The hysterically joyful ambience is reaching a feverish crescendo in the media, as if the entire country of Malaysia has erupted into an explosive national celebration that marks our 50th independence anniversary.

For weeks and days on end, the government TV channels and the politically owned dailies have been saturated with images and symbols of fervent nationalism, replete with the usual accolade paid to past leaders, patriotic songs, and an unabashed orgy of self-congratulation on how well we have done as a nation in the last half century, and how citizens ought to be grateful for all this good fortune.

From the publicity blitz in the media alone, one would think that our population of 26 million are all basking in this celebratory mood and exploding in their expression of love for the country for all the liberty, prosperity, and social justice that they enjoy. Relying on our media alone, outsiders may even get the impression that Malaysia is indeed a paradise on earth, and that the people here are the luckiest lot on earth!