I am proud to be a Malaysian. I am happy with all my friends of various backgrounds. I am grateful for the Malaysians who pay taxes which contribute to my pension after retiring as a professor from a public university.
I am also extra grateful for the non-Malay political parties that worked with a party that represents my community, an alliance which allowed the son of a police constable to study overseas and become a man who is trying to pay it forward to the country.
I am also thankful to God for giving me the health and knowledge to play a small role in our unity government on issues linked to education, interfaith relations and architecture.
But I will not display the national flag this year. There will be no Jalur Gemilang on the gates of my house in Kajang, nor on any of the cars I own. No way. As much as I love and honour my country, I now feel deeply hurt when I look at the flag.
I do not wish to buy a flag and then forget to count the number of points on the star to see…