A TRIBUTE TO MERDEKA/ HARI MEMPERINGATI KEMERDEKAAN NEGARA

The Patriot Foundation held its first public event over the weekend at the football field of Taman Setia Tropika in Johor Bahru.
The September 17 2011 event, a tribute to the nation’s 54th year of independence, was in support of the nationwide Merdeka celebrations.
The non-political organisation’s inaugural event was designed to be educational in nature, as it featured exhibitions from four eras, namely, the Japanese Occupation, the British colonial rule, pre- and post-independence.
The organizers had sourced, among others, uniforms of Japanese soldiers, communists and the Askar Melayu for the respective segments. A collection of old bicycles was also on display at event.
There was also a gallery featuring pre- and post-Independence photographs from a private collection.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of a commemorative plaque to 86-year-old Haji Abdul Rahman bin Khamis who during the guerilla insurgency killed seven communists including the bodyguard to Malayan Communist Party (MCP) leader Chin Peng.
This was followed by a special doa for Merdeka, recital of the Rukunegara and singing of the national anthem Negaraku and the raising of the national flag, Jalur Gemilang. A three-minute fireworks display ended the memorable night.
The event, which will be in The Patriot Foundation’s annual programme of activities, was aimed at helping the government disseminating public information and facts on Merdeka to the general public especially among schoolchildren and youth in and around Johor Bahru.

The Patriot Foundation telah menganjurkan acara awamnya yang pertama di padang bolasepak Taman Setia Tropika di Johor Bahru. Program memperingati Hari Kemerdekaan Negara ini telah dianjurkan pada 17hb September 2011 sempena sambutan hari Kemerdekaan Malaysia yang diadakan seluruh negara.
The Patriot Foundation, sebuah organisasi bukan politik, telah mengolahkan acara ini di dalam bentuk pendidikan di mana pamerannya meliputi empat zaman iaitu pendudukan Jepun, pemerintahan zaman British dan sebelum and selepas Kemerdekaan.
Jawatankuasa penganjur telah dapat mengumpulkan bahan-bahan lama seperti baju seragam tentera Jepun, komunis dan Askar Melayu. Basikal-basikal lama zaman Jepun turut sama dipamerkan.
Terdapat juga galeri yang memaparkan gambar-gambar sebelum dan selepas kemerdekaan gambar-gambar dari satu koleksi peribadi.
Kemuncak acara malam itu ialah penyampaian plak peringatan kepada Haji Abdul Rahman bin Khamis, 86, yang semasa pemberontakan gerila telah menumpaskan tujuh komunis termasuk pengawal peribadi kepada pempimpin Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM) Chin Peng.
Ini diikuti oleh satu doa khas yang teleah dicipta untuk Merdeka serta lafaz Rukunegara dan nyanyian  lagu kebangsaan Negaraku. Serentak dengan itu, bendera Malaysia Jalur Gemilang turut dikibarkan.
Acara malam tersebut berakhir dengan satu pertunjukan bunga api selama tiga minit.
Acara yang akan menjadi acara tahunan di dalam kalendar The Patriot Foundation ini bertujuan membantu kerajaan menyebarkan maklumat awam dan fakta-fakta Merdeka kepada orang ramai terutamanya di kalangan kanak-kanak sekolah dan belia di dalam dan sekitar Johor Bahru.

Ban The Rallies

SAVE THE COUNTRY

The PATRIOT Foundation is deeply concerned with the recent developments with regards to the illegal Bersih 2.0 rally, which will take place on July 9 on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

Bersih 2.0 organisers had also announced that simultaneous demonstrations will be held at 2pm local time on July 9 in London, Canberra and Sydney as well as Taiwan..

Two other groups namely Perkasa and Pemuda UMNO have also announced that their members would also take to the streets against Bersih 2.0.

The PATRIOT Foundation is therefore calling for:

1. A ban on all three rallies by Bersih/Perkasa/Pemuda UMNO.

The organisers' efforts to bring issues to the streets can be likened as sabotaging the Nation as whatever happens on that day will tarnish Malaysia's image as a fast developing peaceful nation. They are rebels using several outfits as a front. There are proper channels for grouses and grievance to be aired. Holding a rally or several rallies is certainly not an option.

2. Use preventive laws.

It is unfortunate that earlier warnings issued by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein have gone unheeded. The ministry should therefore no longer hesitate to take preventive measures on the organisers. Any action on the day of the event or after would be futile as the repercussions would already have far-reaching consequences especially on the economy of the country.

3. Negative reporting on the country.

Past experiences of illegal rallies in the country had shown the negative impact on the country's reputation as a politically stable and safe destination. International media reporting on the day itself and those so called independent news portals will do the most damage to the country. Turmoil sells in their trade. Giving factual and direct account is secondary.

4. Organizers to face the music.

All the organisers - be it Bersih 2.0, Perkasa and Pemuda UMNO - must be charged for instigating members to gather illegally. They must be banned from leaving the country before or after the event. The Bersih organizers for instance must not be allowed to leave the country for possible exile to avoid prosecution. In another example, Pemuda UMNO chief YB Khairy Jamaluddin, should be asked to return to be alongside his soldiers instead of fighting for another cause beyond our shores. A responsible General is one who initiates a war and stands by his command.

5. Malaysians to save the country.

Each and every one of us who call ourselves Malaysian should reject and stop all attempts to create chaos on any streets in the country or elsewhere.

We are all peace-loving people who want the country to prosper and continue to develop to meet Vision 2020.

Malaysia is as the national anthem goes

"Negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku,

Rakyat hidup, bersatu dan maju,

Rahmat Bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan,

Raja kita, selamat bertakhta.

Rahmat Bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan,

Raja kita, selamat bertakhta."

We should not allow ourselves to be use by manipulators serving their own self and political interests.

ABOUT THE PATRIOT FOUNDATION

The Patriot Foundation is an independent, non-governmental and non-profitable think tank that provides necessary feedback to the government and Malaysians on basic social, political and economic issues through open channels.

THE PATRIOT FOUNDATION

Who we are
The Patriot Foundation is an independent, non-governmental and non-profit think tank that provides necessary feedback to the government and Malaysians on basic social, political and economic issues through the open channels.


Siapa kami
The Patriot Foundation merupakan satu kumpulan pemikir bebas yang bergerak sebagai badan bukan kerajaan mahupun politik. Kumpulan ini bertindak sebagai saluran terbuka bagi akar umbi menyalurkan maklum balas dan cadangan kepada kerajaan dan rakyat mengenai isu-isu asas berkaitan sosial, politik dan ekonomi.

Membership
We are not open for membership. Members of the public can participate by taking part in activities organised by The Patriot Foundation. We welcome feedback and suggestions on basic social, political and economic issues, which we can highlight to the government.


Keahlian
Keahlian adalah tertutup. Orangramai dipelawa mengambil bahagian di dalam semua aktiviti yang dianjurkan oleh The Patriot Foundation. Maklumbalas dan cadangan-cadangan mengenai isu-isu asas berkaitan sosial, politik dan ekonomi amat dialu-alukan dan akan diperpanjangkan kepada Kerajaan.