I am a proud Malaysian. Ask anyone who has known me for the last 50 years or so! In fact my entire family is made up of proud Malaysians, all 30 of us, thanks to my Dad and Mum.

Today, though my loyalty, my feeling of patriotism and my feelings about celebrating the Golden Jubilee are mixed. I am not sure, all things considered, whether I should be celebrating. Therefore, I decided that this year I will not fly the flag; which I grew up saluting and always respecting and almost always flying.

In 32 years of public service, I used to keep a flag in my office. So, I flew the flag daily for all those years. Maybe it is because I respect the flag too much that I will not fly it this year; especially because of the many crooks and thieves who may also be flying it. All kinds of rule-breakers are flying it, some even breaking rules while flying it.