration! Security issues! It’s not that simple, you know!”
Sure. Everything is complicated. Ordering teh tarik kurang manis (less sweet) is complicated. Half the time, you get diabetes in a glass anyway. But complicated doesn’t mean impossible.
If Malaysia could negotiate its way to independence from the British, survive May 13, 1969, go through the journey of reformasi and overcome the 1MDB scandal, I’m sure we can figure out how to teach Bajau Laut children A-B-C and 1-2-3 without having the whole country crumble.
Aside from fireworks and long weekends, Merdeka should also be where:
ADSBajau Laut families who’ve lived here for generations get a path to citizenship.
Kids in Omadal get to sit in classrooms instead of watching from the sidelines because literacy is not a threat; ignorance is.
Bajau Laut have access to basic healthcare because TB doesn’t ask for documents before infecting you.
Recognising Bajau Laut culture as part of Malaysia’s heritage.
Merdeka isn’t just commemorating what our forefathers did to form our nation and fight for independence. It should also be a work in progress where we Malaysians today also work hard to fight for independence from inequality and exclusion.
So yes, Happy Merdeka, Malaysia. Wave the flags, enjoy the fireworks, and post your patriotic Instagram captions. But maybe also ask: who’s missing from this party? - Mkini
ZAN AZLEE is a writer, documentary filmmaker, journalist, and academic. Visit fatbidin.com to view his work.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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