Online survey calls for change to Merdeka Day theme

An online survey conducted by Malay daily reveals overwhelming support for the Pakatan Rakyat's call to the BN government to drop its 'Janji Ditepati' (Promises fulfilled) motto as the theme for this year's independence day celebration.

Sinar Harian reported today that the survey it conducted on its website received 738 votes and of these, 86 percent of the respondents agreed with Pakatan's request.

On Tuesday, Pakatan leaders said the opposition coalition would propose a ‘more inclusive' theme for this year's Merdeka Day celebration if the government did not change its chosen theme within a week.

The theme has been criticised as an attempt to hijack the national celebration, with former information minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir among the critics.

However, the incumbent Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim (right) brushed the criticism aside, saying that such is normal practice in other countries.

Yesterday, Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan, who is also a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said it was the ruling government's prerogative to select the theme for the Independence Day celebration, based on the current needs and without prejudice to any quarter.

A Bernama report quoted Ahmad as saying that the theme chosen for this year's celebration should be seen in the context of the meaning of a promise.

"Fulfilling a promise is a universal good value and when we say promises are fulfilled, it motivates the people to fulfil their promises in all aspects of life, except when the meaning is narrowed down to a political point of view."